One of the biggest debates in the
health food-minded world today surrounds the use of soy and soy derived
products.  Some extol the benefits of soy ranging from healthier skin to
breast cancer prevention, while others condemn the bean as a key contributor to
hormone-related cancers.  How can one little legume stir up so much
controversy?  Actually, it’s one of the more common questions in my
practice and one that I am more than happy to address. 

The controversy began due to a
special compound called ‘isoflavone’ found in soy.  Isoflavones belong to
a larger class of compounds known as ‘phytoestrogens.’  Phytoestrogens are
defined as any plant that mimics the actions of estrogen hormone by binding to
the estrogen receptor.  So, in a nutshell, soy can act like estrogen in
the body.  As we say in Integrative Medicine, individualizing care is
essential.  So, this natural estrogen
response of soy can be good for some people and not so good for others.

The first step in understanding the
benefits or risks that soy carries lies in understanding that ‘all soy is not
created equal’.  A quick examination of your pantry or grocery store can
clue you into all of the forms of soy that are used to produce various food
products.  In fact, try eliminating soy from your diet for a few days.  If you’re like most of my patients, you’ll be
startled at the number of times soy passes your lips.  Essentially, it
boils down to two details: 1) Whole Soy vs Extracted Soy and 2) the health
status of the person consuming soy. 

Whole soy includes edamame (whole soybeans),
tofu, miso, soy milk, soy sauce.  These items represent soy in its natural
form, whereas, extracted soy is processed many steps away from the natural
bean.  Of course, as you process any
food, you start losing the original nutritional value of that food (that’s why
whole foods are so highly touted by anyone clued into nutrition!).  Extracted soy includes soy protein isolate
and textured vegetable protein.  You’ll find these types of ingredients
most often in protein shakes, cereals and vegetarian imitation ‘meats’. 
Here is where the confusion of the controversy gets cleared up for you….right
here…Whole Soy is beneficial; Extracted Soy is not.  

As a side note, I feel compelled to
add on this little caveat: I always recommend organic soy.  Why?  Over 86% of our soy crops are genetically
modified to be pesticide resistant. This pesticide resistance power makes it
easier for these soybeans to be overly-treated with toxic chemicals- not what I
want to be serving up to my children.  In my home, it’s organic soy or no
soy.  It’s that easy.

OK, it’s that easy if you are not
postmenopausal or if you don’t have a history of breast cancer.  People with these conditions have a
potentially more risky relationship with soy. 
Join me on the next post to understand why.