With all the loads of scientific data available that soy (even edamame) is not a healthy part of anyone’s diet, it shocks me how many folks are still on the “soy is good for you” bandwagon – even people who should know better like your doctor!
I just got an email from a reader the other day who had been to multiple doctors, both holistic and conventional, and all but one of them were telling her that plenty of soy in her diet would help her menopause symptoms.
I had another shocking conversation recently with a doctor of Internal Medicine who had no idea soy was a potent goitrogenic food and actively suppressed thyroid function.
Be careful folks. It’s dangerous out there! You really need to do your research and be on your toes at all times when it comes to nutritional advice even from someone in a white coat!
For those of you who just sat down because you are so taken aback by the notion that soy is not actually the healthfood you thought it was, here are 170 scientific reasons to back up this assertion.
Fermented Soy Fine in Small Amounts for Some People
Please note that fermented soy in small, condimental amounts as practiced in traditional Asian cultures is fine for those who have healthy thyroid function. Only miso, tempeh, natto and traditionally brewed soy sauce fall under this category. In addition, if you want to sprinkle a few edamame on your salad or have a few small cubes of tofu in your miso soup from time to time, that is fine too. A little soy lecithin in a nonGMO snack food from time to time isn’t necessarily a problem either. Just don’t make it a regular part of your diet!
If you have any sort of thyroid issues going on, however, it is really the best policy to avoid all soy all the time as soy is a potent goitrogen (thyroid suppressor) even if fermented.
Dangers of Soy #1
A 1991 study found that eating only 2 TBL/day of roasted and pickled soybeans for 3 months to healthy adults who were receiving adequate iodine in their diet caused thyroid suppression with symptoms of malaise, constipation, sleepiness, and goiters (Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi 1991, 767: 622-629)!
Still think munching on edamame instead of popcorn is a healthy habit?
Dangers of Soy #2
Six premenopausal women with normal menstrual cycles were given 45 mg of soy isoflavones per day. This is equivalent to only 1-2 cups of soy milk or 1/2 cup of soy flour! After only one month, all of the women experienced delayed menstruation with the effects similar to tamoxifen, the anti-estrogen drug given to women with breast cancer (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1994 Sep;60(3):333-340).
Dangers of Soy #3
Dietary estrogens in the form of soy foods were found to have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system with the effects in women similar to taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen (Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1995 Jan;208(1):51-9).
Dangers of Soy #4
Estrogens consumed in the diet at low concentrations were found to stimulate breast cells much like DDT to increase enzymatic activity which leads to breast cancer (Environmental Health Perspectives 1997 Apr;105 (Suppl 3):633-636).
Dangers of Soy #5
The soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein appear to stimulate existing breast cancer growth indicating risk in consuming soy products if a woman has breast cancer. (Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2001 Sep;35(9):118-21).
Dangers of Soy #6
Direct evidence that soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein suppress the pituitary-thyroid axis in middle-aged rats fed 10 mg soy isoflavones per kilo after only 3 weeks as compared with rats eating regular rat chow (Experimental Biology and Medicine 2010 May;235(5):590-8).
Dangers of Soy #7
Don’t eat soy when you are pregnant ladies! Scientific research has shown that the developing male fetus which is exposed to soy phytoestrogens may suffer from higher susceptibility to prostate cancer later in life (Prostate 1994;24(2):67-78).
Dangers of Soy #8
Keep that soy away from your daughters! Dietary genistein (soy phytoestrogen) in developing female rats had the effect of significantly accelerated puberty (Toxicol Sci 1999 Oct;51(2):236-44).
In addition, early exposure to soy is associated with less female typical play patterns in girls at 42 months of age (Environ Health Perspect v. 119(12); Dec 2011).
Dangers of Soy #9
Hey guys! Soy protein powder strips your masculinity! A study of 12 men aged 18 years and older experienced a 19% drop in serum testosterone in only 28 days when supplemented with 56 grams of soy protein powder over that same time period (Prev 2007;16:829—33).
Dangers of Soy #10
Do NOT feed soy formula to your babies! Female newborns who are orally exposed to genisin, the glycosylated form of genistein (soy phytoestrogen) experienced harm to the reproductive system in the form of “delayed vaginal opening… abnormal estrous cycles, decreased fertility, and delayed parturition.” (Environmental Health Perspective 2009 Dec;117(12):1883-9).
More information on the dangers of soy infant formula even if organic can be found in this article.
Convinced yet? I don’t know about you, but ten reasons is plenty for me! Still interested to see the remaining 160 reasons? My friend Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of the must read The Whole Soy Story, has compiled the rest of the list for you if you click here.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources and More Information on Women’s Health
The Dangers of Estrogenic Food, Herbs and Supplements to Breast Health
Breast Ultrasound Safer and More Effective than Mammography
When Breast Cancer Isn’t Bad News
Thermography: A Perfect Alternative to Cancer Causing Mammograms?
Even Organic Soy Formula is Harmful for Babies
Birth Control Pill Risks to your Future Child’s Health
I think I’ve been waiting for this post Sarah. I just hope the “right” person sees it on my timeline.
Studies based on SIX women? Really? You are going to base your nutrition based on SIX women? I am sure we can find SIX women that have reacted to any food you can name and probably water too.
I’m 56 and I’ve had miso broth nearly everyday for 25 years. This figures out to about 15 lbs. of miso a year. I’ve got great energy, libido, stamina, strength, etc. Could this be bad for me?
who wrote this article, the meat & dairy industry? id rather eat soy than dead animals. do they also tell you how rotted meat and dairy in your body is poison! most vegans are vegan for the animals sake. there is plenty of other vegan dishes besides SOY anyway if this article scares you. personally, i think its lies….Happy soy eating…
What’s a preferable alternative to cows’ milk if soy milk isn’t an option? My daughter as an anaphylactic allergy to dairy and we can’t use nut milks because my other daughter has an anaplylactic allergy to nuts …
coconut milk?
My daughter was allergic to cows milk when she was a toddler. Per our doctors direction I gave her soy milk. I feel so guilty thinking of the harm this may have caused her little body.
While I do not discount that some people have had bad reactions or allergies to soy products, I will take your advice before I jump on your anti-soy bandwagon:
“Be careful folks. It’s dangerous out there! You really need to do your research and be on your toes at all times when it comes to nutritional advice even from someone in a white coat!”
Why? Partially because:
The Weston A Price Foundation (WAPF) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston_A._Price_Foundation
The foundation has been criticised by medical and health experts for “purveying misleading information” and “failing to update their recommendations in light of contradictory evidence”.
As Dr. Kaayla Daniel is a Board of Directors member of WAPF, I am skeptical about this article. I do not believe that they are as bad as WAPF would have us led to believe.
Also partially because of this:
http://www.womentowomen.com/healthynutrition/soycontroversy.aspx
After reading a lot more from other resources, less biased than either article, I came to the conclusion that MODERATION is a good way to consume ANYTHING.
But why am I most skeptical? Because of this:
I’ve been eating soy products including tofu, soy sauce, and whole beans for around 38 years. I am a male Asian/Pacific Islander. Yes, a male. I don’t have boobs or super estrogen levels. I played football, volleyball, hockey, soccer, and baseball growing up. I am a sexually healthy heterosexual male. I was raised on formula, tofu, soy sauce, and MSG (meats, veggies, and other carbs too, of course). I was a vegetarian/vegan for half my life. My doctors (holistic practitioner and MD) say I am in good health. Surprise! True story. Genetic predisposition for soy? Maybe. Is soy as bad as it sounds? No.
I do understand the nature of propaganda and agendas. I am in no way claiming everything in this or any other article is true or false. I’m just skeptical.
Please do your own research…I read Mitch’s response and went a little further with other articles to look into. His links are worth checking out as are these:
http://www.johnrobbins.info/blog/what-about-soy/
Moderation of any food is key…organic and GMO is the best option for any.
What about the soy lecithin in, say, chocolate? I’m looking for a really good reason that will motivate me to avoid eating too much chocolate . . .
Another thing I was wondering….