Is soya bad for your health?

[Kiva Dancer]

Asians eat both types of soy, not just fermented.

Their soy consumption is among the highest on the planet.

Their incidences of heart attack, stroke, impotence and certain cancers were among the lowest on the planet until they developed a more "western" style of eating. Now, these issues are on the rise. But it is not because of the soy they eat.

I am in a very high group for breast cancer as well. I have a strong family history of breast and reproductive cancers, I'm also childless and I had a lumpectomy when I was a teenager. I eat soy without fear because I have read several places that indicate that soy prevents the growth and spread of cancer cells, it does not increase them.

So far, I have not had one problem with cancers or any re-occuring lumps. My sisters, aunts and mother have not been so fortunate. They do not eat soy at all. I do.

[Kelzie]

I have a question about soy allergy...I'm not sure if this is the right thread but it seems like it, you know, "soya is bad for you" and all...okay, okay I know it's not about soy allergies, but I couldn't find another one. So anyway...I have a suspicion that my mom really wants to go vegan, but she is allergic to soy. The thing is, she only has a reaction when it is processed, like tofu. She can eat soy beans just fine. Do you think it might be something they use to process it?

[eve]

I think it is for your mother to deal with, if she really does want to go vegan. In any event vegans don't *have* to eat soy, there are plenty of vegies, fruits, nuts, lentils, beans, etc, etc.

[Kelzie]

Huh...I guess what I was hoping for was a cure for soy allergy :rolleyes: . I know it's her choice not to be vegan, it just sucks cause she can't eat any of my cooking, which I figure if she could eat it, that would be one less animal killed/harmed.

[phillip888]

Hey folks, that article is a rewrite of Sally Fallons persuasive anti-soy article (it's even refrenced at the end of the article). In fact most anti-soy articles are. For those that don't know, Sally Fallon is very much a lobbyist for the beef and dairy industry. The article is literally full of lies, ones that have been ripped apart by so many people, yet pseudo-news sites constantly keep posting it and refrencing it.

[Kiva Dancer]

I have a question about soy allergy...I'm not sure if this is the right thread but it seems like it, you know, "soya is bad for you" and all...okay, okay I know it's not about soy allergies, but I couldn't find another one. So anyway...I have a suspicion that my mom really wants to go vegan, but she is allergic to soy. The thing is, she only has a reaction when it is processed, like tofu. She can eat soy beans just fine. Do you think it might be something they use to process it? It's very possible.

But as Eve said, vegans don't necessarily *have* to eat soy to be vegan. Believe it or not, it's really not a requirement. :D

If you cook with a lot of tofu, then my recommondation would be to try finding dishes that don't involve tofu so she can eat them, too.

[dreama]

I though soya was good. Mum read somewhere that it helps reduce cancer. I'm glad she found that out. She and dad used to believe very strongly in the 'need' for meat.

[Glen]

Hello all, I am in the process of becoming vegan, but today I read some alarming things about soya. Basically I just want a rounded view on how healthy it is to replace meat with soya.

Glen

[tails4wagging]

hello, glen welcome!!. What did you read about soya??.
There is I guess something here somewhere about soya, look in the search part.

[Kim[ba]]

The Weston A Price foundation (meat advocates) are hell bent on debunking soy products. They are even trying to file a class action law suit against companies that sell soy products because of all the people that have been "harmed by soy".

From what I understand soy beans have something else in them that is bad for you, and that is why they have to be processed into soy milk, soy sauce, tofu, etc. But I think it's very healthy, certainly not bad, to consume soy products.

If you are concerned, or have an allergy to soy, hemp is a very good choice as well and it's just as easy. You can make hemp milk, tofu, burgers, etc. Hemp is actually a better source of protein, has the perfect ratio of omega's, and is a good source of vitamin E.

[Tigerlily]

Everything in moderation, Glen! You certainly wouldn't want to be eating a diet soley based on soy products. Fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains should be making up the bulk of your diet...with soy products every now and then, like a glass of chocolate soy milk (highly recommended, yumm!) or a plate of tofu stir fry, for example.

You shouldn't be replacing non-vegan stuff solely with soy. Veganism isn't all about replacing meat and dairy with "fakes". You should experiment with new things and try to change the old habits of eating the same old "stand bys". I'm not sure if I'm making much sense, though...

That's my two cents! :)

Good luck with your veganism!

[Glen]

This article (http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/index.htm#) is the one that stated me worrying...

[Kim[ba]]

From what I read, those articles made no mention of organic vs non-organic, or GMO vs non-GMO. I would be interested to know how the research was conducted. If what those articles say are true for organic non-GMO soybeans, then I would switch entirely to hemp in a heartbeat.

[Glen]

I don't know but it is putting me off turning vegan a little bit. I was wholeheartedly into the idea before. I know there are other replacements but all i could get in my supermarket was tofu :-(

[Kim[ba]]

Most supermarkets I've seen sell tempeh, sietan, and others, as well as almond and rice milk. If not, you could try a health food store if one is available in your area.

[Poison Ivy]

I shouldn't worry too much about what Dr Mercola said, he is quite heavy handed with the pro-meat, anti-vegan/vegetarian rhetoric, see this (http://veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3136&highlight=check+load+crap) thread for more of his drivel and apparent reasons as to why (in particular post No.10).

[Glen]

Isnt tempeh also soy?

[gertvegan]

Isnt tempeh also soy?Have a look at this (http://veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1431&highlight=tempeh) thread Glen. ;)

[mattd]

like a glass of chocolate soy milk (highly recommended, yumm!)

not to start something here, but i gotta with the chocolate almond breeze. i've never had any kind of soy milk that even comes close to touching it :)

[feline01]

not to start something here, but i gotta with the chocolate almond breeze. i've never had any kind of soy milk that even comes close to touching it :)
Gotta agree with you here, mattd. That stuff is fantastic and I used the plain almond breeze to make oatmeal. Delicious :D .

[Kiva Dancer]

Agreed about the chocolate almond breeze.

Mercola and Weston A. Price are two whose "information" should never be taken seriously.

[Glen]

Okay, so moving on slightly, how often do you guys eat tofu / soya a week? And do you use soya milk every day?

Glen

[Kiva Dancer]

It depends.

Some weeks, every day. Some weeks, hardly at all.

No, I don't use soy milk every day.

[Kim[ba]]

I drink soymilk pretty much every day yes (2-3 glasses a day). I don't often eat tofu because i'm not very good at cooking it. I get most of my protein from soymilk, oatmeal, bread, peanut butter, rice, and most recently hemp seeds.

[Poison Ivy]

Soya milk - rarely, I prefer Rice Milk (Provamel's is fortified with B12 and calcium and tastes nice).

Tofu - hardly ever, just don't like it, I prefer pulses, beans or occassionally VegeMince.

Other Soya products - Alpro Soya yogurts (really scrummy), Alpro Soya Desserts, Swedish Glace/Tofutti Icecreams -probably five days out of seven (average) I eat one of these.