A Vegan Health Article from All-Creatures.org

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Putting the Soy Anxiety to Rest

From T. Colin Campbell's Center for Nutrition Studies
December 2010, Updated May 8, 2024

Despite so much fear-mongering, natural soy products (natural as opposed to isolated soy ingredients or supplements containing isolated nutrients from soy) consistently show a protective effect against many of the very same things they are accused of promoting.

You may have noticed the overabundance of headlines about soy foods; I know I have. It’s been a regular subject in the popular press for decades. Here are just a few examples published in recent months:

• Is Tofu Good for You?
• Tofu is still a popular alternative to meat, but is it actually good for you? Here’s what the science says
• Does Breast Cancer Feed off of soy?
• Does Soy Cause Breast Cancer?
• Is Soy Bad for You—or Is That Just a Random Health Rumor? RDNs Weigh In

Articles like these illustrate a deeply entrenched anxiety about soy in our society. Is it healthy? How does it affect this or that condition? Is it inappropriate for certain stages of life? In what form is it healthiest? What are the differences between tofu, tempeh, or edamame? Does soy milk have a feminizing effect on men?

What I find strange, though—and the reason I describe these stories as overabundant—is that the science is far less inconsistent than the headlines suggest. All of the articles listed above reach essentially the same conclusion: Despite so much fear-mongering, natural soy products (natural as opposed to isolated soy ingredients or supplements containing isolated nutrients from soy) consistently show a protective effect against many of the very same things they are accused of promoting.

How did the popular narrative become so backward? One reason might be the variability of studies—studies on soy protein powder may yield different results than studies on highly processed meat replacements, much less edamame—but can that fully explain the chasm separating the evidence and the myths so commonly regurgitated?[6] Remember, it’s not just that many of the fears about soy are unfounded but also that the body of evidence shows an opposite effect.

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Please read the ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE.

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: May 20, 2024
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We began this archive as a means of assisting our visitors in answering many of their health and diet questions, and in encouraging them to take a pro-active part in their own health. We believe the articles and information contained herein are true, but are not presenting them as advice. We, personally, have found that a whole food vegan diet has helped our own health, and simply wish to share with others the things we have found. Each of us must make our own decisions, for it's our own body. If you have a health problem, see your own physician.