Over the last few decades the health benefits of soy, and soybean products, have been proclaimed far and wide around the world. Many people began to add soy products to their diet in the hopes of improving their overall health, and more particularly, fending off the onset of possible cancers. But recent research has revealed some startling facts, and the news is not good. Soy may not be as good for our health as we’ve been told. In fact, it may be downright detrimental to our total health, and it may actually cause cancer as opposed to preventing it. If you’re one of those people who have made soy a part of your diet, there are some important things you need to know.
Soybeans Contain Toxins and Enzyme Inhibitors
Soybeans contain toxins that may prove to be hazardous to a person’s overall health. Many foods have low levels of toxicity, however, those toxins are typically destroyed, or rendered harmless, when the food is properly prepared and cooked. Unfortunately, that does not apply to soy and soy byproducts.
Cooking does not destroy the toxins in soy, and apart from some specific preparation techniques (such as fermentation), does not render those toxins inactive. The toxins in soybeans remain intact, and act as enzyme inhibitors, interfering with the body’s natural digestive processes and preventing the proper digestion of the proteins we need to thrive. Moreover, recent studies have linked the enzyme inhibitors in soy to the risk for certain types of cancer, most particularly pancreatic cancer.
Soy Interferes With The Proper Absorption of Nutrients
Soybeans contain high levels of phytic acid, a compound that interferes with the natural digestive process. The phytic acid prevents the proper absorption of certain minerals, most notably magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc, which are vital to maintaining a healthy body. These mineral deficiencies have been linked to a number of chronic illnesses, including many types of cancer.
Soybeans, Genetic Modification, and Pesticides
The news about genetically modified crops is traveling fast, and many people are rightfully worried about the possible effects of GMOs on the environment and on their health. Soybean crops were one of the first genetically modified crops, and today it is almost impossible to find wholly organic soy products. Most of these crops are also highly contaminated with pesticides. Exposure to these pesticides has not only been linked to cancer, but to a variety of auto immune disorders.
What’s Hidden in the Bean Itself?
Far from being a health food, soybeans actually contain a variety of substances that adversely affect the overall health of the body. For example, they are full of nitrites which have been proven to increase the risk for many different types of cancer. Soy products also contain goitrogens, which interfere with the thyroid gland and disrupt the natural production of the hormones the body needs to regulate itself and to maintain its overall health. Certain protein strands found in soybeans have also been shown to cause an enlargement of the pancreas, and to lead to fatty acid deposits in the liver.
The Myth About Soy
For years we have been told that soy, and soy byproducts, were full of health benefits. As proof we were told to look at Asian cultures who had significantly fewer instances of disease and considerably longer lifespans. What wasn’t being made clear, was that Asian cultures only began adding it to their diet after they discovered that fermentation destroyed the toxins hidden in the bean, and that only through fermentation could the bean’s scant nutrients be made bio-available. They understood that soybeans were filled with hazardous toxins, and only included certain fermented soy products, such as miso and tempeh, in their diet.
The myth of soy has lasted for decades now, and many people have mistakenly added them to their diet as a way of promoting good health. But the truth will out, as they say, and it has now become apparent that soy is not a wonder food. For the prevention of cancer, as well as the prevention of a host of other ailments, it is recommended that people eliminate soy, and soybean byproducts, from their diet.
