Asian people have been eating fermented soy products and reaping all the health benefits of doing so. Western societies separate the soybean into two commodities- the protein and the oil, which make these products unsafe and unnatural. There are thousands of studies linking soy to malnutrition, digestive issues, kidney stones, severe food allergies, suppressed immune systems, thyroid disfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive problems, infertility, cancer, and heart disease.
To boot, 91% of soy grown in the United States is genetically modified (GM), which allows you to purchase soy products without a huge hit to your wallet. Sadly, your body and our environment take the hit, as these soy products are loaded with toxic pesticides. These soy plants are injected with genes from bacteria, which produce a protein that has NEVER been a part of our food supply. This gene enters into the DNA of our gut bacteria and continues to function. In other words, long after a person has stopped eating GM soy, this allergenic protein may continue to be produced in his intestines (Mercola, 2010).
* ...Natural toxins commonly known as anti-nutrients. These anti-nutritional factors screw around with your body's natural digestive enzymes that you need to digest protein.
*...Hemagglutinin, which promotes clotting and makes your red blood cells clump together. As such, your red blood cells are unable to properly absorb and distribute oxygen to your tissues.
*...Goitrogens, which block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and interfere with the metabolization of iodine.
*...Phytates, which prevent the absorption of essential minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Ironically, this poses a real issue for vegetarians because eating meat reduces the mineral-blocking effects of these phytates. Many vegetarians turn to soy as a source of protein.
*...Phytoestrogen, which is a plant compound that resembles human estrogen. These compounds have the ability to imitate and block the hormone estrogen. Soy phytoestrogens are linked to disruption of endocrine function, infertility, and breast cancer in women. A wild study showed that just from drinking 2 glasses of soy milk a day for ONE month, women are exposed to enough of these compounds that they are actually able to alter their menstrual cycle. Yikes.
*...Has toxic levels of aluminum and manganese. Soybeans are processed by acid washing in aluminum tanks, which gives us a finished product that can potentially contain high levels of aluminum. Soy formula contains 80% more manganese than human breast milk does- a scary thought. An even scarier thought- infants who are given soy formula consume 5 birth control pills worth of estrogen a day. Estrogens in soy can negatively affect a baby's reproductive health and development (Mercola, 2010).
Please check out these additional links that I've provided on soy. I have hardly scratched the surface of this issue in my blog post. Read about what GM soy production is doing to the environment, too! According to Mercola, 2010, 80% of the word's soy is used in farm animal feed and is a HUGE contributor to deforestation. As we know, it's so important to be an informed consumer!
The Whole Soy Story
How Safe is Soy Infant Formula?
Most products containing soy protein or TVP are made using toxic chemical hexane
Health Basics- What is Soy Lecithin?
Study: Roundup Ready GM Soybeans accumulate poison more than equivalent non-GM soybeans
Tempeh: A highly nutritious and protein-rich fermented soy product
How processed food contributes to massive rainforest destruction and environmental damage
GM soy destroying children
GM soy, Roundup destroying life in South America
Mercola, . "Soy: This "Miracle Health Food" Has Been Linked to Brain Damage and Breast Cancer." Mercola.com. N.p., 18 Sept. 2010. Web. 25 May 2014. <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/18/soy-can-damage-your-health.aspx>.