One of the most popular items at any local grocery store is Soy Milk – it’s an item that many people assume is healthy because it is an alternative to dairy.
We have discussed the difference between Raw Dairy AND Processed Dairy – and although many might assume “all” dairy is bad, raw dairy is actually great for you.
Processed, on the other hand, is horrible for people – and that is what most people are unable to consume (and the reason why they buy Soy or Almond). Very few people realize the health benefits of Raw Milk.
Hate to say this, but Soy is NOT a good alternative .. this is one item you will never find in my refrigerator.
Soy contains:
#1 – Phytic Acid: Blocks the absorption of calcium, magnesium and zinc, in addition to many other minerals. What is so scary, is that many parents of newborns use Soy based baby formula – which has Phytic acid. This Phytic acid prevents the absorption of minerals that are critical to newborns – calcium, magnesium and zinc – Zinc is crucial to the developing brain and nervous system (especially for babies, at a time when the brain is growing at a rapid rate..)
#2 – Phytoestrogens: (or, Isoflavones) are estrogen-like compounds which can have an effect on hormones. Phytoestrogens can mimic the body’s hormones – consuming soy products can lead to heavy or longer menstrual periods in women (here and here). .. and is one of several factors causing early puberty in girls. Soy can also lead to low sperm balance in men, infertility and sexual disfunction.
Even worse, if you are a parent of a child who is on Soy-based formula, these phytoestrogens are estrogen like compounds that can disrupt the baby’s hormonal system. Feeding an infant soy formula is the equivalent to 5 birth control pills a day. Flooding the baby’s bloodstream with those can affect their development – it can lead to early puberty in girls, and have the opposite effect on boys (delayed maturation)… and lead to fertility issues later on in life.
#3 – Trypsin Inhibitors: Proteins in Soybeans that inhibit digestion and prevent the absorption of nutrients.
The active ingredient in Roundup herbicide is glyphosate, which is toxic to the placenta. The placenta is crucial in delivering nutrients from Mom to Child, it also eliminates waste products – by destroying or damaging the placenta you are risking potential miscarriage (and furthermore, birth defects).
The placenta is extremely sensitive to glyphosate, and only 1/500th the amount needed to kill weeds is needed to kill cells.
Genetically Modified Soy
Soy is NOT a healthy item and can cause quite a few health problems. Over 90% of the Soy in the U.S. is genetically modified … and sprayed with Roundup which can have an effect on your health.
We have talked about the growing use of pesticide on our crops, and Soy is NO exception.
MOST of the Soy in the U.S. is used to produce Soybean Oil – which is extracted using the chemical solvent hexane.
The remainder left after the fat has been extracted is Soybean Meal – which is 50% protein. That soybean meal is used to feed livestock and further processed to produce soy protein.
Soy is cheap – and therefore is used in almost ALL types of processed foods… most people pick up boxes off the shelf without even knowing that it’s in there. It’s also part of your Tofu, Soy Milk and Non-Dairy Products. Unfortunately Soy Protein is a major ingredient in Soy-Based infant formula.
Although Soybeans Do contain some important nutrients (Iron, Calcium, Thiamin, Folate, Manganese, etc.), they are ALSO very high in Phytates – which can bind minerals and prevent absorption.
Soy inhibits the body’s ability to absorb iron, copper, calcium and zinc – as well as magnesium.
Isn’t Organic Soy Better?
Organic Soy may provide a better quality OF Soy (not sprayed with Roundup herbicide), but it still has the same problems as GM soy – high levels of phytic acid, hormone disrupting plant estrogens that can affect not only babies but also women, men and the hormonal systems of girls and boys.
If breastfeeding is not an option, Raw Milk is a great option even for children – many babies who are allergic to commercial dairy can sometimes have no problems with raw milk (you can buy Raw Milk at Sprouts or find a local farm near you).
You can learn more about Soy by reading this book, The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America’s Favorite Health Food… or pick up on Kindle.
[…] Skim and low fat milk is always touted as a health food – and most Americans are certain that drinking skim or low fat is the only way to effectively lose weight. Likewise, soy is always touted as a healthy alternative – especially for those that are lactose intolerant. That couldn’t be farther from the truth – the modern processing of soy includes grinding up the leftover soy protein (the waste product from soy oil) and putting it in items that hit grocery store shelves. Consuming soy (with the exception of fermented soy products) makes it quite dangerous to your health. […]