NoSoy Debunks the Bean

Print out the Soy Decoder (Soy Aliases) to use in dicussions with school and hospital dieticians. It is a list of soy food products. Beware inhalers such as Atrovent, which contains soy lecithin.

The truth is that soy is not a miracle food suppling complete protein. In the orient they had to ferment it (tofu, soy sauce) to make it edible.

What is soy?

The soybean is a legume, also known as Glycine max. It products include machine oil, edible oil, printer's ink, pressed imitation food (beef, crab, pepperoni, etc.), food additives, flour, grits, and stockfeed. The United States is the largest grower of soybeans (50 percent of the world crop). It is not known in the wild and is believed to have been created through cultivation from Glycine ussuriensis, a wild Asian vine.

History

Chinese cultivation of soybeans began before recorded history. The soybean was considered one of five sacred grains (along with rice, barley, wheat and millet). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began introducing varieties to the United States in the late 19th century. The vegetable oil industry started a cooperative program in the 1930s of U.S. and Canadian researchers to improved soybeans through selective breeding. The program introduced new varieties with higher yields and oil content. Subsequently, the United States became the world's largest producer of soybeans. American strains have spread to Africa, Latin America and back to Asia. Genetic improvement, aiming for better surviveability (not being killled by the chemicals sprayed on them), higher yields and better protein composition, have already begun. These genetically altered beans are restricted in some European countries but are sold unmarked in the U.S.

How it is grown

Soybeans need irrigation but can be grown in most soils. They do not tolerate frost. Plants mature in 75 to 200 days. They can be used to fix nitrogen in the soil by plowing the plants under when green. Soybean seeds are hard pea shaped yellow beans harvested with combines.

Soy Products

Although not readily digested without fermenting, soybeans have seven of the eight essential amino acides, deficient only in methionine. Soybeans produce numerous foods: flour, grits, green or dried bean, soy milk, tofu (curd), cheese, soy sauce, teriyake sauce, vegetable oil, food flavor enhancers (msg and natural flavors) and emulsifiers. Soybean protein is also used as a meat substitute. Soybeans are also the major component of domestic animal feeds (although it has been shown to stunt the growth or kill some young birds). The green crop is used for hay, forage, and fertilizer. The soybean also has industrial uses: the manufacture of glycerin, paints, soaps, linoleum, rubber substitutes, plastics, and printing ink. Almost half of the U.S. soybean oil production is used in margarine and shortening, and another 20 percent is used to make other food products.

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Health Claims

There have recently been a spate of health claims made for the soybean. Careful examination of the research does not support these claims.

• The cholesterol lowering research shows that cholesterol is lowered in 20 percent of the cases over the 350 level but not in people below 250. Almost anything other than lard will reduce cholesterol over 350 (unless the body is out of control and producing the cholesterol itself, in which case medication sometimes doesn't even work). You should try to keep your cholesterol in the 150 to 180 range (see your doctor).
  
• The claims about reducing breast cancer are based upon very slender research, namely a small select group of Japanese women, who are probably genetically not prone to breast cancer. The test needs to be performed upon women with a tendency toward or family history of breast cancer. Then see what soy does!
  
• Soybeans have a component which stimulates estrogen production (in both men and women) and most doctors don't recommend using estrogen in any form for people with a family history of breast cancer or fibroid tumors. A Report released this June states that women who take estrogen for more than ten years have an increased risk of breast cancer. A Yale physician specifically warned us off estrogen way back in the 1970's. Menopause is a poor time, because of the stress, to take soy as an estrogen replacement because the stress can trigger an allergy to soy (as more and more women are writing to us). See Developing a Soy Allergy below.
  
• Infertility. There should be an investigation of whether soy causes infertility in men (low sperm count) because of soy's estrogen stimulating properties. We suggest that males cut out soy for three months before trying to impregnate.
  

If you don't see your symtoms here, add them to the symptom category in the NoSoy Forum. We all need education on the subject of soy allergy.

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• Acne is a disorder of the sebaceous glands of the skin. Sebaceous glands secrete through pores and hair follicles--which are most abundant on the face and scalp--a fatty lubricant known as sebum. Acne occurs when the pores become clogged with sebum. Blackheads--external plugs formed of sebum and dead cells--may be invaded by bacteria, which cause pus-filled inflammations, or pimples. The overlying skin may become stretched to the point of rupture, resulting in lesions and, in prolonged severe cases, eventual scarring. Adolescents are most prone to acquiring a case of acne. The exact cause of acne is not known but is believed to be related both to genetic predisposition and to the increased hormonal activity that occurs during puberty. Poor skin hygiene and lack of sunlight or exercise can often aggravate acne. Soy may increase irritation in susceptible persons.
• Anaphylaxis is an extreme allergic reaction to a foreign substance. Subsequent exposure can produce an overwhelming body reaction called anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include severe itching, muscle spasms, facial swelling, obstruction of respiration from swelling in the larynx, and a drastic fall in blood pressure caused by widespread dilation of blood capillaries. The drop in pressure can lead to circulatory collapse and death. Anaphylaxis is treated by injecting powerful stimulants (such as adrenaline) to restore blood circulation and using antihistimines to combat the allergic reaction. If you have this symptom, you may want to ask your doctor for an EPI-PEN to carry with you.


• A Canker is a sore that appears as a small, white ulcer or blister in the mouth or on the lips. Occurring either singly or in clusters, cankers are often tender, and sometimes painful, sores. They tend to heal quickly without treatment but occasionally are a symptom of a serious infection instead of allergy, for example, of a viral infection or other disorder.


• Inflammation and infection of the mucous-membrane lining of the eyelids and eyeball, or Conjunctivitis, can be caused by allergy.


• Dermatitis is an inflammation, or irritation, of the skin resulting from such causes as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and allergens. It can arise directly from skin contact with external agents or as a result of disorders elsewhere in the body. The symptoms of dermatitis include itching, burning, redness, blistering, or edema (swelling). Scratching may result in secondary bacterial infection. Skin-contact dermatitis includes primary irritant, allergic, and photochemical dermatitis. Primary irritant dermatitis is the most common type and is caused by the direct toxicity of certain chemicals or foods that come in contact with the skin. Allergic dermatitis involves the immune mechanism and requires prior sensitization of an individual to agents such as cosmetics, chemicals, plants, drugs, or costume jewelry. Photochemical dermatitis occurs when an individual with photosensitizing chemicals on his skin is exposed to light.


• Diarrhea, excessive frequency and looseness of bowel movements.


• Eczema, sometimes referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a symptom of various skin disorders. It is characterized by noncontagious, itching skin on which scaly, red patches, as well as tiny, fluid-filled blisters, may appear. When the blisters burst, the skin becomes moist and "weeps." A person may contract eczema at any age and at any place on the body; but the ailment occurs chiefly on the ears, hands, feet, and legs. In infants and adults, it is often caused by allergy to certain proteins in soy, wheat, milk, and eggs. Eczema is best treated by finding and removing the cause. Lukewarm compresses help relieve the itching and redness of weeping skin. Once the skin is dry, it may be treated with the antiinflammatory drug cortisone. Scratching the skin should be avoided, because it may cause more weeping and further irritation and lead to a bacterial or a fungus infection.


• Heart Palpitation, rapid, often irregular, beating of the heart.


• Hives, known medically as urticaria, is a skin rash characterized by smooth, whitish or pinkish swellings. The swellings (wheals) look somewhat like mosquito bites and usually itch, although they may also sting or burn. Hives appear suddenly and may last several hours or days. Hives are usually not serious, and the itchiness can often be relieved by antihistamines or cold compresses. In severe cases when the larynx becomes swollen, causing shortness of breath, cortisone, adrenaline, or other drugs may be given.


• Irritable Bowel Syndrome, excessive frequency and looseness of bowel movements with or without cramping.


• MSG or Chinese syndrome. Headache, runny nose, or upset stomach after eating soy. Called Chinese syndrome because of effect of eating Chinese food with soy monsodium glutimate (MSG) and soy sauce.


• Panic Attack. Shortness of breath, sever anxiety, rapid heartbeat.


• Localized Swelling, often without itching.

Vomiting, ejecting stomach contents through the mouth.

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