Soy, More Poisons In It

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More Poisons in Soy

A new toxin has been added to the long list of antinutrients in soy foods. In addition to phytic acid, isoflavones, protease inhibitors, nitrates, lysinalanene, aluminum, fluoride and MSG, soy also contains a human carcinogen called 3-MCPD.

The substance is created during the manufacture of soy sauce and hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP). The New Zealand Ministry of Health and other health agencies worldwide have acted to withdraw several brands of soy sauce from sale because of the presence of 3-MCPD.

It is also present in soy sausages and other imitation foods. Tests showed that consumption of just one sausage by a 25-pound child could result in exposure above the safe level (soyonlineservice.co.nz).

More Poisons in Soy (continued)

Present in numerous plant foods, oxalate is a compound that can bind with calcium in the kidney to form kidney stones. People prone to kidney stones are advised to avoid high-oxalate foods such as spinach and rhubarb.

Scientists at Washington State University in Spokane tested 13 types of soy-based foods and found they contained enough oxalate to cause problems for people with a history of kidney stones.

Some of the foods contained 50 times more than the suggested limit of 10 mg per serving. According to Linda Massey, PhD, head of the study, "Under these guidelines, no soybean or soy-food tested could be recommended for consumption by patients with a personal history of kidney stones" (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 9/2001).

And More Bad News for Soy

A stinging editorial in British Medical Journal says that estrogen compounds in soy have no proven benefit in the treatment of hot flashes.

"Phytoestrogens have not been shown to improve other symptoms that characterize the menopausal transition, such as anxiety, mood changes, arthralgia, myalgia and headaches."

The report also dismissed claims that soy protects against osteoporosis and heart disease. Said the authors, "That phytoestrogens prevent breast cancer also cannot be substantiated" (8/18/2001 323:354-355).