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IPL'S LETS GET FIT~SOY MILK, FRIEND OR FOE?
SOY MILK, FRIEND OR FOE? YOU MAKE THE DECISION~
Soy milk is one of the various soy products available. Soy milk is also referred to as soya milk, soy juice or soyabean milk. This beverage can be prepared at home with the help of soy milk machine or some kitchen tools. One easy way to make it is by soaking soybeans and then grinding them with water. This liquid is then strained, which in turn gives soy milk.
The soy milk which is available in the market contains added calcium and vitamins. These added nutrients can cause organic soy milk dangers, which in the long run can cause a lot of internal damage to the person consuming it. In order to give it a milky appearance, it is mixed with oil, water, sugar, stabilizer, etc. Many people opt for different flavors of soy milk, like vanilla and chocolate flavor. Read more on benefits of soy milk. Dangers of soy milk are more prominent in people who consume it very often in large amounts.
Ingredients in Soy Milk
Protein - 3.5%
Fat - 2%
Carbohydrate - 2.9%
Ash - 0.5%
Dangers of Soy Milk
Soy milk is high in phytic acids which results in low absorption of certain minerals and vitamins.
The level of phytoestrogen is high in soy milk, which decreases the testesterone present in the male body. It also affects the production of sperms. Phytoestrogen also leads to early puberty and early developments of adolescents. These are a few of the soy milk dangers for men.
In females, soy milk can lead to abnormalities in the reproductive tract, which can give rise to infertility. These soy milk dangers for women should be taken care of, else, they can become intense.
Isoflavones present in soy milk causes diseases like leukemia and breast cancer.
It can also cause thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer. People who consume soy milk very often can suffer from autoimmune thyroid disease.
The presence of toxic aluminum in soy milk can also affect the nervous system and the kidneys in a negative way.
Soy milk can also contribute to endometrial cancer in females.
In some cases, it is also causes dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, colitis and may increase or decrease the pulse rate.
Very often, soy milk causes runny nose and nasal congestion.
Some of the soy milk dangers for children are learning disorders, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, etc. It can also cause pancreatic and growth related problems.
At times, the amount of manganese present in soy milk is large enough to cause damage to the cortex.
This can also develop allergies like congestion, coughing, sneezing, etc. in some people.
It also contributes to skin problems like sudden and severe eczema, acne, blisters, canker sores, swelling and hives.
In severe cases, it can also cause a problem in swallowing and can also cause anaphylactic shock.
Soy milk can also affect the energy levels and sleep.
Wheezing, fatigue and fever are the other symptoms observed as a reaction to soy milk.
The protein enzyme inhibitors present in soy milk, block the action of trypsin and enzymes which are required for protein digestion.
In some cases, it can give rise to chronic pain. Mostly, people suffering from asthma are prone to this kind of disorders.
If soy milk is consumed in large amounts, it can lead to stomach problems.
The soy milk estrogen is harmful for babies.
Everything in this world comes along with its pros and cons and so does soy milk. Hence, before consuming soy milk, we should consider both, its dangers as well as it benefits. Hope this article of mine proves to be of some help to you.
--------------------------------
Benefits of Soy Products
Soy products have been a part of the standard diet in China, Japan, Indonesia, and other countries for centuries. In these countries, it is known from personal experience that soy products can play an important role in disease prevention. On the other hand, heavily-processed, genetically-manipulated (non-organic) soy, or overuse of soy can be unhealthy.
By sampling traditional dishes from Japan, China and Indonesia, it can be seen that soy products make up a small to moderate part of the diet. Vegetables, whole grains, lean meats (e.g., fish), other legumes, etc. make up much of the diet. Such a balanced diet with the addition of ocassional use of small amounts of soy products provides the maximum health-building and disease prevention benefits. It is best to avoid getting sucked into any future "soy supplement hype" and stick to ocassional, small intake of healthier organic soy products such as tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk, natto, tamari and shoyu.
Before detailing the benefits, Soy Info Online! has provided links to detailed nutrient compositions for each of the major organic soy products.
Soy Product Nutrient Charts
(Click on the name to get the properties, click on the Asterisk " * " to read the definition of the product)
Miso * Natto * Shoyu (soy sauce) *
Soy Milk * Soybean Oil Soybeans
Tamari * Tempeh * Tofu *
Soy Product Benefits
High Protein Content
Traditional soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk are very high in protein. Tempeh has the highest percentage of protein of the traditional soy products providing approximately 22 grams of protein for each 4 ounce (113 gram) serving. Tofu provides approximately 9 grams of protein for a similar small serving size. The Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein for adult males (aged 25-50) is appoximately 63 grams and 50 grams for adult females (aged 25-50). Soy products can provide a significant portion of one's daily protein needs.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that the balance of amino acids (protein building blocks) in soy is not the same as meat. Because soy foods does not have an ideal balance of amino acids, some experts recommend taking in a little extra soy foods and/or combining soy products or legumes with a whole grain dish at meals where other protein (e.g., eggs, fish) is not eaten. The amino acids in whole grains combine well with amino acids in soy and legumes to make a more ideal balance of amino acids. If a person's diet is reasonably-balanced, however, there is usually no need to be concerned about getting enough protein.
Other legumes, nuts, and lean meats (e.g., fish) can provide are healthy sources of protein. It is best not to rely soley on soy foods for protein.
Helps to Prevent Cancer of the Breast, Prostate, Colon and Uterus (Endometrium)
Several recent scientific studies have shown that a regular intake of traditional soy foods may help to prevent breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. One recent study related to soy products and prostate cancer determined that:
"...soy products were found to be significantly protective ... with an effect size per kilocalorie at least four times as large as that of any other dietary factor."
Researchers believe that the cancer protective effects from soy are due to the group of plant chemicals known as isoflavones, particularly genistein and daidzein. It is theorized that these isoflavones prevent cancer by inhibiting the growth of existing tumor cells (as opposed to preventing the development of tumor cells).
One epidemiological study showed that individuals who had high amounts of soy isoflavones measured in their urine (signifying that they had a regular intake of soy foods) had approximately one-half the breast cancer risk of those who had low amount of measured soy isoflavones in their urine.
Colon cancer rates (like breast and prostate cancers) are very low in countries with higher intakes of traditional soy products. Controlled scientific research related to soy products and colon cancer is still in the preliminary stages. One study in Hawaii found that vegetable fiber and certain vegetables and legumes (including soy products) help to lower the risk of colon cancer.
One study in Hawaii found soy product intake associated with lower risk of endometrial cancer. However, the effecs of soy and legumes were limited to women who had never been pregnant and never used estrogens. Other aspects of the diet lowered the risk as well, including vegetables grains, sea vegetables, and fruits.
Helps to Prevent Heart Disease
It is known that in countries were traditional soy products are ingested regularly, the rates of cardiovascular diseases is low. There is some research that suggests that soy foods may help to prevent heart disease by reducing total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure and possibly preventing plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis). It is believed that the isoflavones from soy foods are the primary factors involved in these beneficial health effects.
May Help to Prevent Osteoporosis
One cup of tofu contains approximately 20% (204 mg) of the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium intake (1000 mg) for adults 19-50 years old. Tempeh contains approximately 15% (154 mg) of the RDA. Soy Milk is not quite as good a source of calcium according to the USDA nutrient charts. In most countries, calcium intake is well below the RDA figures and there are little problems with osteoporosis largely because of the regular physical activity (esp. weight-bearing exercise) in these countries. Therefore, a moderate intake of soy products such as tempeh and tofu along with regular exercise may help prevent osteoporosis.
Another factor in the possible effectiveness of soy to prevent osteoporosis may be its content of the group of plant chemicals known as Isoflavones. Several studies have suggested that the isoflavones in soy products may be a factor in helping to prevent bone loss. In fact, one study in animals showed that soy intake may be as extremely effective in suppression of bone loss. However, preliminary results from human studies appear to indicate that the benefit may not be as great in humans.
May Help to Prevent or Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms
There is some scientific evidence that soy products may help to prevent or alleviate menopausal symptoms. However, the research is still in a preliminary stage.
Probiotic Effects From Fermented Soy Products Such as Miso
Probiotics refer to friendly bacteria which contribute to the health of the intestinal tract. Unpasturized miso contains a significant amount of healthy friendly bacteria. In addition, probiotic foods contain a "supernatant" which refers to the growth medium of the beneficial bacteria. The supernatant contains chemicals which are very powerful for inhibiting pathenogenic bacteria and fungus. It protects the probiotic bacteria from stomach acids and provides food for the bacteria to help them flourish once they reach their destination in the intestines.
A selection of the positive health effects of probiotics can be summarized with the following excerpts from "Probiotics" by Leon Chaitow, D.O. and Natasha Trenev:
They manufacture B-vitamins, such as biotin, niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6) and folic acid.
They act as anti-carcinogenic (anti-cancer) factors, with powerful anti-tumour potentials.
They act as 'watchdogs' by keeping an eye on, and effectively controlling, the spread of undesirable microorganisms (by altering the acidity of the region they inhabit and/or producing specific antibiotic substances, as well as by depriving rival unfriendly bacteria of their nutrients). The antibiotics some of the friendly bacteria produce are effective against many harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi. Not the least of the potentially harmful yeasts controlled by some lactobacilli is "Candida albicans," now implicated in many health problems in people who are malnourished or whose immune systems are depleted.
They effectively help to control high cholesterol levels, thereby affording us protection from the cardiovascular damage which excessive levels of this nevertheless important substance can create.
They sometimes act to relieve the symptoms of anxiety.
They play a role in protecting against the negative effects of radiation and toxic pollutants, enhancing immune function.
They help considerably to enhance bowel function. Where bowel bacteria are absent, the function of peristalsis is impaired, and the amount of time it take for food to pass completely through the system is much increased.
60 percent of the circulating female hormones such as estrogen are excreted into the GI tract in the bile. The hormones are then, in normal conditions, acted upon--a process known as deconjugation--by bacterial enzymes such as sulphatase catalyse before most of it (some is excreted in the faeces) is re-absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it is sent back to the liver for reactivation into a biologically active form. [The authors go on to discuss how problems with the beneficial bacterial population in the intestines caused by antibiotics (for example) can lead to much lower levels of hormones being recirculated into the bloodstream. This can be a major problem for women.]
It is not necessary to ingest large amounts of probiotic foods such as miso. In fact, it may be detrimental to do so because of the high sodium content of these probiotic foods. But regular or semi-regular ingestion (3-6 days per week) of probiotic foods such as miso can be a very healthy practice. For example, many people have a small cup of miso soup (using unpasturized miso) a few times per week.
There are other fermented probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, pickles, wine, natural and unflavored yogurt, etc. One advantage of miso is that persons who are sensitive to fermented foods can often tolerate the ingestion of miso. Please see the Cookbooks Section for books with miso recipes.
Other Nutrients
In addition to being a good source of protein and calcium, soy products such as tempeh and tofu are moderately rich in important minerals such as zinc, magnesium, iron and selenium.
---------------------------------
Soy milk is an alternative to cow's milk and is lactose and casein free. Although soy milk may have various benefits, it also contributes to some health problems. Those who choose to drink soy milk should be aware of the dangers before consuming it or giving it to infants and children.
Unfermented Soy
Foods that contain unfermented soy, such as soy milk, have a large amount of phytic acid. Phytic acid decreases the amount of certain vitamins and minerals that your body absorbs.
Phytoestrogen/Isoflavones
High levels of phytoestrogen, also known as isoflavones, are found in soy. Phytoestrogen can lower your sperm count, decrease the amount of testosterone in your body, and contribute to breast cancer, leukemia and thyroid disorders.
Baby Formulas
Infant formulas that contain soy can be harmful to babies. Many people fear that consumption of soy formula milk will lead to high estrogen levels. A study at the Edinburgh University found that there was a link between lower hormone levels and the amount of soy consumed.
Stereotypes
The stereotype that Asian diets contain mostly soy is false. Asian diets, which contribute to lower levels of heart disease, cancer and an increase in bone density, contain a much lower amount of soy than the amount of soy used in American foods. Consume soy in moderation to help prevent negative affects from it.
Is it organic?
Genetically modified foods are becoming more common in the United States and genetically modified soy beans may cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
-------------------------
Soy Dangers Summarised
SOY DANGERS:
High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce 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.
Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic orders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.
Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body’s requirement for B12.
Soy foods increase the body’s requirement for vitamin D.
Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.
Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and added to many soy foods.
Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.
SOY INFANT FORMULA — BIRTH CONTROL PILLS FOR BABIES
Babies fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to 22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula.
Infants exclusively fed soy formula receive the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day.
Male infants undergo a “testosterone surge” during the first few months of life, when testosterone levels may be as high as those of an adult male. During this period, baby boys are programmed to express male characteristics after puberty, not only in the development of their sexual organs and other masculine physical traits, but also in setting patterns in the brain characteristic of male behavior.
Pediatricians are noticing greater numbers of boys whose physical maturation is delayed, or does not occur at all, including lack of development of the sexual organs. Learning disabilities, especially in male children, have reached epidemic proportions.
Soy infant feeding—which floods the bloodstream with female hormones that inhibit testosterone—cannot be ignored as a possible cause for these tragic developments. In animals, soy feeding indicates that phytoestrogens in soy are powerful endocrine disrupters.
Almost 15 percent of white girls and 50 percent of African-American girls show signs of puberty such as breast development and pubic hair, before the age of eight. Some girls are showing sexual development before the age of three. Premature development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula and exposure to environmental estrogens such as PCBs and DDE.
--------------------------
DOSES SIMPLIFIED
For Adults
A glass a day melts the thyroid away. From USA Womans World, Mar 16 2001. AVOIDING SOY .... as little as 30mg of soy isoflavones--the amount in 5-8 ounces of soy milk - have been proven to suppress thyroid function. "The isoflavones in soy act like a hormone in the body. And in many women, especially those who eat large amounts of concentrated soy powder or take isoflavone supplments, this disturbs the body's hormonal balance, triggering or worsening thyroid problems," explains Dr. Larian Gillespie, author of "The Goddess Diet". Some experts are even calling for the makers of soy products to remove these antithyroid isoflavones from their products.
For Infants
In simple terms. The dose in soy baby formulas means an infant gets the dose-equivalent of an adult woman taking up to ten pills a day. Or, a baby in its first year gets a total antifertility dose of 100 Pill-equivalents. Swiss Federal Health Service , 100 g soy protein = Contraceptive Pill
For Males
Testosterone Reduction
Nagata and colleagues have reported an inverse association between soy product intake and serum hormone concentrations in Japanese men. Research has demonstrated that chemical compounds can have a number of other effects .The isoflavone dose was 22mg/day. Two glasses of soy milk can contain up to 100mg of isoflavones
For Women
Disruption of the Menstrual Cycle ( a harbinger of potential fertility problems) was caused by 45 mg/day for only 30 days. That is less than the quantity of isoflavones in two glasses of soy milk. Irregular cycles are also a risk factor for breast cancer.
I hope these article help to shed some light on soy products as well as educate you on the subject a bit~
Stay Strong~~!!!
IPL
Soy milk is one of the various soy products available. Soy milk is also referred to as soya milk, soy juice or soyabean milk. This beverage can be prepared at home with the help of soy milk machine or some kitchen tools. One easy way to make it is by soaking soybeans and then grinding them with water. This liquid is then strained, which in turn gives soy milk.
The soy milk which is available in the market contains added calcium and vitamins. These added nutrients can cause organic soy milk dangers, which in the long run can cause a lot of internal damage to the person consuming it. In order to give it a milky appearance, it is mixed with oil, water, sugar, stabilizer, etc. Many people opt for different flavors of soy milk, like vanilla and chocolate flavor. Read more on benefits of soy milk. Dangers of soy milk are more prominent in people who consume it very often in large amounts.
Ingredients in Soy Milk
Protein - 3.5%
Fat - 2%
Carbohydrate - 2.9%
Ash - 0.5%
Dangers of Soy Milk
Soy milk is high in phytic acids which results in low absorption of certain minerals and vitamins.
The level of phytoestrogen is high in soy milk, which decreases the testesterone present in the male body. It also affects the production of sperms. Phytoestrogen also leads to early puberty and early developments of adolescents. These are a few of the soy milk dangers for men.
In females, soy milk can lead to abnormalities in the reproductive tract, which can give rise to infertility. These soy milk dangers for women should be taken care of, else, they can become intense.
Isoflavones present in soy milk causes diseases like leukemia and breast cancer.
It can also cause thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer. People who consume soy milk very often can suffer from autoimmune thyroid disease.
The presence of toxic aluminum in soy milk can also affect the nervous system and the kidneys in a negative way.
Soy milk can also contribute to endometrial cancer in females.
In some cases, it is also causes dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, colitis and may increase or decrease the pulse rate.
Very often, soy milk causes runny nose and nasal congestion.
Some of the soy milk dangers for children are learning disorders, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, etc. It can also cause pancreatic and growth related problems.
At times, the amount of manganese present in soy milk is large enough to cause damage to the cortex.
This can also develop allergies like congestion, coughing, sneezing, etc. in some people.
It also contributes to skin problems like sudden and severe eczema, acne, blisters, canker sores, swelling and hives.
In severe cases, it can also cause a problem in swallowing and can also cause anaphylactic shock.
Soy milk can also affect the energy levels and sleep.
Wheezing, fatigue and fever are the other symptoms observed as a reaction to soy milk.
The protein enzyme inhibitors present in soy milk, block the action of trypsin and enzymes which are required for protein digestion.
In some cases, it can give rise to chronic pain. Mostly, people suffering from asthma are prone to this kind of disorders.
If soy milk is consumed in large amounts, it can lead to stomach problems.
The soy milk estrogen is harmful for babies.
Everything in this world comes along with its pros and cons and so does soy milk. Hence, before consuming soy milk, we should consider both, its dangers as well as it benefits. Hope this article of mine proves to be of some help to you.
--------------------------------
Benefits of Soy Products
Soy products have been a part of the standard diet in China, Japan, Indonesia, and other countries for centuries. In these countries, it is known from personal experience that soy products can play an important role in disease prevention. On the other hand, heavily-processed, genetically-manipulated (non-organic) soy, or overuse of soy can be unhealthy.
By sampling traditional dishes from Japan, China and Indonesia, it can be seen that soy products make up a small to moderate part of the diet. Vegetables, whole grains, lean meats (e.g., fish), other legumes, etc. make up much of the diet. Such a balanced diet with the addition of ocassional use of small amounts of soy products provides the maximum health-building and disease prevention benefits. It is best to avoid getting sucked into any future "soy supplement hype" and stick to ocassional, small intake of healthier organic soy products such as tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk, natto, tamari and shoyu.
Before detailing the benefits, Soy Info Online! has provided links to detailed nutrient compositions for each of the major organic soy products.
Soy Product Nutrient Charts
(Click on the name to get the properties, click on the Asterisk " * " to read the definition of the product)
Miso * Natto * Shoyu (soy sauce) *
Soy Milk * Soybean Oil Soybeans
Tamari * Tempeh * Tofu *
Soy Product Benefits
High Protein Content
Traditional soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk are very high in protein. Tempeh has the highest percentage of protein of the traditional soy products providing approximately 22 grams of protein for each 4 ounce (113 gram) serving. Tofu provides approximately 9 grams of protein for a similar small serving size. The Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein for adult males (aged 25-50) is appoximately 63 grams and 50 grams for adult females (aged 25-50). Soy products can provide a significant portion of one's daily protein needs.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that the balance of amino acids (protein building blocks) in soy is not the same as meat. Because soy foods does not have an ideal balance of amino acids, some experts recommend taking in a little extra soy foods and/or combining soy products or legumes with a whole grain dish at meals where other protein (e.g., eggs, fish) is not eaten. The amino acids in whole grains combine well with amino acids in soy and legumes to make a more ideal balance of amino acids. If a person's diet is reasonably-balanced, however, there is usually no need to be concerned about getting enough protein.
Other legumes, nuts, and lean meats (e.g., fish) can provide are healthy sources of protein. It is best not to rely soley on soy foods for protein.
Helps to Prevent Cancer of the Breast, Prostate, Colon and Uterus (Endometrium)
Several recent scientific studies have shown that a regular intake of traditional soy foods may help to prevent breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. One recent study related to soy products and prostate cancer determined that:
"...soy products were found to be significantly protective ... with an effect size per kilocalorie at least four times as large as that of any other dietary factor."
Researchers believe that the cancer protective effects from soy are due to the group of plant chemicals known as isoflavones, particularly genistein and daidzein. It is theorized that these isoflavones prevent cancer by inhibiting the growth of existing tumor cells (as opposed to preventing the development of tumor cells).
One epidemiological study showed that individuals who had high amounts of soy isoflavones measured in their urine (signifying that they had a regular intake of soy foods) had approximately one-half the breast cancer risk of those who had low amount of measured soy isoflavones in their urine.
Colon cancer rates (like breast and prostate cancers) are very low in countries with higher intakes of traditional soy products. Controlled scientific research related to soy products and colon cancer is still in the preliminary stages. One study in Hawaii found that vegetable fiber and certain vegetables and legumes (including soy products) help to lower the risk of colon cancer.
One study in Hawaii found soy product intake associated with lower risk of endometrial cancer. However, the effecs of soy and legumes were limited to women who had never been pregnant and never used estrogens. Other aspects of the diet lowered the risk as well, including vegetables grains, sea vegetables, and fruits.
Helps to Prevent Heart Disease
It is known that in countries were traditional soy products are ingested regularly, the rates of cardiovascular diseases is low. There is some research that suggests that soy foods may help to prevent heart disease by reducing total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure and possibly preventing plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis). It is believed that the isoflavones from soy foods are the primary factors involved in these beneficial health effects.
May Help to Prevent Osteoporosis
One cup of tofu contains approximately 20% (204 mg) of the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium intake (1000 mg) for adults 19-50 years old. Tempeh contains approximately 15% (154 mg) of the RDA. Soy Milk is not quite as good a source of calcium according to the USDA nutrient charts. In most countries, calcium intake is well below the RDA figures and there are little problems with osteoporosis largely because of the regular physical activity (esp. weight-bearing exercise) in these countries. Therefore, a moderate intake of soy products such as tempeh and tofu along with regular exercise may help prevent osteoporosis.
Another factor in the possible effectiveness of soy to prevent osteoporosis may be its content of the group of plant chemicals known as Isoflavones. Several studies have suggested that the isoflavones in soy products may be a factor in helping to prevent bone loss. In fact, one study in animals showed that soy intake may be as extremely effective in suppression of bone loss. However, preliminary results from human studies appear to indicate that the benefit may not be as great in humans.
May Help to Prevent or Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms
There is some scientific evidence that soy products may help to prevent or alleviate menopausal symptoms. However, the research is still in a preliminary stage.
Probiotic Effects From Fermented Soy Products Such as Miso
Probiotics refer to friendly bacteria which contribute to the health of the intestinal tract. Unpasturized miso contains a significant amount of healthy friendly bacteria. In addition, probiotic foods contain a "supernatant" which refers to the growth medium of the beneficial bacteria. The supernatant contains chemicals which are very powerful for inhibiting pathenogenic bacteria and fungus. It protects the probiotic bacteria from stomach acids and provides food for the bacteria to help them flourish once they reach their destination in the intestines.
A selection of the positive health effects of probiotics can be summarized with the following excerpts from "Probiotics" by Leon Chaitow, D.O. and Natasha Trenev:
They manufacture B-vitamins, such as biotin, niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6) and folic acid.
They act as anti-carcinogenic (anti-cancer) factors, with powerful anti-tumour potentials.
They act as 'watchdogs' by keeping an eye on, and effectively controlling, the spread of undesirable microorganisms (by altering the acidity of the region they inhabit and/or producing specific antibiotic substances, as well as by depriving rival unfriendly bacteria of their nutrients). The antibiotics some of the friendly bacteria produce are effective against many harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi. Not the least of the potentially harmful yeasts controlled by some lactobacilli is "Candida albicans," now implicated in many health problems in people who are malnourished or whose immune systems are depleted.
They effectively help to control high cholesterol levels, thereby affording us protection from the cardiovascular damage which excessive levels of this nevertheless important substance can create.
They sometimes act to relieve the symptoms of anxiety.
They play a role in protecting against the negative effects of radiation and toxic pollutants, enhancing immune function.
They help considerably to enhance bowel function. Where bowel bacteria are absent, the function of peristalsis is impaired, and the amount of time it take for food to pass completely through the system is much increased.
60 percent of the circulating female hormones such as estrogen are excreted into the GI tract in the bile. The hormones are then, in normal conditions, acted upon--a process known as deconjugation--by bacterial enzymes such as sulphatase catalyse before most of it (some is excreted in the faeces) is re-absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it is sent back to the liver for reactivation into a biologically active form. [The authors go on to discuss how problems with the beneficial bacterial population in the intestines caused by antibiotics (for example) can lead to much lower levels of hormones being recirculated into the bloodstream. This can be a major problem for women.]
It is not necessary to ingest large amounts of probiotic foods such as miso. In fact, it may be detrimental to do so because of the high sodium content of these probiotic foods. But regular or semi-regular ingestion (3-6 days per week) of probiotic foods such as miso can be a very healthy practice. For example, many people have a small cup of miso soup (using unpasturized miso) a few times per week.
There are other fermented probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, pickles, wine, natural and unflavored yogurt, etc. One advantage of miso is that persons who are sensitive to fermented foods can often tolerate the ingestion of miso. Please see the Cookbooks Section for books with miso recipes.
Other Nutrients
In addition to being a good source of protein and calcium, soy products such as tempeh and tofu are moderately rich in important minerals such as zinc, magnesium, iron and selenium.
---------------------------------
Soy milk is an alternative to cow's milk and is lactose and casein free. Although soy milk may have various benefits, it also contributes to some health problems. Those who choose to drink soy milk should be aware of the dangers before consuming it or giving it to infants and children.
Unfermented Soy
Foods that contain unfermented soy, such as soy milk, have a large amount of phytic acid. Phytic acid decreases the amount of certain vitamins and minerals that your body absorbs.
Phytoestrogen/Isoflavones
High levels of phytoestrogen, also known as isoflavones, are found in soy. Phytoestrogen can lower your sperm count, decrease the amount of testosterone in your body, and contribute to breast cancer, leukemia and thyroid disorders.
Baby Formulas
Infant formulas that contain soy can be harmful to babies. Many people fear that consumption of soy formula milk will lead to high estrogen levels. A study at the Edinburgh University found that there was a link between lower hormone levels and the amount of soy consumed.
Stereotypes
The stereotype that Asian diets contain mostly soy is false. Asian diets, which contribute to lower levels of heart disease, cancer and an increase in bone density, contain a much lower amount of soy than the amount of soy used in American foods. Consume soy in moderation to help prevent negative affects from it.
Is it organic?
Genetically modified foods are becoming more common in the United States and genetically modified soy beans may cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
-------------------------
Soy Dangers Summarised
SOY DANGERS:
High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce 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.
Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic orders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.
Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body’s requirement for B12.
Soy foods increase the body’s requirement for vitamin D.
Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.
Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and added to many soy foods.
Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.
SOY INFANT FORMULA — BIRTH CONTROL PILLS FOR BABIES
Babies fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to 22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula.
Infants exclusively fed soy formula receive the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day.
Male infants undergo a “testosterone surge” during the first few months of life, when testosterone levels may be as high as those of an adult male. During this period, baby boys are programmed to express male characteristics after puberty, not only in the development of their sexual organs and other masculine physical traits, but also in setting patterns in the brain characteristic of male behavior.
Pediatricians are noticing greater numbers of boys whose physical maturation is delayed, or does not occur at all, including lack of development of the sexual organs. Learning disabilities, especially in male children, have reached epidemic proportions.
Soy infant feeding—which floods the bloodstream with female hormones that inhibit testosterone—cannot be ignored as a possible cause for these tragic developments. In animals, soy feeding indicates that phytoestrogens in soy are powerful endocrine disrupters.
Almost 15 percent of white girls and 50 percent of African-American girls show signs of puberty such as breast development and pubic hair, before the age of eight. Some girls are showing sexual development before the age of three. Premature development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula and exposure to environmental estrogens such as PCBs and DDE.
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DOSES SIMPLIFIED
For Adults
A glass a day melts the thyroid away. From USA Womans World, Mar 16 2001. AVOIDING SOY .... as little as 30mg of soy isoflavones--the amount in 5-8 ounces of soy milk - have been proven to suppress thyroid function. "The isoflavones in soy act like a hormone in the body. And in many women, especially those who eat large amounts of concentrated soy powder or take isoflavone supplments, this disturbs the body's hormonal balance, triggering or worsening thyroid problems," explains Dr. Larian Gillespie, author of "The Goddess Diet". Some experts are even calling for the makers of soy products to remove these antithyroid isoflavones from their products.
For Infants
In simple terms. The dose in soy baby formulas means an infant gets the dose-equivalent of an adult woman taking up to ten pills a day. Or, a baby in its first year gets a total antifertility dose of 100 Pill-equivalents. Swiss Federal Health Service , 100 g soy protein = Contraceptive Pill
For Males
Testosterone Reduction
Nagata and colleagues have reported an inverse association between soy product intake and serum hormone concentrations in Japanese men. Research has demonstrated that chemical compounds can have a number of other effects .The isoflavone dose was 22mg/day. Two glasses of soy milk can contain up to 100mg of isoflavones
For Women
Disruption of the Menstrual Cycle ( a harbinger of potential fertility problems) was caused by 45 mg/day for only 30 days. That is less than the quantity of isoflavones in two glasses of soy milk. Irregular cycles are also a risk factor for breast cancer.
I hope these article help to shed some light on soy products as well as educate you on the subject a bit~
Stay Strong~~!!!
IPL
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