Soy: It is good for you? # 1

Soy has been around for centuries. The large scale consumption of soy has not. Soy was used in faming as a nitrogen fixator until fermentation was discovered. It has only been in the last ten years that soy has been promoted as a healthy food. This is the first of many posts that I am going to examine the truth about soy and its benefits.

Soy is one of only two or three plants that contain all eight essential amino acids. So in theory soy could replace eggs and meats as a source of protein. It is in fact heavily promoted by the soy growers and their trade organization SANA( Soyfoods Association of North America) for just this reason. The benefits of soy started to be noticed by looking the Japanese and the lack of certain cancers found in that society. Lower incidences of breast and prostate cancer has been attributed to the life-long consumption of soy. There is some evidence that soy may reduce those cancers. This observation started a decade long media campaign to convince Americans that soy is good for them. What SANA fails to tell you is that the Japanese do not use soy proteins powders or soy milk substitutes. The Japanese use the fermented soy products Miso, Tofu, Natto and Soy sauce. Fermentation is the key to understanding how the Japanese use soy. The next passage is from the Seeds of Change website. To learn more about soy place to go to: http://www.seedsofchange.com/enewsletter/issue_53/tempeh.asp

Soy beans are difficult to digest (even in the form of tofu), owing to the presence of oligosaccharides and trypsin inhibitors, and are associated with flatulence and indigestion. They also contain very high levels of phytic acid, a mineral chelator, which binds magnesium, calcium, and especially zinc, making them difficult for the body to assimilate.(Wikipedia, Hedger) It is perhaps for these reasons that the tradition of fermenting soybeans is central to the Asian cuisine. Fermented soybean products in Asia, some of which are familiar to us in the West, include: miso, shoyu/tamari (soy sauce), ontjom, natto, sufu, and tempeh.

Soy has other potential problems. It may cause hypothyroidism in children and women. It may also cause male fertility problems. On the plus side soy may help to lower cholesterol. I will write about these topics and more in upcoming posts.

Thanks for spending a part of your day here with me,

James