The paradoxical reasons why sprouted soy contains more antinutrients than unsprouted versions and should be avoided in the diet to preserve gastrointestinal and hormonal health.
Great news abounds with regard to the public’s perception of soy.
There’s no doubt that more people than ever are getting the message that soy is not the “health food” that it is portrayed to be by conventional dietary authorities.
Soybeans in the diet pose a danger to health even in menopausal women.
This includes the innocuous green bean known as edamame.
The bad news is that a little information can sometimes be dangerous!
Sprouted Soy Myths
In this case, it appears that many who recognize that soy is an unhealthy food are under the mistaken impression that sprouted soy is fine to consume.
Or, just as bad, some believe that organic soy or soy that is certified GMO-free poses no problem to health.
Perhaps the healthy traditional practice of sprouting grains, legumes, and other seeds resulted in confusion about soy because it is a legume.
Or maybe it’s the GMO issue that is triggering confusion. Some seem to assume that the reason soy is bad is because nearly all of it is genetically modified.
Sprouting Soybeans Does Not Make Them Safe
Even food manufacturers are on the bandwagon of misinformation about this issue.
Some supposedly wholesome sprouted bread and pasta brands (like Ezekiel) include sprouted soy and actually market this as “healthy” on the label!
Some vegetarian and vegan websites are promoting recipes for sprouted soy milk as nutritious alternatives to (undigestible) regular soya milk and dairy.
Let’s set the record straight on this important issue.
Any form of soy with the exception of fermented nonGMO soy in small condimental amounts should be avoided in the diet.
Soy was an unhealthy food to consume long before the issue of GMO soy came into play.
The fact that most of the soy on the market these days is GMO just makes what was already an unhealthy food even worse!
With regard to sprouted soy, be on guard to avoid being fooled! It’s actually more harmful than unsprouted soy!
Traditional Uses of Soy Sprouts
Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story reveals why soy sprouts must be avoided in the diet:
Soy sprouts, by the way, are not healthy. Short-term germination increases the strength of soy‘s antinutrient fractions.[emphasis mine] In contrast, long-term sprouting plus fermentation will decrease and nearly eliminate them. (1)
She goes on to describe the historical usage of sprouted soy, which did not include regular consumption!
Soy sprouts are mentioned in historical accounts as useful, sometime pharmaceuticals, not as a daily food. (2)
Antinutrients Block Minerals
The Weston A. Price Foundation concurs, warning that high levels of phytic acid even in sprouted soy reduce the assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc.
Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have caused growth problems in children. (3)
Phytic acid also blocks mineral absorption, causes digestive distress, and can contribute to tooth decay. The late Rami Nagel details this important information in his bestselling book Cure Tooth Decay.
In short, soy that is organic, nonGMO, and sprouted is not safe to eat. This is the case despite some food philosophies that embrace it as such.
The Only Safe Way to Consume Soy
NonGMO, fermented soy in small, condimental amounts as practiced in traditional Asian cultures is the only safe way to consume this legume. Those who have thyroid conditions should still avoid it, however, due to the goitrogens.
One of the most popular examples of cultured soybeans is miso. Sushi restaurants in Western countries seem to always feature miso soup on the menu (though it is usually GMO).
Tempeh, natto, and traditionally brewed soy sauce also fall under the healthy soy category. The nutritional benefits of natto, in particular, are unequaled by any other soy food.
Everything else soy? Just pass!
(1-2) The Whole Soy Story
(3) Soy Alert!
I am confused. I have not touched sprouted soy products due to articles read concerning phytate increase. However, I just read a study a few minutes ago about sprouted tofu stating that phytate levels were decreased after sprouting although fat content increased. Have you read studies that state the opposite and where can I find them? Grateful for your response, Thank you
A good discussion with sources about sprouted soy is found in the book The Whole Soy Story.
PLEASE, do not let yourself be pressured to have your thyroid taken out. Keep looking, there is a natural solution somewhere. What they dont tell you about thyroid removal, is that most times, they damage to para-thyroids during this operation. This will add to your problems post operative.
Thousands if not millions of people who have never consumed an ounce of soy product have various thyroid issues – Graves, hyper, hypo, hashimoto, goiter and what-not. This has been going on for a very long time, long before soy was introduced to the western population. It is not as simple as blaming soy for everything and thinking you are home-free if you avoid it. I have 2 relatives, dead now, who had thyroid issues – one serious, one somewhat less so. They were born in the 1920s and when soy became popular they did not consume it as they were out of the loop of “new” foods.
The issue is insufficient iodine and probably Vitamin E. Why do you think they started adding iodine to salt? Mind you, there’s not enough in there and in cany case there are other reasons that regular supermarket salt is probably bad for us.
Also, so many people believe that too much iodine = HYPERthyroid and insufficient iodine = HYPOthyroid. This is not so. Insufficient iodine can and does cause both conditions. I read about this years ago (several decades).
I ever heard possitive relation between soy bean sprout and menopause women, because it contains phytoestrogen. Is that true? I think some studies need to prove it.
Here’s more on that myth! https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/soy-a-big-fat-zero-for-menopause-symptoms/
I want to buy Ezekiel Bread … our local store sells it… one ingredient is Sprouted Soy… is this safe… and Healthy… ? I cannot make my own bread…
Thank you for your answer
Not a healthy bread unfortunately 🙁 Ezekiel also contains vital wheat gluten, which is a very unhealthy additive. More on that in this article: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/seitan-vital-wheat-gluten/
I recommend getting a copy of the $3 Weston Price Shopping Guide, which has a wonderful list of truly healthy breads that you can find locally and/or mail order.
I would say soy contribute to the fact I had graves . I am an avid consumer of tofu and soy milk though I don’t believe what was said before about soy was true I had days that I ate it everyday cause it’s good and cheap. I was diagnosed since May of 2014 and until now I’m a hyperthyroid patient and have been continued ask to get my thyroid remove now is 2018. I’m studying and trying aloe vera at I would say my thyroid had very little but it’s improving I’ve had not taken any Soy milk or sprouts but I go for soy sauce and tempeh.
i live in south korea where soy is obviously a huge staple in most peoples’ diets. tofu, sprouted soy beans, fermented soybean paste, and soymilk are some of the extremely common types of soy products consumed on a daily basis for breakfast lunch and dinner. people here are starting to reach longer and longer average lifespans at an unprecedented level. the number of elderly people in this country is rapidly growing, and has actually surpassed that of japan. after experience this first hand i have to say that i will continue to eat soy products considering the nations who consume it the most also have an incredibly long average lifespan. i want to live into my 80s/90s as well! 😉
Soy was never intended for human consumption at the rate it has been marketed. It attacks and depletes the thyroid. Research has shown that the soy industry in wanting to expand their market needed to find ways to sell it. Since the dairy industry is bilions of dollars yearly it became a great target to claim soy milk was a better alternative. Talk to your pharmisist. After repeatedly been drained, sluggish, foggy, etc. In each case I found something I was taking or eating was incriptedly loaded with soy. It is such a cheap filler it’s very difficult to eliminate from your diet completely. I just read a cattle farming artical that was stating how prevalent soy is as cattle fodder. Henry Ford was known to impliment the fiber to make seat covers for cars, clothing manufacturers made suits and so on….none of those would a person eat…..the facts are there but people blindly follow trends.
Notice anything good for you and that destroys cancer cells, is suddenly bad for you. Did you know eating fruit seeds are good for you as they have vitamin b-17, which cures you of cancer- notice all our fruit are seedless now. Anything non gmo and organic is better for you- all the other stuff has cancer causing elements. It’s no wonder everyone is getting cancer- they aren’t here to cure you, it’s a billion dollar industry, they are here to only treat you. They will say eating b-17 is dangerous because it has arsenic- just like the potassium in bananas, they will say in high doses you can die-
But a banana is not a pill- you can surely die from a
Potassium pill but not
Eating 10 bananas in a single day, as it is broken down differently when consumed. Western medicine and food has taken a wrong turn merely for profit!
I am Asian and my family and many people I know have been eating soy in every form (soy milk, tofu, Beancurd skin) for generations with no cancer, obesity or tooth decay in the family, we are rather healthy I would say. In fact the older generations will also tell us to reduce meat and eat more soy. We eat it almost daily and now sprouted tofu is easily available as they are easier to digest for the older folks. So I’m not so sure if this article is very reliable.
I would suggest reading up some more. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/soy-milk-harmless-or-harmful/
I realize this is an old comment, but the fibre used for seat covers would not have come from the bean 😑