The Scoop on Soy
Boy, oh boy! There is a lot of hullabaloo around soy!
Indeed this little bean has caused a big ruckus in the world of healthy eating.
Is it good for you or is it bad?
Here, we set the record straight:
Soy Bad
Unfermented soy products like tofu, soy milk, soy cheese, etc., are what’s giving soy its bad reputation. Unfermented soy wreaks havoc on your body because of how it’s made (via high temperature, high pressure and with acidic chemicals). This unnatural process produces a versatile vegetable-based protein substance that: is actually indigestible and blocks the absorption of critical vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc; contains naturally occurring isoflavones that mimic estrogen and, as such, raise the body’s estrogen levels (which, in turn, causes hormonal imbalances, which in turn can cause everything from breast cancer to infertility); suppresses thyroid function and disrupts endocrine function; causes blood clots, cognitive decline, eczema, IBS, panic attacks and even inhibits growth.
Whoa.
More bad news: Unfermented soy is in upwards of 70 percent of all packaged foods. Even the ones in the health food stores contain soy and soy derivatives like soy oil, soy flour, soy lecithin and soy protein isolate. Just another good reason to skip anything prepackaged and go for only fresh, whole foods.
Soy Good
Okay, so now that you’ve completely written off soy forever—don’t. Fermented soy is actually good for you. Fermented soy products include miso, tempeh and soy sauce. The fermentation process reduces or eliminates the indigestible-cum-toxic acids in soy and nullifies the negative effectives listed above. The fermentation process creates probiotics, aka the good bacteria that your body needs to be healthy by increasing the digestibility and assimilation of nutrients in your body.
What about edamame?
Put these steamed soy beans in the not-so-good category and eat them very sparingly. Never eat edamame raw and remember that even the steamed ones contain dangerous antinutrients, toxins and phytoestrogens.
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