What about soy?

Another question that I am frequently asked is, “what about soy?” I tell Slender For Life™ weight loss hypnosis clients to minimize soy products because they contain so much fat. Sometimes clients tell me that they are experiencing flatulence and my first question is, “are you drinking soy milk or eating tofu?” If the answer is “yes” I suggest that they switch to rice milk and cut out the tofu. Almost always I will hear the next week that the gas problem has been resolved. I also suggest to clients that they read what John McDougall, M.D., Michael Greger, M.D. and Neal Barnard, M.D. and have written about soy and then make their own decision.

How Much Soy Is Too Much?

If animal proteins promote cancer because they boost our blood levels of the growth hormone IGF-1, what about the few plant proteins that have amino acid ratios similar to animal proteins such soy foods? One of soy’s selling points is that it has “high quality” protein, but higher quality protein may mean a higher risk of cancer.

Animal protein consumption is associated with significantly higher levels of the cancer promoter IGF-1 and non-soy plant protein is associated with significantly lower levels. There was no significant association with soy protein, though. This suggests that if all we do is replace animal protein with soy protein, we may not see as dramatic a drop in IGF-1 as that enjoyed by those replacing meat, eggs, and dairy with a variety of plant proteins.

Read How Much Soy Is Too Much?

And here is what Dr. John McDougall has to say about soy:

Soy – Food, Wonder Drug, or Poison?

However, there is a dark side to the soy story that warns that these foods may increase your risk for cancer, impair your thyroid, immune, and brain function, and cause you bone loss and reproductive problems. Fortunately, these worries are relevant mostly for people lured into consuming “fake foods” synthesized from man-made components of soy and other foods, and high potency soy supplements – not for those who consume traditional soy foods as a small portion of their diet.

Read Soy – Food, Wonder Drug, or Poison?

Soy and Health

Evidence to date indicates that soy products may reduce the risk of breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence. They do not appear to have adverse effects on the thyroid gland, but may reduce the absorption of thyroid medications. The benefits of soy products appear to relate to traditional soy products, not to concentrated soy proteins. ~ Dr. Neal Barnard, Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

Read Soy and Health

I used to drink soy milk and keep tofu stocked in the refrigerator but over the years I have all but eliminated soy from my diet. We now drink rice milk and you will never find tofu in our refrigerator. I do on occasion eat tofu in a restaurant or at a friend’s house. I believe that if I lived somewhere like in Taiwan where I could plant a soy bean and have it grow and where I made my own tofu, I’d be using more soy. Here in the U.S., I have lots of questions about Monsanto’s GMO beans and that tofu has become another highly processed food. There are so many grains and vegetables that are so great that I just don’t find a need for soy products. Like I tell my clients: Read the material, watch the videos and then make your own decision.

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