Is Soy Bad For You? Is Soy Milk Healthy?

Is Soy Bad for You? It’s a popular question that really needs an answer.

Soy just seems to be a part of the whole “picture of health” for us.

1. Eat low-fat

2. Consume plenty of Soy

3. Exercise for time instead of intensity

That doesn’t even sound appealing typing it right now… but so many people who claim to be health conscious dedicate themselves to that live everyday.

Why?

Not because they like it. I mean I don’t think anyone actually likes the taste of processed soy… Maybe because they think they will like the body they get because of it. They like the idea of eat “X” food and achieve “X” body. They don’t mind sacrificing 90 minutes a day to do some cardio if gets them “X” body.

The problem? It’s not working.

Maybe some Interesting facts about soy will illuminate why that is. In my opinion, soy’s dangers are just not worth it. But let’s examine the dangers of soy and you can form an opinion for yourself and answer the question, is soy bad for you?

Soy was originally used as a feedlot feed. That means it was used to feed farm animals such as cows, chickens, etc… The problem with that is most animals have a limit where they start having so many health problems that no more soy can be used.

The industry had so much soy protein left over that they made it into a human food and now, it is deemed healthy.

Soy can be endocrine disrupting. In the most basic sense that means it disrupts your hormonal systems and hormones are the key to….uhhh everything! The phytoestrogens in soy, known as isoflavones, mimic estrogen in the body, a powerful and important hormone that is not meant to be artificially altered.The isoflavones unnaturally raise your estrogen levels. 

[Interesting story on soy: Ancient monks were known to use soy to eliminate their sexual desires so they could focus on their spirituality and meditation. Let me ask you this, are you interested in eliminating your sexual drive and desire?]

Soy is one of the top allergens to the human body, meaning it can cause plenty of internal stress and inflammation.

That is why it is especially important for those with soy allergies to make sure they avoid soy. It is also a food sensitivity in some people, meaning it causes an antibody release, hence the digestive stress.

Those with thyroid problems should avoid soy because of the thyroid damaging goitrogens. Many women complain of weight gain, hair loss and lack of energy when consuming soy in larger amounts.

And in an attempt to fix this they chug soy milk like a bodybuilder would chug whole milk and eat soy protein bars like they are candy (which they are) because they think they aren’t being healthy enough! Little do they know a possible cause of the symptoms is what they are trying to fix their symptoms with!

Soy contains lectins and phytates in soy bind to minerals and vitamins such as calcium, zinc, and iron.  This blocks absorption and leads to another host of problems.

The oxalates in soy can block calcium absorption and can lead to kidney stones and kidney damage.The trypsin inhibitors in soy can interfere with protein metabolism,thus causing massive gastrointestinal stress.

For those using soy as a complete protein, it is absent of the amino acid methionine. Methionine deficiency leads to a host of other amino acid deficiencies and problems with amino acids such as cysteine, taurine, and leucine. This can be very bad for brain chemistry and lead to imbalances.

“But, the Chinese eat it!”

With soy, a lot of people are going to bring up the whole, “well the Chinese eat it, and they live for like ever!”. First off, the Chinese and other Asian societies consume fermented soy, which is much easier on the digestive system.

More importantly, while they do eat it, they barely eat any at all! People here are downing soy in products like it’s a contest. Some people eat most of their daily protein as soy! The asian culture is no where near this.

Above is just a small amount of information that can help you answer the primary question of this post for you, is soy bad for you?

In my opinion, the answer to this question is yes. But there are many “bad” foods that can be enjoyed in moderation. And that is the key, although I will likely stray away from soy.

Now I know some of you may eat organic and fermented soy, so should you never consume soy again? Not at all. I avoid taking the extremist opinion; consume soy as a 20 percent food. Don’t make it a consistent choice on the menu, but enjoy it from time to time if that’s what you want, and if possible, make it organic.

Eat foods that make you feel good and look good. It’s that simple.

For more information on soy, I recommend a read of Kaayla T. Daniel’s “The Whole Soy Story.”

Guest Post: This article was published as part of the Guest Post Series. Guest posts come from leading experts in weight loss, health, and fitness. The series tries to bring a diverse range of perspectives on the critical issues of our time. The views expressed in this article are solely that of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of WeightLoss7.Net.