What is your opinion of soy? - Page 3

[ScarletBegonias]

Originally Posted by Magelet

Just my opinion/belief based on research, but I think soy is bad bad bad.
Here's my basic take. For thousands of years, folks in asia grew soy. They grew it as a cover crop, and didn't eat it. Then, particularly some societies which eat more iodine rich foods (lots of seafoods, seaweed, fish eggs, shrimps, some fishes) discovered that it was edible if they fermented it for a long time, and started to include it in their diet in moderation. Because soy reduces sperm count, hurts thyroid function, circulates estrogenlike plant hormones throughout the body, makes protein more difficult to digest, and causes other havoc on the body, (there is evidence that soy formula is the biggest reason girls are hitting puberty younger, among other things), me and my DP are extremely cautious of soy in our diets.

I don't worry about small amounts of soy that is fermented (fermented (not brewed, that isn't the same) soy sauce and miso, but there are a few other types that we don't use that are fermented).

I also eat tiny amounts of tofu or edemame, ALWAYS with an animal protein at the same meal. So a tofu veggie stir fry might happen every month or two, but it will always include an egg. Edemame is only when I go out to eat sushi, and thus with fish. I read somewhere that eating animal protein with soy helps the body better deal with the bad stuff in soy.

I never eat any products containing soybean oil, soy protein, soy protein isolate, or any other processed soy.

Originally Posted by cristeen

I spent several years eating lots of soy products as a veg and then a vegan. I did some serious damage to my body. At this point soy is extremely limited - to real soy sauce on occasion, the very rare bit of miso, and a bowl of edamame if I'm having sushi (a few times a year). I don't allow it in my diet in any other form.

ita with both of these posts.

i had severe hormone problems made worse by following a vegan soy diet.

soy is EVIL

[es1967]

Just out of curiousity to those who had problems with soy- how often were you eating it?? I've been eating soy products for more years than I can remember -in moderation. I have not experienced any negative side effects. If anything I am in much better health than most people I know. It just seems impossible that eating soy products in "moderation" would cause that many problems. I have spoken to many asian friends who eat a ton of soy. They told me in their country they eat Tofu with every meal. Never did they tell me that it caused them any health problems. If anything they talked about how healthy they consider it to be. From what I have read asians don't suffer alot of the diseases that Americans do. Also, that most woman don't expereince menopause at all. Now I can see if you are eating very processed forms of soy. I cannot believe that say a veggie dish with Tofu is going to be anywhere as bad as eating a hamburger/fries and other typical American type dinners that are highly processed. So to those who had issues w soy-how often were you eating it and what forms of soy did you eat?

[ScarletBegonias]

soy in asia and soy in america is totally different. it is a different type of soybean.

i personally was eating one small serving of soy each day. sometimes tofu, sometimes protein powder. i *always* ate organic non-gmo soy, as well. still had BAD problems.

several moms i have talked to with bad acne and their teenagers (girls and boys) with bad acne had their acne *completely* disappear (as well as more severe pms) after i told them about soy and they stopped drinking/eating it.

i think too, some people are just *very* sensitive.

you can eat "typical" american food, but eat it all organic and natural. even hamburgers, pizza, anything, really. i think an all organic bbq-ed cheeseburger is waaaaay more healthy than a protein substitue like soy.

[es1967]

Thanks for the info scarletbegonia. Talking about pms-I never really experienced pms until a yr after I had my DS at 39. I have been drinking soymilk for about 20yrs. Definitely, I can see that some are more sensitive to it. I only use soymilk for oatmeal so I don't have alot. Also have tofu-2x per week. I never got into any other processed forms. We love Edamame. So I have always used it w moderation. I'm curious about the soy beans in Asia vs US soy beans. I find this all very interesting. Thanks again for your info.
p.s what I meat re the "all american diet" was that "most" people I know-say 90% don't eat organic anything. Many eat everything processed,fast food etc. So in my opinion eating tofu and veggies vs stopping at McD's for a burger and fries( grease ,fat,sugar!!) is so much healthier. In your case you have a sensitivity so that is different.

[dovey]

For 2 years I thought my child had an allergy or intolerance to soy because he had some digestive difficulty which I attributed to his consumption of soymilk. So I cut all soy out of his diet. Finally I took him to a real allergist who did tests on him and found that I was mistaken. After reading what people write on MDC and other websites, it's very easy to come to the conclusion that soy is the source of many dietary problems. People talk! That's how I diagnosed my son with soy intolerance. I was wrong. We have introduced soy back into his diet and he is just fine - he's healthier and has more energy than before. He's also happier because he doesn't constantly have to worry about whether a food has soy in it.

We eat soy every day. Soymilk, tempeh and tofu. We use it as a meat substitute and as a milk substitute. We are ethical vegans and it is a staple of our diet. I have eaten this way for 6 years now and I am extremely healthy. I have nourished my body through two pregnancies, nursed one child for 5 years, tandemed for 2 years, and nursed the other child for three years. I feel happy and strong. My children are healthy. I realize that my family is just a single example, but I feel that this demonization of soy is not supported by good science.