by Jeff DeMartin CPTII FND

Created on: July 24, 2008   Last Updated: June 18, 2010

Soy products have become an increasingly popular product of the last decade or so, with unqualified "health nuts" touting the purported benefits of these products. Being a fitness professional I have been bombarded with questions on the subject by friends, family members, and clients. I try to be as objective as possible when addressing the issues that come to me about the benefit versus risk ratio.

One of the biggest problems with soybeans is that of all the agricultural crops, it happens to be one of the most pesticide treated. The reason for this is that so is one of the most genetically engineered, corporate grown products. Commercial processing standard methods have also been shown to dangerously raise levels of aluminum, which could possibly relate to hire instances of Alzheimer's disease. Soy contains the blood clotting agent Hemaglutinin, which is potentially devastating to those with heart disease or any other coronary issues.

Disturbingly enough, soy can also be positively linked with hypothyroidism because of its content of goitragens, which are damaging to thyroid hormone producing enzymes and also iron inhibiting. serious mineral deficiencies due to the levels of phytic acid is soy can potentially cause neurological problems such as attention deficit disorder, and other learning disabilities.

Pancreatic problems, as well as digestion issues and inhibition of growth and been linked to trypsin inhibitors, which are found in soy. On top of all of that, a direct contradictory process to soy product health claims is the use of hydrogenation in the processing of soybeans. Hydrogenated foods contain an abundance of free radicals and also promote disease. Trans-fatty acids are extraordinarily abundant in soy products as well due to the hydrogenation process. Our bodies cannot break down trans fatty acids.

If you're thinking that you can avoid these issues by using a soy protein supplement, think again. Soy protein is nothing more than a waste byproduct of the processing of soybeans, which makes it completely devoid of any true nutritional value whatsoever. Also, soy protein has never been supported for human consumption. With all of the potential dangers of these products, I wonder why they are even on the market in the first place. I guess some will not see true that which does not support their particular social agenda. If you absolutely have to use soy protein and there's no convincing you otherwise, try to stick with a soy protein isolate. It is processed in a much safer manner and is beginning to have some positive scientific research substantiating its potential use.

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