Could Soy Be Sabotaging Your Health?

The problems associated with soy, especially soy milk. Including unexplained digestive & thyroid issues.

🍃 If you've been exploring alternatives to dairy and wheat, soy milk and soy flour may have crossed your mind as healthier options. But it’s important to understand the potential health implications. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation, a leader in natural health information, soy may not be the best choice for everyone. Also bare in mind soy is considered a top 10 allergen.

🍃 Soy and Hormonal Disruption Soy contains phytoestrogens, plant-based compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. These compounds can interfere with hormonal balance, potentially leading to thyroid problems and other health concerns. The Weston A. Price Foundation highlights that even small amounts of soy can affect thyroid function, particularly for individuals already dealing with thyroid issues. In fact, soy can sometimes contribute to a condition known as goitrogenesis, where it can interfere with thyroid hormone production and lead to goiter (enlarged thyroid).

🍃 Soy and Nutrient Absorption Soy also contains anti-nutrients such as phytates and lectins, which can block the absorption of key minerals like calcium, magnesium, and zinc. This interference with mineral absorption can contribute to deficiencies over time, which may affect your overall health. Weston A. Price research emphasizes how these compounds, especially in processed soy, can be problematic for digestion and mineral balance.

🍃 The Goitrogenic Effect of Soy As mentioned before soy is considered a goitrogenic food, meaning it can interfere with iodine uptake in the thyroid, potentially leading to thyroid dysfunction. Goitrogens, found in foods like soy, can inhibit the body's ability to produce thyroid hormones by blocking the action of iodine, a critical component for thyroid health. Many experts cautions that regular consumption of soy, especially in large quantities, can exacerbate thyroid issues for those who are already vulnerable or have pre-existing conditions.

🍃 Fermentation: This is why many can tolerate soy sauce! Fermentation can make soy easier to digest. Fermented products like tempeh and miso are often better tolerated because fermentation breaks down the problematic anti-nutrients and makes soy more digestible. However, some people still can't tolerate good quality soy sauce, though this is less common.

🍃 The Soy-Gluten Connection For those on gluten-free diets, it’s important to be aware that many processed gluten-free products contain soy flour. In fact, over 60% of packaged foods, including many gluten-free products, contain soy. So if you're not improving as well as you expected to when changing your diet - check how much soy flour you are consuming.

🍃 How Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) Can Help If you’re unsure whether soy is affecting your body, Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) can help identify food sensitivities and determines how soy and other foods impact your body. This non-invasive method can help pinpoint whether soy is contributing to your digestive problems, hormonal imbalances, or other symptoms, allowing you to make better dietary choices.