Soy Products

Question: Soy Products? Can somebody please tell me if Soy Products are more fattening then normal Dairy, or Light Dairy - such as Soy Milk Vs Skim Milk etc.

Answer: Maybe yes-maybe no. You would need to compare the calorie and fat level of the different products labels to determine which is more likely to be more fattening. As a *rough* general rule the alternative milks are aimed at the market for 2% milk and are therefore lower in fat and calories than whole milk and have more calories and fat than skim. Does that help?

Question: soy products...? When i was trying to lose weight in the past, I was eating a lot more soy products. They worked out great with my healthier eating lifestyle and exercise routines, but I have heard that soy products aren't that great for you in the long run. Is that true?

Answer: Thank You For Your Wonderful Answer In My Question ; I Wish I Knew The Asnwer To Your Question :) EDIT My Fingers Are Okay But A Bit Sore :)

Question: Are soy products actually good for you or secretly harmful? I read somewhere one time that soy products actually can be bad for you (i.e. increasing estrogen levels in males and testosterone in females). Is this true, and are there other risks with consuming soy products?

Answer: This question will start up a big controversy, as the question "is soy healthful or harmful" is very controversial. Soy does do a number on your hormones, no one can argue that because there is proven data and there is proof of phytoestrogens. But, phytoestrogens are in a lot of foods. Flaxseeds and mangos are two vey healthful foods, but they also have phytoestrogens. The thing is, soy has a LOT of phytoestrogens, much more than other plant based foods. Google dangers of soy. You will see lots of convincing well thought out articles on soys harm, so now you are convinced soy is detrimental to your health and your about to go pour out the Soymilk and toss the tofu. Now google benefits of soy. Just the same amount of convincing articles telling you how healthy soy is. Now your confused because you just threw out your thought to be evil soy products and now think they're healthy.. Why is it so confusing? The dangers of soy things are mostly backed by the dairy industry to stop people from switching to soy cheese, milk, yogurt, etc. The goodness of soy campains are backed by the soy industy. But who to believe? Both. Studies have proven soy can do damage, while others have shown it beneficial. Soy in my opinion should be eaten in moderation, like everything. I personally prefer the taste of rice milk over soy milk, so I drink rice mill. But that doesn't mean I don't eat the occasional veggie burger with soy in it. With my gluten intolerance it is hard to find meat alternatives without gluten. Soy is gluten free, but I only eat veggie burgers once a week if that. And it's improtant to have a range in food, mostly fruits and especiialy lots of veggies. Soy has it's place in your diet, but it shouldn't make up the majority of it. And be sure to get non gmo soy as many people react to soy in terms of intolerances and allergies and getting non genetically altered soy is usually helpful. Remember, it is very controversial and that's why I treat it in moderation, as with everythign

Question: Soy products not good for you? I recently read that soy products are bad for you. Yes, I read this is someone's answer to another question. I don't eat alot of soy, in fact I probably don't eat any anymore. But I have always been under the impression that soy products are very benificial to your health, especially if you are vegetarian or vegan. I was wondering if anyone could clear this up? if they're bad for you, why?

Answer: The main problem rises from the fact that most of the soy produced and marketed worldwide comes from genetically modified beans, whose long term effects on our health are now quite clear. The beans have been modified to become resistant to pesticides and herbicides, or even to some pests, so that food companies are able to keep production volumes high. The beans are then used for any type of processed food you can think of (same story happens with corn or some wheat varieties): from sausage to all soy-derived products (tofu, sauces etc). processed soy is also used in non-Asian products (e.g. pasta sauces, chocolate, bread etc) - the result is that if you eat already made (i.e. industrially) products or ingredients very often, you' re more exposed and may experience allergy or intollerance reactions. Next time you'll do your grocery shopping, just check the label: you'll be surprised, you'll see soy in products you'd have never thought of.

Question: Are soy products good or bad for you? I hear conflicting reports about soy products and their effect on health. What is the truth?

Answer: Felicity Lawrence's article on soya was potentially misleading (Soya: it's in most of the processed food we eat, but is it safe?, July 25). Lawrence described how a dead parrot in New Zealand led Dr Mike Fitzpatrick to investigate the safety of phytoestrogens (plant hormones) in soya. She didn't mention that he is a director of the Weston A Price Foundation, a body that promotes traditional farming and the consumption of butter, eggs, whole milk, meat and saturated animal fat. It is also responsible for a long-running campaign against soya. Lawrence states: "In its raw form, the mature [soya] bean is known not only for its oestrogenic qualities but also for its anti-nutrients, according to the clinical nutritionist Kaayla Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story." Yet Daniel too is a director of the foundation. Moreover, Lawrence presents the conclusions of the government's committee on the toxicity of food in 2002 as saying that "in general the health benefits claimed for soya were not supported by clear evidence and [it] judged that there could be risks from high levels of consumption for certain age groups". In fact, the committee concluded that neither the risks nor benefits were supported by clear evidence. However, the UK's Joint Health Claims Initiative is so convinced of the health benefits of soya that it has approved the following health claim: "The inclusion of at least 25 grams soya protein per day as part of a diet low in saturated fat can help reduce blood cholesterol." Lawrence acknowledges that "30-40% of all infants in the US are raised on soya formula", but doesn't point out that, if soya is so harmful to babies, then this massive sample would prove it. It doesn't. It's one thing to feed experimental animals massive doses of soya isolates, but human studies show a different result. In 1998, one study (Klein) looked at soya formulas, found no risk to infants and found them to be a nutritionally complete feeding option. Another study (Strom, 2001) looked at the effect of soya on reproductive health and found none. As a health campaigner, I think it would be extraordinary for any organisation to promote cow's milk as a better alternative to soya when it contains 35 different hormones and 11 growth factors, which can be up to 20,000 times stronger than phytoestrogens, and have been linked to cancers of the breast, ovaries, prostate and colon - as we in the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation established in White Lies, our report on the health consequences of consuming cow's milk. Two-thirds of UK milk comes from pregnant cows, when hormone levels are particularly high. In a country where breast cancer has increased 80% since 1971 and now affects one in nine women, we should be much more concerned about oestrogen rather than phytoestrogen, a plant hormone that has been consumed by millions of people for thousands of years. Lawrence is right, soya production is devastating the rainforests: but as at least 80% goes for animal feed, including dairy cows, the promotion of dairy will ensure the destruction continues. · Article written by Dr. Justine Butler (This is just a side note,alot of anti soy info comes from Dr. Mercola,and guess what?He also happens to be a member of Weston A. Price!The website soyonlineservice has been quoted alot by users in this forum claiming soy is bad,they also get their info from Weston A. Price)

Question: Do soy milk or other soy products really have an effect on men and a child's growth? I've heard that soy milk (or perhaps soy in general) limits zinc absorption and thus negatively affects a child's growth. I also heard it has an emasculating effect on men. Does it affect boy's body or genital growth during puberty? What are the true effects of soy milk and other soy products?

Answer: 1. Soy does not have a feminizing effect on men. Consuming soy foods does not make you ''feminine'' at all. Diet does affect your health- no doubt about that - but ''feminizing effects''? Nope. 2. Soy DOES contain phytic acid- which binds itself to minerals such as zinc, calcium, and iron in foods. HOWEVER, that being said, soya does NOT lower absorption of such minerals to such a degree that would cause a deficiency in a balanced diet. (We're talking a slight reduction in aborption here- not something that will spark deficiencies in a healthy person). 3. Soy, like any other food, is absolutely fine in moderation. Basically you would have to consume bucketloads of soy to have any negative impact on your mineral status.

Question: What are the potential dangers of eat/drinking soy products? I'm considering becoming a vegan and I want to switch to soy products as a source of protein. I also hear really great things that soy products can do for you health; but I also heard it could cause breast cancer among other things. Is it true that you can develop health problems from consuming soy over a long period of time?

Answer: There is no actual scientific evidence that soya causes, prevents, contributes to or affects the progress of any cancer, including oestrogen positive breast cancer, which is the one most often cited. Soya proteins contain isoflavones that can mimic a weak oestrogen effect. It's not the same as the oestrogen your own body makes though - it is 1,000 times weaker than your own body's oestrogen, but it's this that has led to concerns (and rumour) about oestrogen dependent cancer. There are those in the field who argue that isoflavones may be of help in preventing breast cancer or be beneficial to women who have had breast cancer. There is current research into whether increasing phyto oestrogens in the diet helps to prevent breast or prostate cancer, and a study in 2002 found that women with the highest levels of soya products in their diets had the lowest breast density - higher breast density being associated with higher breast cancer risk. Women with the highest levels of isoflavones in their diet are reported to have significant risk reductions for uterine cancer. There are concerns about the effect of soya on certain existing thyroid conditions, but I don't have sufficient knowledge to comment on that

Question: Is it possible to make a cake out of Soy Products? I was wondering if it's possible to make a normal birthday cake (NOT chocolate) using Soy products? My daughter has a milk allergy and can only handle Soy products and on her first birthday I want her to have her own little special cake, but unless I make it with Soy products she can't stomach it! :( So anyone have any good recipes? Or any thoughts on how I can make a tasty cake minus the dairy?

Answer: I hope eggs are ok for her to have. I don't know if this will work for you....you can maybe substitute the heavy cream (it's a small amount, but still...) with some soy milk maybe, and use sugar if you are more comfortable with it, rather than the substitute. Have you checked out low-carb recipes online? Many will use soy products because they are lower in carbohydrates than white or whole wheat flours...and many will skip on milk. Italian Sponge Cake 5 eggs, separated, at room temp 8 teaspoon-equivalents sugar substitute 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind 3 tablespoons soy flour 4 tablespoons heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a layer cake pan with butter or oil. Place egg yolks and sugar substitute in a bowl. Beat with electric hand mixer until well blended. Add vanilla and lemon rind. Continue to beat and add soy flour 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until well blended. Add heavy cream and blend in. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff. Fold yolk mixture into whites by hand, with an under and over movement. Be careful not to break down the egg whites. Turn into layer cake pan and bake at 325 for 30 minutes.

Question: Is Soy products good for your skin? like silk's products or basically any type of soy?Im not quite sure if its good or bad for your skin...i know its good for you though..Im already taking accutane to get my skin clear and im a new vegan and hopefully my skin will look as good as it ever will.Anyone know?

Answer: The Accutane WILL clear up your skin, so you won't have to worry so much about what you eat once the medicine sets in. :) Studies have shown that what you eat has a negligible effect on acne flare-ups. But it can never hurt to eat healthy and drink a lot of water anyway (if you are watching your diet for skin reasons). ***ALSO*** If you are taking Accutane you do not have to add to your intake of more vitamin A, as the medication is (basically) an extremely potent dose of it! Taking in more vitamin A can affect your liver. (So don't binge on carrots during this time.)

Question: Is the soy that is used in Morningstar products genetically engineered? I know so many soy products are made with genetically engineered products....what about Morningstar products? genetically engineered soybeans that is.

Answer: Thanks to the sloppy method of gene splicing that Monsanto used it's become essentially impossible to avoid GMO food! Max Marie is (I think) referring to the Starlink corn problem that has been a *major* problem ever since the junk got approved. They (along with a lot of others) had to recall many products due to contaminated corn. The USDA's 'solution' to the problem of contamination was to essentially ban independent testing of the food supply! MSF does offer some products with 'organic' soy but since I'm quite familiar with what the term really means I tend not to pay much attention to that (yes, I'm a pessimist). You might find the links below helpful. Feel free to add your voice to those of us that have expressed their concern over source materials to the companies.

Question: Is it alright for guys to drink and eat soy products such as soy milk? I heard that soy products contains estrogen, female hormones, I really do prefer soy milk rather than other milks. I started buying soy milk solely upon the use of soy nutrients that can prevent some fats from forming. Should I stop consuming in soy products? Oh, Is there a supplement or any other foods/produce that contains testosterone?

Answer: you would have to drink A LOT of soymilk for it to effect you. a glass or two a day wont hurt.

Question: What are some examples of processed soy products? if u guys no, what are some examples of soy products that are "whole food"?

Answer: Processed: Tofutti Cuties Whole: edamame In-between: tempeh

Question: Where can I buy some soy products? I live in the Los Angeles area, and was wondering if anyone knew of any specialty stores, or any stores for that matter that carry soy meat and other soy products?

Answer: I live in Vegas, so the best thing I can say- is to make your own tofu.. or buy it from a whole foods market. They have the best selection of everything. Morning star fake meats, tofu, Tempe, veggie dogs. If you live in Cali.. you are lucky! There are many specialty markets out there! :) Go to a local Vegan Rest. and pick up some flyer's, or look at there bulletins.

Question: Is it harmful to eat soy products? I'm a vegetarian, and my stepsister recently brought to my attention that she believes I should eat soy products very sparingly. She said that soy products can cause skin problems (acne, etc), over-production of estrogen, as well as other problems. Who agrees with my stepsister, and who believes that soy is not problematic to eat?

Answer: Soy products are totally healthy. I have been eating all kinds of soy products and drinking tofu milk for many years, and I am totally healthy.

Question: Can soy products cause constipation in toddlers? My daughter is 16 months. She attends an in-home daycare, where my provider has recently started giving all the children soy milk since two new children are being raised vegetarian by their parents. It seems that within this same timeframe, my daughter has started having very painful and hard bowel movements. She stands up on her tiptoes, grabs onto whatever she can, sometimes bites into her hand, and screams and cries trying to have a bowel movement. It makes my husband and I cry and feel utterly helpless. Stool softeners, laxatives, anti-gas medicines, increased water, fruits and vegetables have not helped. And she doesn't do this everyday, maybe just for a day or two, then she seems normal again. Has anyone had this experience and have any advice? Do I need to tell my daycare provider not to give my daughter soy milk and "meatless" products?

Answer: Yes they can. Why does your daycare provider assume that they can give soy to every child? The vegetarian parents should bring their own soy specifically for their own chilren. Talk to the care provider. If she refuses to make exceptions, bring your own milk for your daughter and insist that she give your daughter that.

Question: Can you please tell me the name of soy products or all soy/health/vegan stores? I am looking to eat more soy products. I am in southern california if that helps. Just looking to eat more healthy with very little cooking. I like tofutti ice cream so I am already aware of them the basic limite items you find in your local store. I guess I am asking for maybe products that I am not aware of. What soy products do you use and where do you buy them?

Answer: i live in so cal too! i drink 8th continent fat free vanilla soymilk... YUM dont get silk soy milk. its gross as for stores: trader joe's has everything healthy, organic, and soy good luck =)