SoyBeans : Is it a health food?

Does any of you loves to drink soy milk? How about tofu? How about soy protein isolate protein powder? Well, what I'm about to tell you, will most likely to shock or dissatisfy many of you, especially the ones who is on Vegan Diet.  

The majority of us, were informed and thought that soy products are health food, and a good source of protein and beneficial to health. Is it a true or simply a myth? I have yet to meet any of my friends or colleagues, who is aware of what soy products can do to our body. I'm not surprise, but I'm going to disclose the facts about soybeans or soy products to any of you, who is reading this right now.

There are basically two types of soybean food. Fermented and non-fermented soy. The fermented soy, is considered to be nutritional food source, but non-fermented soy, has some of the 'harmful' effects to the body. Has any of you loves to dine in Japanese restaurant? Heard of Miso? Yes, Miso is one of the fermented soy food which is mainly consumed by Japanese community. If you are a fan of Japanese food, you might have tried Natto as well. Another fermented soy food is called Tempeh. It originated from Indonesia, especially in the island of Java. These three fermented soy foods are consumed traditionally in Japan and Indonesia as source of protein. They are safe to eat, yet considered moderately 'healthy' and provide certain benefits to health in various ways. 

Now, let's talk about non-fermented soy food. There are whole list of harmful effects, which food products containing soy can do to our health. In this case, we are referring to GMO and non-GMO soybeans. What is GMO? It means Genetically Modified Organism. I will post more about GMO foods in another day when I have a bit more time (I hope). 

Let's start off with GMO soybeans. It is one of the most widely grown GMO plant in the world, especially United States. At least 90% of all soybean grown in Unites States are GMO. Apart from corn and canola, soybean production ranks one of the top three in terms of GMO food source. Is GMO food safe for us? Of course NOT! I will mainly talk about 'Organic Soybeans' in this post and less about GMO soy products.

I remember walking into an Organic health food outlet the other day. The so called health food promoter  recommends me to buy one of their popular products, which is Organic SOY Milk. He could not tell the smirk on my face, and I politely tell him that I'm not interested. Are all Organic food products sold in health food outlets considered good and safe to consume? I would not think so myself. I even noticed certain so called 'health snacks' containing food addictive. Better still, I recently found a so called 'Nutritionist Shop' nearby my place of stay, who claims to sell 'magic protein drink'. What a joke! Tons of posters and advertisements on the walls of that shop, showing obese woman turned into a 'less overweight' body after consuming the 'protein drink'. Well, well, how intelligent one has to be, in order to fall for that fraud? Guess what, one of that shop's main product is Soy protein. Yes, soy in a so called 'magic protein drink'. How magical could it be?? Folks, there are tons of ways to lose weight by not drinking a 'protein drink'! There are also tons of ways to lose weight in an unhealthy way. 

Ironically, I used to think that soybeans food products are good source of protein too. It was years back before I discovered the truth about soy. To everyone especially vegetarians out there, if you consume any food made from soybeans, you might want to reconsider once you have finished reading the facts about soy and what it does to human body.

Below are some of the facts about soybeans and its' effects to our body and health.

• Tripsin Inhibitor - It has this substance to prevent protein digestion  from food sources into our body.
• Goitrogen - It has this substance that suppress the thyroid functions and can cause enlargement of the thyroid. 
• Phytoestrogens - Plant chemicals which has very high 'estrogen' levels. It can develop 'man boobs' if consumed regularly by male adult. It can also cause premature puberty amongst children or teenagers.
• Inhibits iron, calcium & zinc - The absorption rates of these nutrients in body, are lower with soy milk powder.
• Loaded with manganese & aluminum - It may lead to toxicity of these minerals. 
• Loaded with cadmium - Research have shown that cadmium is found in infant milk formulas. 
• Hexane extraction - It is constituent of gasoline. It is used to separate the protein from the soy during processing in factory. 

What is mentioned above, are only some of the lists of effects of soy to human body. These are all facts, and not myth or assumption. Meanwhile, lots of fast food outlets are using soy ingredients to process/cook the food as well. Also, I would like to make a statement to all bodybuilders, athletes or whoever drinking 'protein powders' out there. Look out for 'Soy Protein Isolate'. Avoid any protein supplements or powders which has this ingredient in it. Why? Apart from the harmful effects of soy, soy protein isolate also contains loads of MSG! If you think you are building muscles or consuming health drink, you might want to reconsider seriously. Lastly, to some of the pediatricians out there, why are you giving infants 'soy based formula milk'?? I don't care if those poor infants are ill or having digestive problems. But, recommend mothers to give soy infant milk to their babies? What were you thinking doctors??