No Joy in Soy

Thought to be a powerful super food, soy is now under scrutiny by nutrition and fitness professionals. Soy is being consumed in unprecedented numbers through means of soy milk, soy burgers, soy protein and even soy ice cream. Add the soy we get naturally coupled with soy we are intentionally adding into our diets and it may be doing more harm than good.

Most processed foods contain unfermented soy products which has anti-nutritive properties and can reduced the absorption of minerals like calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc. The lack of these important minerals can create a disruptive environment in the digestive system. Couple that with the fact that processed foods already have added flavorings, preservatives, sweeteners, emulsifiers and synthetic nutrients, adding soy can cause further damage.

Its easy to be confused by the misinformation in the media. Manufacturers of soy can label their products as heart healthy alternative and indeed they are. However, these same soy products have been known to cause various side effects including allergies, ADD, various cancers, reproductive disorders, digestive complications, and thyroid dysfunction to name a few.

Soy lovers should avoid processed soy products which contain isoflavones. Instead look for unprocessed, fermented varieties of soy. While it is healthy in some instances, it should not be used a protein substitute or healthy alternative on a daily basis since are getting soy naturally in many of the foods we eat. It’s is a good idea to read food labels to see how much of something you are consuming. If you do choose to use soy as replacement for other foods, be sure not to deprive your body of the natural vitamins and minerals that come from whatever food you are replacing.

For those looking for a great way to enjoy soy, here is a list of healthy options:

Edamame
Miso(fermented soybean paste)
Natto (fermented soybeans)
Naturally fermented soy sauce
Tempeh (fermented soybean cake)