|
THE LOWDOWN ON SOYA... THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY Doctors are definitely confused by it, many health practitioners' views differ on it and you'll find articles that sing its praises and those that slander it. So let's look at some of the facts about soya. In Eastern cultures soya foods are traditionally eaten in their fermented forms, such as miso, tempeh and natto, making them easy to digest. Until the discovery of fermentation techniques during the Chao Dynasty (1134-246 BC), the soya bean was not used as a food. In fact, its early use was for its root structure to enable effective crop rotation and its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil.The Good
The Bad Soya contains potent enzyme inhibitors that block the action of trypsin in the body, needed for protein digestion. It also contains phytic acid, a substance that blocks the uptake of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper in the digestive tract. The only way to effectively neutralise these substances is through fermentation. Too much soya acts as a goitrogen, meaning it can slow down thyroid function. The majority of soya products are genetically modified and contaminated with pesticides, with soya being one of the most highly sprayed crops on the planet. The Ugly Soya milk and soy protein isolate are made in large aluminum vats and “washed” with acid, resulting in the finished product being contaminated with this unhealthy metal, which has been linked to various diseases such as Alzheimer's. It is then flushed with an alkalising solution to neutralize it again. The high temperatures of the processing denatures the other proteins in the soya. Nitrates, known carcinogens, are formed during the spray-drying of the protein powder, which is used in many foods including baby formulas. Much of the commercially available soy has been genetically modified. Juggling the Pros and Cons Generally people in the west over-consume soya in an attempt to use it as a replacement for items that have been hailed us unhealthy, such as cow's milk. As a result soya is now in the top ten allergenic foods list, mainly due to the fact that big food manufacturers are using it to bulk out their processed foods. Soya derived ingredients can be found in all manner of foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, sauces and many more. Soya in and of itself is not a “bad” thing. There are many considerations regarding its use, but more so regarding its source. My advice would be to only eat organic soya products, and where possible fermented versions of this food. Soya milk is best taken in small doses, from an organic source and certainly not daily. It shouldn't be given to young children on a regular basis as it may interfere with their natural hormonal development. There are many other “milks” to try such as oat, almond and rice, or make your own nut and seed milks. Avoid processed foods and enjoy natural soya in moderation. Increase your intake of other fermented foods such as kefir and live, natural yogurt to supply your body with the beneficial bacteria needed for the active isoflavone conversion or supplement regularly with a good probiotic. Reference: Jo Rowkins dipNT mBANT is a nutritionist and the executive health adviser for The Spa Resorts, Lamai. She is available for one-on-one (or online) nutritional and lifestyle consultations. |