Soy has rapidly become one of the most commonly consumed health foods throughout the world. This food was consumed in Asia long before it made it to America, but the United States was quick to jump on the soy bandwagon and support the tofu food craze.
Many health experts proclaim the many health benefits of soy and tofu food products; they say that soy and tofu food prevent heart disease, fight cancer, minimize hot flashes, and build strong bodies. You rarely hear a negative thing about soy and tofu products, but now scientists are saying that there are proven risks that outweigh the possible benefits. What are these risks and how much soy is safe to eat? Read on to find out.
Health Hazard
Thousands of studies have linked soy and tofu food to malnutrition, immune-system breakdown, digestive distress, thyroid dysfunction, reproductive disorders, cognitive decline, infertility, cancer, and heart disease. Part of the problem with modern soy and tofu food is the amount of processing, toxins, and chemicals that go into the manufacturing. Many unhealthy preservatives and additives are now used in the production of soy and tofu food products, including sugar, salt, artificial flavorings, colors, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). There are also many anti nutrients and toxins found in soy and tofu food.
Soy is also listed as one of the top eight allergens, and soy allergies have been increasing recently due to the use of soy infant formula and the greater amount of soy and tofu food in grocery stores. Many people have severe allergic reactions to soy and tofu food, such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, hives, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, and anaphylactic shock.
Finally, phytoestrogen, an ingredient in soy, is known to cause fertility problems, and it has a greater impact the earlier that it is introduced in the human system. This is especially important to note because it has become increasingly common for infants to be given soy formula soon after birth. This lapse in judgment could cause severe problems for these babies later in their lives.
How Much Is Too Much?
You may be thinking: ¡°They eat this stuff all the time in Asia¡ªwhy aren¡¯t they getting sick?¡± Well, the truth is that people in Asian countries actually eat very little soy and tofu food. While consumption of soy ranges from 9.3 to 36 grams of soy food per day, Americans think nothing of having 1 cup (252 grams) of tofu. Infants, especially, are consuming too much soy and tofu food in the form of soy formula.
The next time you are reaching for the tofu food in order to make that healthy choice, consider the facts. Do the risks outweigh the benefits? It¡¯s up to you to decide.
