Do you consume soy?  Do you realize the huge difference between fermented soy and unfermented soy?  Have you ever thought about how much soy is genetically modified?

And… let’s be honest, have your ever really asked yourself this question:  “Is ALL Soy A Health Food?”

Well, if you have followed THE HEALTHY OMNIVORE or THE GET HEALTHY HUB for any amount of time you realize that “NO,” ALL Soy is NOT a health food!

There are big differences between unfermented soy and fermented soy and the affect on your health.

We promote the intake of fermented soy, but we suggest to stay away from it’s evil brother “unfermented soy.”

Because in all actuality, one is beneficial to your health and the other is detrimental.

Is ALL Soy A Health Food?

Is ALL Soy A Health Food? No, but there are some nice options!

Let’s dig in a little deeper.

You might be wondering, how in the world did unfermented soy products become so popular.  Well, over at Mercola.com, I found an excellent article that breaks it ALL down:

If it seems like soy foods appeared out of nowhere to be regarded as the “miracle health food” of the 21st Century, it’s because they did.

From 1992 to 2006, soy food sales increased from $300 million to nearly $4 billion, practically overnight, according to the Soyfoods Association of North America. This growth came about due to a massive shift in attitudes about soy. And this shift was no accident—it was the result of a massive investment in advertising by the soy industry that’s been wildly successful.

Soy is indeed big business, very big business.

From 2000 to 2007, U.S. food manufacturers introduced more than 2,700 new soy-based foods, and new soy products continue to appear on your grocer’s shelves.

According to the survey Consumer Attitudes About Nutrition 2008 (by the United Soybean Board):

• As of 2007, 85 percent of consumers perceive soy products as healthful
• 33 percent of Americans eat soy foods or beverages at least once a month
• 70 percent of consumers believe soybean oil is good for them
• 84 percent of consumers agree with the FDA’s claim that consuming 25 grams of soy protein daily reduces your risk of heart disease

This is a tragic case of shrewd marketing and outright lies taking root among the masses with the end result of producing large profits for the soy industry and impaired health for most who have been deceived into using unfermented soy long-term..

As you can see from the extensive list of articles below, there is a large amount of scientific research showing that soy is not the nutritional panacea of the 21^st Century.

Wondering what some of the side effects of soy consumption might be?  Take a look:

• Breast cancer
• Brain damage
• Infant abnormalities
• Thyroid disorders
• Kidney stones
• Immune system impairment
• Severe, potentially fatal food allergies
• Impaired fertility
• Danger during pregnancy and nursing

But practically speaking, why should you become overly discerning when it comes to soy consumption?

Here is a summary of soy’s most glaring problems.

1. 91 percent of soy grown in the US is genetically modified (GM). The genetic modification is done to impart resistance to the toxic herbicide Roundup. While this is meant to increase farming efficiency and provide you with less expensive soy, the downside is that your soy is loaded with this toxic pesticide. The plants also contain genes from bacteria that produce a protein that has never been part of the human food supply.GM soy has been linked to an increase in allergies. Disturbingly, the onlypublished human feeding study on GM foods ever conducted verified that the gene inserted into GM soy transfers into the DNA of our gut bacteria and continues to function. This means that years after you stop eating GM soy, you may still have a potentially allergenic protein continuously being produced in your intestines.Even more frightening is the potential for GM soy to cause infertility in future generations, which has been evidenced by recent Russian research.
2. Soy contains natural toxins known as “anti-nutrients.”Soy foods contain anti-nutritional factors such as saponins, soyatoxin, phytates, protease inhibitors, oxalates, goitrogens and estrogens. Some of these factors interfere with the enzymes you need to digest protein. While a small amount of anti-nutrients would not likely cause a problem, the amount of soy that many Americans are now eating is extremely high.
3. Soy contains hemagglutinin.Hemagglutinin is a clot-promoting substance that causes your red blood cells to clump together. These clumped cells are unable to properly absorb and distribute oxygen to your tissues.
4. Soy contains goitrogensGoitrogens are substances that block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and interfere with iodine metabolism, thereby interfering with your thyroid function.
5. Soy contains phytates.Phytates (phytic acid) bind to metal ions, preventing the absorption of certain minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc — all of which are co-factors for optimal biochemistry in your body. This is particularly problematic for vegetarians, because eating meat reduces the mineral-blocking effects of these phytates (so it is helpful—if you do eat soy—to also eat meat).
6. Soy is loaded with the isoflavones genistein and daidzeinIsoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen, which is a plant compound resembling human estrogen. These compounds mimic and sometimes block the hormone estrogen, and have been found to have adverse effects on various human tissues. Soy phytoestrogens are known to disrupt endocrine function, may cause infertility, and may promote breast cancer in women.Drinking even two glasses of soymilk daily for one month provides enough of these compounds to alter your menstrual cycle. Although the FDA regulates estrogen-containing products, no warnings exist on soy.
7. Soy has toxic levels of aluminum and manganeseSoybeans are processed (by acid washing) in aluminum tanks, which can leach high levels of aluminum into the final soy product. Soy formula has up to 80 times higher manganese than is found in human breast milk.
8. Soy infant formula puts your baby’s health at risk.Nearly 20 percent of U.S. infants are now fed soy formula, but the estrogens in soy can irreversibly harm your baby’s sexual development and reproductive health. Infants fed soy formula take in an estimated five birth control pills’ worth of estrogen every day.Infants fed soy formula have up to 20,000 times the amount of estrogen in circulation as those fed other formulas!

There is also the issue of pesticides and genetic modification.

Soy foods are both heavily sprayed with pesticides and genetically modified (GM). More than 80 percent of the soy grown in the United States is GM. And more than 90 percent of American soy crops are GM.

Since the introduction of GM foods in 1996, we’ve had an upsurge in low birth weight babies, infertility, and other problems in the U.S. population, and animal studies thus far have shown devastating effects from consuming GM soy.

You may want to steer clear of soy products for no other reason than a commitment to avoiding GM foods… unless you wish to be a lab animal for this massive uncontrolled experiment by the biotech industry.

Okay, after all of that information, do you want to stay away from unfermented soy?

Here is a nice little list to help you do just that:

For a simple rule of thumb, just remember that unless soy is fermented (tempeh, miso, natto, or traditionally made soy sauce), you’re better off avoiding it.

Soy foods to avoid include:

Tofu

TVP (texturized vegetable protein) or soy protein isolate, which contains a large amount of msg, which you should definitely not consume

• Soybean oil
• Soymilk
• Soy cheese, soy ice cream, soy yogurt
• Soy “meat” (meatless products made of TVP)
• Soy protein
• Edamame
• Soy infant formula

The best way to eliminate non-fermented soy from your diet is to avoid all processed foods and instead purchase whole foods that you prepare yourself.

You can find the entire article HERE

Another nice little tip given by Dr. Mercola is to ALWAYS be reading the ingredients on any packaged foods you may be consuming.  Hopefully you already know this, but after reading this article, you now have been reminded of the seriousness of the issue!

Plus, remember that soy can be found in lecithen (an emulsifier), colors, flavors, and spice blends, so once again, you MUST read the ingredients on any product that has already been pre-made.  I know I am being a tad bit redundant here, but there is HUGE money behind pushing the unfermented soy agenda, so when it comes to what you are putting in your body on a daily basis you MUST be aware at all times!

Look, it is clear that there is a huge difference between how fermented soy and unfermented soy affect your health.  Please, be careful!

Over at my membership health club I only recommend fermented soy products such as natto, tempeh, miso, and soy sauce.  Why?  Because NO food is neutral, and we have seen today that putting a supposedly “healthy” food in our body can have disastrous ramifications.

I realize that the “Soy” discussion has become somewhat controversial and in many cases “heated.”  I am not telling you to steer clear of ALL soy, but just unfermented soy.  I believe you can see why as the “proof is in the pudding.”

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