Soy- Dare To Be Tried?

“Soy causes cancer and it is bad.”

“Soy helps to prevent cancer and it is good for you.”

Which statement is right? Who should you believe? I found myself in the same confusing position as I read reports and books dealing with soy as a protein source, as an adjunct to therapeutic hormones and as a cancer preventive.

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, C.N.S, in her book, Before The Change, explains that soy causes an imbalance of zinc and copper as it is high in copper and low in zinc. “Many vegetarians, who are overloading on soy, have upset the delicate balance between zinc and copper and might have become somewhat “copper toxic,” which can lead to problems such as panic attacks, hair loss and hyperactivity,” she explains. This imbalance can be simply confirmed with a hair mineral analysis.
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But is soy all that bad for you? If you have read Sonia Gaemi’s Ed.D., RD, book, Eating Wisely for Hormonal Balance, she explains that soy and other legumes such as yams, garbanzos, and black beans are high in phytohormones and have been shown to have numerous antioxidant benefits in the prevention of diseases. Genistein, a phytochemical found in soy, “is important in balancing the hormones, can inhibit the growth of tumors and may even reverse the process that lead to tumors and cancer (Chen et al. 2003)” she explains. The American Cancer Society, in an article “Soy and Breast Cancer” says it in a nutshell: We don’t know enough about the effects of soy and cancer and it is not fully understood how it can be used. This adds even more confusion into the entire pool of information.

What can you do to be safe?

Protein from soy shouldn’t be fully avoided. Instead, you should moderate your intake. When soy was initially proven to have health benefits, American did go a little overboard with soy, consuming large quantities in the form of soy milk for cereals and coffee, soy nuts and soy beans for snacks, soy burgers or sausages for lunch and soy yogurt and ice cream for dessert.

Rotation of proteins is your best bet. Not just with protein but with carbohydrates and fats as well. Too much of one thing can cause troubles such as toxicity (depending where it came from), vitamin and mineral imbalances and irritable bowl syndrome which can be manifested as constipation or diarrhea.

Eating seasonal, fresh and local foods is a simple consumption strategy if you are in doubt if something is good for you or not. This is a simple strategy that will help you not just change your energy but as well help you to change your appearance.

Warm regards,

Stefan

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Stefan Aschan is a leading expert on lifestyle, health and fitness who has helped more than 30,000 people get fit through advice on nutrition, fitness and lifestyle changes. For your free “How to live 100 years in perfect health” report and the must read “updates and solution” newsletter on how to have 10 times more success, stay on top of your goals, and accomplish the change of body and appearance, click here for your FREE supscrition.