SOY REVOLUTION – NOT ‘SOY’ GOOD

There is a soy revolution and vast volumes of misinformation is being fed to the public on the suitability and reputed benefits of soy protein as a source of nourishment, and a way of avoiding disease.  Soy growers and processors and others that have a vested interest in seeing the proliferation of soy based proteins as a source of nutrition have published slanted data on the benefits of soy as a source of nourishment, but somehow have neglected to publish the detrimental effects of this nutrient source.  Soy protein isolates today have found their way into many processed foods, including soy flour in breads. as a filler in foods of convenience, so called health foods and soy milk, but most alarmingly of all, they are the main component of soy based infant formulas.  Therefore, many parents have been intentionally misinformed as to the so-called benefits of soy based proteins and may be inadvertently causing their children a lot more harm than good.

Let's address the omitted detrimental effects associated with the consumption of soy products.  Due to the phytic acid content of soy it has what is known as anti-nutritive properties.  The phytic acid blocks the uptake of minerals essential for normal body development and function by binding to certain nutrients.  It can, therefore, lead to deficiencies in a range of micro-nutrients including but not limited to Iron, Magnesium, Copper and Zinc.  It contains chemicals/compounds that act as enzyme inhibitors, inhibiting the action of enzymes such as trypsin, required for the digestion of protein.  It contains haemogglutinin, which promotes blood clotting.  It contains goitrogens, known to decrease the function of the thyroid gland.  The key ingredient in soy foods, milk and infant formula is Soy Protein Isolate (SPI).  Soy Protein Isolate is a powdered soy product where high heat and caustic agents are used to extract it.

Testing done on animals fed SPI, lead to the discovery that they developed an increase in fatty acid deposits in the liver and enlarged organs, especially the pancreas and thyroid gland.  It contains high levels of phytoestrogens.  These phytoestrogens mimic the action of the hormone estrogen. It acts as an endocrine disruptor by binding to cell receptors and therefore interfering with the normal function of natural sex hormones.  Could this be one of the reasons why there has been such a rapid increase in the incidence of thyroid disorders and a multitude of other debilitating and life threatening diseases.

Dr Daniel Doerge and Dr Daniel Sheehan, two senior US government scientists wrote an internal protest letter, protesting the health claims endorsed by the FDA .  In this letter they mentioned 28 studies that disclose the toxic effects of soy.  The chemicals contained in soy could increase the risk of breast cancer in women and brain damage and abnormalities in infants. 

The above statements should be enough to deter any consideration towards the use of soy infant formula. Why shouldn"t we be feeding our children with soy infant formula?  What are the potential risks and disadvantages?  Dr Naomi Baumslag, Professor of Paediatrics at Georgetown University stated that '…there is a great deal of evidence that soy formula can be damaging to newborns.’  One of the most disturbing aspects is that soy fed babies ingest the equivalent of five birth control pills worth of estrogen per day.

Soy Protein Isolates are free of cholesterol which is an essential nutrient required in the development of the brain and nervous system and these Isolates also lack lactose and galactose found to be crucial in the development of the nervous system.  There are a range of harmful and unnecessary additives in soy infant formulas that have no earthly reason to be found in our food chain, least of all in an infants food.  Infants fed soy formula are exposed to extremely high levels of hormones that can have detrimental effects on their growth and development.  Because soy formula contains high levels of phytoestrogens; a chemical similar to estrogen, its use could lead to normal hormone level disruption and therefore impair the child’s development. 

One of the scientists mentioned above puts out a dire warning to all parents considering giving their child soy infant formula.  He says that parents are ‘…exposing their children to chemicals which we know have adverse effects in animals.  It is like doing a large uncontrolled and unmonitored experiment on infants.’  Now if this information has not raised red flags perhaps the following will.  Infants fed soy formula are at greater risk of the following:  Immune system problems, early puberty, infertility, endometriosis in girls, prostate and breast cancer, depression, learning difficulties, early physical maturation in girls, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, extreme emotional behaviour and disrupted sexual development in boys.  Dr Mary Enig, President of the Maryland Nutritionists Association, stated that it can lead to ‘…higher rates of reproductive disorders, asthma and allergies…’

Therefore, if a child is fed soy it increases their risks of reproductive, behavioural and neurological problems.  On August 15, 2001 an article was published in the JAMA that brings to light certain facts. Firstly, that women who had been fed soy formula reported slightly longer duration of menstrual bleeding and greater discomfort with menstruation.  Other gynaecological problems also arose such as an increased rate of pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, polycystic ovaries syndrome and blocking of the fallopian tubes.

Instead of feeding your child an anti-nutritive food source such as soy infant formula, why not consider the most nutrient dense food for them, and that is breast milk. Breast milk is filled with all of the goodness necessary for a child’s optimum development.  It contains anti-bodies to develop the child’s immune system and therefore help them fight disease.  There are fatty acids that are important for neurological development, such as DHA which is crucial for brain development.  It contains fats and proteins in a harmonious quantity and range.  Dependant on the mother’s diet, it also contains all of the vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are necessary to set baby on the path to optimum development and health.  

In closing, please don’t take my word alone.  There are many resources supporting the pros and cons of soy.  What is most alarming is that everybody has been more than happy to support the pros and discard the cons.  We have to ask ourselves, can we engineer food such as Soy protein isolates that is more functional, than food that has already been engineered for us and not by us.  Can we really replace the goodness, balance and range of essential nutrients found in breast milk?