The short answer to this is NO. For every single study that suggests it’s healthy, there is a counter argument that states it is NOT healthy. For example, the dairy industry funds a study that’s anti-soy and Monsanto (the largest manufacturer of GMO soy) funds a study that’s pro-soy. Confused yet? Don’t worry, I will help you make sense of it all.
Many clients I see in my office are eating processed unfermented soy or products with added soy (soy protein powders, bars, TVP, tofu, soy milk, cheese, faux butter, veggie burgers/hotdogs, infant formula etc) with minor to major health problems from bloating to hormonal imbalance to neurological problems. I don’t need a double-blind placebo controlled study to tell me what my clients tell me in the flesh. About 10 years ago I decided to eliminate dairy from my diet and became a soy-lover. I was 22 and became completely hormonally imbalanced. My blood tests showed I had the hormones of a 12 year old pre-pubescent girl, no sex drive, my hair was thinning and I had a serious case of the blaaahs. Now that I don’t consume any soy, among other health-promoting things, I’m healthy and if you haven’t already noticed — joyous. 
Here are some quotes from my clients:
- “I stopped drinking soy milk and my period went back to normal”. Stephanie
- “Getting the soy out of my diet really helped my digestion, I am no longer bloated”. Greg
- “I feel so much better now that I switched from soy to almond milk” Sarah
- “OMG Joy, it’s changed my life. I had the worst PMS and I’ve stopped soy for 3 months now, I feel like a different person”. Teresa
- “Soy is like the devil to me now, if I eat anything with soy in it, I feel so sick”. Stace
- “I just didn’t feel right, I couldn’t put my finger on it and now I feel energized, happy and healthy”. Carrie
- “I am so shocked the difference in just 2 weeks of quitting eating tofu, I’m a vegetarian and feel so much better. I love your quinoa recipes!!” Jenn
I have yet to come across a single person in my practice who hasn’t benefited from eliminating processed soy products. And this is precisely why I have written this post.
I am including some more resources I encourage you to read to get the WHOLE soy story, rather than writing a lengthy post like I’ve done in the past, I’m forwarding along some fantastic resources because I would rather you do the research yourself to be inspired to achieve your most joyous health ever!
Recently, I read a great article posted by fellow Nutritionist and friend Doug, writer for AOL’s That’s Fit:
“While the soy industry has pushed hard to get us all to associate the word “soy” with “healthy”, the fact is that soy contains a number of anti-nutrients that cause severe health problems if consumed in an unfermented form. You really couldn’t get further from a health food. All those meat-substitute “veggie burgers” and “veggie dogs” that people choose as a way to avoid meat, having been told it is the healthier choice, would have been better off having the meat. Never mind the excessive processing and additives that go into those “foods” in order to make them meat-like; never mind that the vast majority of soy is genetically modified and is one of the most heavily contaminated with pesticides of any food; the properties of the humble soy bean itself are enough to cause major health problems.”
http://www.thatsfit.ca/2008/04/01/say-no-to-tofu/: Excerpt from article:
These anti-nutrients include enzyme inhibitors (which interfere with protein digestion leading to inadequate protein absorption), phytic acid (which blocks the absorption of important minerals like calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc), goitrogens (which interfere with the proper functioning of the thyroid) and phyto-estrogens (causing endocrine disruption). In fact, the article states that, “In 1992, the Swiss health service estimated that 100 grams of soy protein provided the estrogenic equivalent of the Pill.” This may make you think twice before feeding your baby soy infant formula, no?
But before you go home and throw away your soy sauce and skip the miso soup when you’re out for sushi, note that fermented soy is not the problem. The long fermentation of soy gets rid of these anti-nutrients and turns it into a safe, delicious condiment that may even be health promoting. These products are things like tempeh, natto, miso and naturally fermented soy sauce. This does not include tofu which is highly processed and not fermented.
Dangers of Soy: http://www.naturalnews.com/027358_soy_food_GMO.html
Just because you are vegetarian, does not mean you need to eat soy: http://www.thatsfit.ca/2008/04/07/soy-follow-up/
Let’s examine why soy products are far from healthy: Excerpt from article:
For greater clarity, soy products are classified into two main groups: fermented and unfermented. There are also another two sub-groups: organic and Genetically Modified (GM). The GM soy is to be avoided at all costs, as the hazards of GM are some of the worst innovations of modern day bio-technology. Not only are all GM products unhealthy to humans and animals but also to the normal plants that grow in the surrounding area, due to the natural process of winds causing cross-pollination, resulting in mutated species of what were once natural variations of plants. This topic is too vast to cover in this article but for more research, visit (http://www.non-gm-farmers.com) .
Wonderful resource from New Zealand: http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/
Hexane contamination of soy protein and soy products: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZOKa7CQb8g
I hope reading all this information helps you achieve your most joyous health ever.
I agree 100% percent. As as bodybuilding guy, I was chugging back the soy protein shakes a few years ago until I read a study that soy promotes breast tissue, not to mention the fact I was constantly bloated and didn’t know why. Thanks for posting this. I will be sure to pass along.
I removed soy from my diet three years ago and never looked back. I cringe when I see products that tout the “healthfulness” of soy. Thanks for posting this!
I love this article and I could hug you for writing it!
I can totally attest to the fact that cutting soy out, makes a difference. I felt like a total head case and couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong. I wasn’t getting my period and was totally emotional. I was also consuming TONS of raw soy products. After seeing you and getting some eye opening info, I cut out the soy and now, I too, am joyous! It has made such a huge difference.
You’re the bestest, thanks Joy!
My pleasure. I’m so happy you are feeling better too Candice!!
Great article. What are your thoughts on products like organic edamame, miso, tempeh…are these ok soy products if consumed in moderation or avoid altogether?
Yes these are okay forms of soy to consume.
My son has milk allergy and was recommended soy milk. He was only 2 and still a heavy milk drinker. At his 4 year old allergy test, he’s now developed a soy allergy!
I’m trying to wean the kids onto oat milk…
Have you tried almond milk or brown rice milk? Sorry to hear about your challenges. I’m glad to hear that you are getting him off soy, but it sounds like you didn’t have a choice.
Hi Joy,
Thanks for writing this. I have recently become a Conscious cook and eater- cutting out meat and using mostly natural ingredients, but have also introduced soy not realizing it’s so bad and I haven’t been able to figure out why I’ve been so bloated when eating healthy.
I’m going to cut it out and see if it makes a difference.
Thanks again!
Your welcome Shelby, thanks for reading it. Let me know how it goes.. I’m curious to see how your digestion improves/changes by eliminating soy.
I used to be all over soy milk, but the more I learned about soy the more I started to question it.
It reminds me of corn in the sense that it’s a heavily subsidized form of produce and can be made into pretty much anything. Products that are THAT processed scare me off.
I still drink miso soup (I don’t eat edamame because I don’t like the taste) but I’ve since cut waaaay back on tofu and I’ve converted to almond millk.
Thanks for posting this
My hormones are MESSED… probably from all the processed soy I used to consume :S Did u see an endocrinologist or anything when u were experiencing symptoms or did u fix it yourself by changing your diet? I was also wondering what your thoughts are on ezekeil bread (cause it contains soy) and soy lecithin (In my almond milk) Thanks so much!!
Yes, I did visit an endo, but it unfortunately did not solve my health issues. I changed my diet and lifestyle and it changed my life because it improved my health for the better. I love ezikiel bread. Which brand are you referring to? The one I buy is just sprouted wheat, not soy. Yes there is usually a small amount of soy in almond milk, but if you make your own you don’t have to worry about this. Here’s a recipe:http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/totally-fabulous-smooth-delicious-almond-milk/ EnJOY!
Hi Joy,
Thanks for the almond milk recipe! It looks delish, I will definitely try it this week. As far as the bread goes.. I am referring to the sprouted grain ezekiel by the food for life brand.. all kinds, the cinnamon raisin, 4:9 original, etc. all have sprouted soybeans in them. Are they okay in this form because they are sprouted?
Your welcome Laura! Anything sprouted is more digestible because the enzyme inhibitors are released. Do you know if the soybeans are organic, non-gmo? If not, I would avoid it. I am familiar with the Food For Life brand because I eat the brown rice bread. However, personally I would not actually buy that brand if the main ingredient is soy, sprouted or not.
Very very informative, thanks.
I agree. Monsanto has cornered 90% of the market with their GMO’s, and the organic soy is becoming contaminated by all their GMO’s. It’s a very sad thing.
I’ve given up soy. But the problem I find is that almost everything has some form of soy in it these days.
All I can say is… READ LABELS!!!
Great advice Tiffany. Soy is as bad as wheat and corn now… companies are adding it to absolutely everything they can. The number of clients I see with soy sensitivities now is out of control.
Soy is good if eaten correctly and in the right portions, it has a lot of female hormone but it’s also a great replacement for lactose intolerants.
I really disagree. Soy is the most genetically modified over-processed/farmed crop right now. It is not a health promoting food unless it is non-GMO, organic and most importantly fermented. I have seen many clients time and time again in my office who have benefited immensely from getting soy out of their diet. Humans are exposed to enough female hormones from non-organic dairy and meat and the use of plastics etc etc.
While most of this article is interesting and I agree with a lot of it, I cannot believe the last paragraph of this article. Especially this statement: “Not only are all GM products unhealthy to humans and animals..” This is grossly untrue.
It is one thing to DISAGREE with the idea of genetic modification of plants, but it is absurd to say that GMOs are unhealthy for humans. The genetic modification in soy beans sold by Monsanto is to confer glycophosphate resistance that is, Round Up (a pesticide) resistance. This is done by adding the genes for a different shikimate pathway enzyme (how the plants make aromatic amino acids) that is not inhibited by glycophosphate. This does NOT correspond to the plant being harmful to humans. This enzyme is already present in the plant, and does not change the biochemistry of the plant in the least, except that it is now not killed by Round Up.
I am not an advocate for GMO, and choose non-GMO as much as I can, but I would never say that these plants are dangerous for human consumption becuase of this pesticide-resistant genetic modification. This is how you create fear in those that are not educated in the biotechnology field. Each GMO is an individual case and should be treated as such.
Hi Danielle, thanks for sharing your opinion. This is precisely why I love my blog because it gets people thinking and talking about the issues.
GMO is absolutely unfit for human consumption and what is even more concerning is that it has never even been deemed “safe”. I highly recommend you read “Seeds of Deception” or youtube it or watch the World According to Monsanto to understand how it basically slipped through the cracks of the FDA and it’s all about profits and has nothing to do with nutrition. I am very concerned that big companies think they can bend the laws of nature. Combining the DNA of 2 different species (which is what GMO is) is nothing something I ever want to put in my body.
Interestingly, about 10 months ago I did a seminar at Toronto Western Hospital for the University Health Network. My presentation topic was on organics and GMO. The seminar was for hospital staff – everyone from doctors, nurses, researchers to admin. The reason I tell you this is there was a Geneticist there, she has spent her entire life studying genes and worked at the hospital doing research. She came up to me after the seminar because she wanted to “talk” to me. I honestly thought she was going to bash my presentation because I spent some time discussing the dangers of GMO etc. Anyhow, long story short, she told me that GMO is absolutely a threat to nature, she is completely against it and that Monsanto should not be allowed to genetically modify organisms, that it will (and is) a great way to create SUPER BUGS and SUPER WEEDS. The point is, nature is smart… you can’t make these kind of modifications to organisms and expect all will be okay. It’s ALL about money for Monsanto and the US government. I also encourage you to check out what has been happening to the farming industry in India, I think you might change your mind.
Joy
Well, like I said, I am not a supporter of GMO for food. So my mind doesn’t need to change. I know it is all about the money and I know all about how terrible Monsanto is.
However, I don’t like to slam biotechnology. I studied biotechnology for a couple years in University, and when I saw some video of “seeds of deception” I feel like it takes advantage of the general public’s lack of understanding of what biotechnology is, how it is done and what it has accomplished for us. I get a little heated about people bashing biotechnology and GMO even though I am not a supporter of GM food myself, lol.
I urge you to learn more about this topic by taking a gander at a biotechnology textbook. In particular, Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA, 4th Edition Author: Bernard R. Glick, Jack J. Pasternak, Cheryl L. Patten.
This fairly new technology has a lot of kinks to work out and is not ready to be in our food supply, but I do not agree with the way “Seeds of Deception” instills fear in it’s watchers. I found many errors in his statements about molecular biology principles. GMO has so much potential in medicine and agriculture when done RESPONSIBLY, and I don’t like the fear being spread on the subject. Let’s not make people afraid of science!!
Just wanted to reply to Danielle’s post. That is very sensible explanation of GMOs. I don’t have any experience in biotech, but I am an experienced biochemist, and I have always been of the exact same opinion. Afterall, we’ve been genetically modifying crops ever since Mendel (albeit indirectly through crop selection).
Also, I find it interesting that the author of this blog is replacing one highly processed food (soy milk) with another (almond milk). Sure seems like a poor decision to me, but hey, almond milk hasn’t been popular long enough yet to be demonized. I reckon that will be the next generations work.
I have been bloated since drinking soya milk Its been nearly 2 weeks since i’v given it up but i still feel bloated when will i feel better?
It’s hard to say, there could be something else in your diet causing bloating as well. There are many different causes of bloating from improper food combining, to digestive intolerances to not chewing enough. You can book a 15 minute complimentary session with me if you like and I can give you some tips!
ok L live in england so is that possible
Joy, this makes me really sad as i LOVE yogurt but am trying to transition into a vegan diet and soy yogurt is one of my favorite foods. Any tips/alternatives for me out there?
Hi there Stephanie, sorry to make you sad but soy is really best avoided. Fermented organic tempeh is fine as a protein source but not soy milk or yogurt. That’s a tough one to find an alternative to yogurt if you are not going to eat any animal products. Have you tried coconut kefir? That could be a nice option, just watch because most of the brands have a lot of additives. Are you transitioning to vegan for ethical reasons? Just curious…
Hello there, I found your blog and this entry while researching potential causes for my skin problems. I think I will try eliminating soy altogether for a month. For me, I think this will mostly mean eliminating tofu and edamame. If you have time, I have a couple questions:
When reading product labels, are there any tricky pseudonyms I should avoid?
I assume unprocessed soy is just as bad (edamame) as everything else you mentioned in the blog entry?
Thank you,
Katy
Fermented **organic** soy products are fine in moderation: miso, tempeh. Young organic edamame beans okay in moderation as well. Read all labels and look for all derivatives of soy ie. lecithin can be bothersome but for the most part soy will always be in the name. It’s not like MSG which several different names and can be difficult to figure out.
Let me know how you make out with it!
I stick to organic soy products when I’m shopping, but not always when eating at restaurants. I’ll pay close attention and stick to ONLY organic and fermented.
Thank you so much. I’ll check back in after awhile. In the next month, I’ll also be going on vacation, which usually correlates with an improvement in my skin!
Hi Joy – I eat simple bars, they contian soya crips, are these ok. If not what bars do you reccommend. I love to have bars on the GO as a mini meal. thanks
Thank you for your information, this has reaffirmed what I believe and I really hope that others will listen too!
7 years ago I began to feel really ill after eating certain foods, I finally narrowed it down to soy. I went to an allergist who at the beginning of my session with him told me that he “highly doubted I was a allergic to soy” and that soy allergies are more common in “babies!” (I was 26 at the time!)
Well needless to say my skin test was positive, and yes I do have a true soy allergy. I have since educated myself on the harmful effects of soy, and I cannot believe how many people who still see soy as a “health” food!!
My story gets worse because not only am I allergic to soy in food, my family and I live in a rural area and guess which crops have become the most popular in the last 10 years?? SOY!! I have soybeans planted all around my nice country home, and during harvest season I am confined to my home (or watching for the combines and dust billowing from them, runnning back and forth to my car with my 3 children yelling “RUN MOMMY!!” behind me) seriously, the food industry has people fooled!
This fad food item is heavily poisoned with pesticides (I have also seen this first hand, the farmer himself tells us to stay indoors when he’s spraying, yet it’s okay to eat this stuff!!).
I hope someday the word will finally be heard that soy is evil, but unfortunately the food industry is much larger than me. Thank you again for your words.
Robin McDonell