Soy and Soy Bean Oil in Foods – Dangerous?

Soy beans are indigenous to Asia, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but the United States is now the primary producer of soy. Brazil is the second largest producer of soy, where cultivation of soy beans has been complicit in deforestation and the destruction of the rainforest. The majority of soy is used as a cheap food stuff for livestock, and its use has allowed for the raising of animals on a industrial scale never before experienced in human history. Humans, by comparison, consume a very small percentage of harvested soy.

Soy has been lauded for its health benefits. The health community was, somewhat ironically, likely one of the first communities to welcome soy. Because of protein content and versatility, soy beans and products created using soy provided vegetarians and vegans a guilt-free, abundant source of protein. Most people associate many of the better known soy products, such as tofu and tempeh, with health food. Since, its cheapness and versatility have made soy a popular commodity amongst food producers. It’s oil, protein and meal are components of many fast and packaged foods that many Americans consume on a daily basis. Similar to corn, most Americans likely don’t realize how much soy they consume day to day.

As its ubiquity has spread, many of the problems associated with soy have come to light, and in recent years, there has been a backlash against the soy bean. One of the primary problems with soy is the inherent phytoestrogen. These can disrupt normal hormone functions. Some men have even reported growing breasts following heavy and regular consumption of soy.

Soy is also goitrogenic, meaning it can disrupt thyroid function. Soy also inhibits trypsin, an enzyme that allows you to digest protein, which leads to a variety of problems, such as stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Also – and of particular interest to readers at Know the Cause – soy has a propensity towards mycotoxin contamination. Similar to grains and corn, soy is often stored in silos, leaving it vulnerable to fungal contamination. This puts it and all it’s products off limits for Kaufmann 1 consumption.

Soy and soy products are likely something you would want to avoid regardless of what diet you are on. Its health benefits aren’t worth the the associate risks. And because of its mycotoxin contamination soy will likely work against your goals rather than towards them, particularly on any Phase of Doug’s diets.

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