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Is Soy Dangerous?
Interview, 09/05/2007: Bobbie Shepard-Mardocco, NP
Once touted as a “miracle food,” soy is increasingly receiving more attention on its possible dangers. For years, soy has been credited as a good source for many health benefits and has been used in its many forms to help people who wish to: lose weight; gain healthier hair, skin and nails; combat fatigue; fight the effects of menopause and PMS; avoid foods to which they are allergic (lactose products, peanuts, etc.); and combat high cholesterol levels. Soy has become so popular, that it appears in many products commonly found in grocery stores, including milk/cheese/yogurt/ice cream, flour (look on the labels of packaged bread and other baked goods), burgers, chips, vegetable oil and more.
Above all, Bobbie urges balance. The biggest “danger” related to soy is just in overdoing it. People who see negative side effects related to soy are probably using it in great excess, using soy and soy-based products as a substitute for everything from milk to meat, from snack foods to salad toppings. Anything in excess is probably not healthy, says Bobbie, and soy is not an exception.
In her years as a Nurse Practitioner and Complementary and Alternative Medicine specialist, Bobbie has seen soy’s benefits in patients needing a “boost” of estrogen: women suffering from the symptoms of menopause, for example, and men diagnosed with prostate cancer (a testosterone-driven illness). For women who are breast feeding or formula feeding however, a diet high in soy may affect the hormonal development of the nursing child. The plant estrogens found in soy can adversely affect a developing infant’s hormonal balance and hormone-related activity. Anyone getting too much soy in their diet can see adverse effects on their digestive processes, thyroid function, adrenal function, sexual drive, and/or any other bodily function tied to hormone levels and functionality. For instance, Bobbie has seen male patients exhibit PMS-like symptoms and decreased sex drive as a result of taking too much soy.
To derive the greatest benefit from soy, Bobbie recommends taking it in its least “processed” forms. Also, fermented soy products, such as some tofu, miso, natto and tempeh, are very beneficial, as they contain probiotics, the good bacteria our bodies need to maintain digestive and overall wellness. These fermented soy foods are credited with the lower instance of various cancer types in countries like Japan and China, though Bobbie is quick to point out that these countries also have higher intakes of omega-rich fish and lower intake of red meats than the average Western diet.
Part of the Immune Recovery and Wellness Clinic’s function is to analyze the diet of each patient in their care, whether admitted for cancer recovery or the treatment of depression. Knowing how much (if any) soy or soy-derived products a patient may be taking is just one part of the full diagnostic performed in order to assess whether any dietary changes need to be made for his/her treatment to be most effective. While limited varieties and quantities of soy are beneficial to many people, great amounts of soy will most likely have adverse affects on most people. The hormone effect of soy may help or hinder current medical treatments and may have greater effect on some individuals than others. The Clinic’s purpose is to tailor each treatment to each patient, rather than make sweeping generalizations regarding any one element of patients’ overall health.
Please be watching this site for upcoming articles. Bobbie will soon speak about another dietary hazard: the overwhelming presence of antibiotic and growth hormone substances in today’s milk and meat products and the effect these animal-injected chemicals are having on today’s consumers.
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520.751.0100
Is Soy Dangerous?
Immune Recovery Clinic Interviews
