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The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food
A groundbreaking expose that tells the truth about soy that scientists know but that the soy industry has tried to suppress. Soy is not a health food, does not prevent disease and has not even been proven safe.Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory studies link soy to malnutrition, digestive problems, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, even heart disease and cancer.
457 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 17, 2012
Whatever you think you know about soy will be turned upside down with this book. For starters, haven't you heard that in China, people have been eating soy for thousands of years...and see how thin and mostly healthy they are? No cancer to speak of (at least in non-Westernized areas). Long life. Gotta be the soy, right? Not really. As a matter of fact, most non-Westernized Asian people eat soy very sparingly. And when they do, it's been fermented for a year or two -- no kidding. Traditional soy sauce ferments in vats for about a year and a half to break down all the undigestible elements of the soy bean.
You see, soy beans are not food. Their crowning glory is their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil so that it can be absorbed by other plants, which require this nutriet to thrive. In a word, soy beans are fertilizer. When was the last time you thought it would be nice to eat some fertilizer? I didn't think so.
Soy beans were only eaten by the very poor--the very very poor--in Asia as an alternative to starving...until fairly recently, that is. The Whole Soy Story starts by providing a brief history of the soy bean's Asian origins. It wasn't until an enterprising Seventh Day Adventist missionary to China back in the early 1900s discovered that soy has a good amount of protein in it and figured out a way to torture this bean into a food product that soy began to be eaten in larger amounts as a meat substitute(they're non-meat eaters).
What didn't come to light until later was all the damage soy is capable of in the human body. Yes, soy is about 30% protein (if memory serves), but it's very difficult to digest--it has a "scouring" effect on the GI tract (and causes gas, to boot). Recent studies in China have connected soy to a significant increase in bladder cancer. Trypsin inhibitors in soy protein put stress on the pancreas and there are four recent studies that link soy estrogens with infant leukemia. Does that sound like "health food" to you?!
Believe it or not, there are even more negatives (an actual book's worth) about soy, but I'll let you read about it yourself.
So how did soy get such a good reputation if it has all these problems? Marketing. If you haven't figured it out by now, every industry--whether it's soy or corn or milk or sugar or toothpaste--has a team of scientists on its payroll cranking out studies on a regular basis that show how their product reduces cancer or helps you lose weight or makes you 25% more likely to live longer. Add to that a gullible Press eager to spread this wonderful new information to the masses, and what you get is a lot of scary misinformation.
Soy is big business these days. It's one of the largest monocrops in the U.S. and there's tons of money in it. For this reason, soy in some form or other has crept into just about every processed food product there is, either in the form of soy oil or soy protein isolate. Fortunately, as a classified allergen, products must be labeled "contains soy" if they have any soy in them at all. Although if you choose to avoid it, you may find yourself with nothing left to eat except real food (what a ghastly thought!)
If you're on the fence about the virtues of soy, this book is a must read. It is well-written and thoroughly researched. I guarantee you will become a label-reader once you learn the truth.
You see, soy beans are not food. Their crowning glory is their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil so that it can be absorbed by other plants, which require this nutriet to thrive. In a word, soy beans are fertilizer. When was the last time you thought it would be nice to eat some fertilizer? I didn't think so.
Soy beans were only eaten by the very poor--the very very poor--in Asia as an alternative to starving...until fairly recently, that is. The Whole Soy Story starts by providing a brief history of the soy bean's Asian origins. It wasn't until an enterprising Seventh Day Adventist missionary to China back in the early 1900s discovered that soy has a good amount of protein in it and figured out a way to torture this bean into a food product that soy began to be eaten in larger amounts as a meat substitute(they're non-meat eaters).
What didn't come to light until later was all the damage soy is capable of in the human body. Yes, soy is about 30% protein (if memory serves), but it's very difficult to digest--it has a "scouring" effect on the GI tract (and causes gas, to boot). Recent studies in China have connected soy to a significant increase in bladder cancer. Trypsin inhibitors in soy protein put stress on the pancreas and there are four recent studies that link soy estrogens with infant leukemia. Does that sound like "health food" to you?!
Believe it or not, there are even more negatives (an actual book's worth) about soy, but I'll let you read about it yourself.
So how did soy get such a good reputation if it has all these problems? Marketing. If you haven't figured it out by now, every industry--whether it's soy or corn or milk or sugar or toothpaste--has a team of scientists on its payroll cranking out studies on a regular basis that show how their product reduces cancer or helps you lose weight or makes you 25% more likely to live longer. Add to that a gullible Press eager to spread this wonderful new information to the masses, and what you get is a lot of scary misinformation.
Soy is big business these days. It's one of the largest monocrops in the U.S. and there's tons of money in it. For this reason, soy in some form or other has crept into just about every processed food product there is, either in the form of soy oil or soy protein isolate. Fortunately, as a classified allergen, products must be labeled "contains soy" if they have any soy in them at all. Although if you choose to avoid it, you may find yourself with nothing left to eat except real food (what a ghastly thought!)
If you're on the fence about the virtues of soy, this book is a must read. It is well-written and thoroughly researched. I guarantee you will become a label-reader once you learn the truth.
July 27, 2008
Book focuses way too much on the chemical and manufacturing process of the soybean for me. I did a learn a lot from the history of the soy bean - and more importantly the history of the marketing of the soy bean. The best parts of the book were the stories shared by soy-eaters. Well, ex-soy eaters. Then I skipped the rest to get to the ending ... which was tucked away at the end of a chapter. I was hoping for more. But since I did skip most of the chemical properties of soy, maybe I deserved a weak ending.
It's frustrating. Is anything healthy for us? We jump from drink more water, drink more bottled water, drink from hard plastic (Nalgene) bottles ... and now drink from metal bottles. Corn Oil, Vegetable Oil, Canola Oil, and now Olive Oil is the perfect oil. (I'm guessing Rapeseed, Grapeseed or Coconut will be next). There's that butter, margarine, and then back to butter cycle.
I'm going to make up my own diet. Who is with me and join me in the ice cream, chocolate and cheese diet?
July 8, 2013
I only made it about 1/3 of the way through this book, but I had gotten the point by then.
Daniel argues (convincingly) that soy is not the magic health food that the food corporations claim. She presents excellent (and detailed) evidence to the contrary. The only safe way to consume soy, she argues, is in its traditional, fermented forms: tofu, tempeh, miso, and soy sauce among them. The problem is, the versions of these products that are sold in the US are not made in the traditional way. The difference between what the traditional methods (still used in Asia, where they developed) produce and what the industrialized US methods produce is like the difference between an artisan loaf of French bread, and a loaf of Wonderbread.
The reason I only made it 1/3 of the way through is that, while the information in this book is excellent, it is a rather dry read, and by the time I was 150 pages or so in, I had already been convinced to avoid soy like the plague. I skipped around a bit in the final chapters (the information on soy baby formula is truly terrifying), but I had far more interesting things to be reading.
All that being said, the information in this book is important, and has convinced me to read ingredient lists even more closely than I had before. Although it is well-nigh impossible to eliminate soy altogether if you choose to eat packaged foods (even, and especially "healthy" packaged foods), I have chosen to reduce my soy intake as much as possible.
Daniel argues (convincingly) that soy is not the magic health food that the food corporations claim. She presents excellent (and detailed) evidence to the contrary. The only safe way to consume soy, she argues, is in its traditional, fermented forms: tofu, tempeh, miso, and soy sauce among them. The problem is, the versions of these products that are sold in the US are not made in the traditional way. The difference between what the traditional methods (still used in Asia, where they developed) produce and what the industrialized US methods produce is like the difference between an artisan loaf of French bread, and a loaf of Wonderbread.
The reason I only made it 1/3 of the way through is that, while the information in this book is excellent, it is a rather dry read, and by the time I was 150 pages or so in, I had already been convinced to avoid soy like the plague. I skipped around a bit in the final chapters (the information on soy baby formula is truly terrifying), but I had far more interesting things to be reading.
All that being said, the information in this book is important, and has convinced me to read ingredient lists even more closely than I had before. Although it is well-nigh impossible to eliminate soy altogether if you choose to eat packaged foods (even, and especially "healthy" packaged foods), I have chosen to reduce my soy intake as much as possible.
July 25, 2011
I'm giving up soy. You don't have to pile on any more evidence to convince me. I gave up high fructose corn syrup about 10 years ago, and it's one of the best things I did. Soy should be much easier. It's unfortunate that there is only one brand of chocolate I've found that's soy free. Anything this toxic shouldn't be available in almost every manufactured 'food' product. The book is well reasoned and researched. And like Gary Taubes, she just gives you the evidence and allows you to draw your own conclusions. But one downside, the puns were just too much for me to stomach.
January 6, 2010
If I could give this book zero stars I would. I stopped reading this book a third of the way in. It is obvious that Kaayla Daniel has a hidden agenda. Her writing is biased, she gleans information and manipulates it to suit her viewpoint and she's a terrible writer.
Don't waste your time. There's got to be a better source of information about soy products and the industry.
Don't waste your time. There's got to be a better source of information about soy products and the industry.
April 1, 2008
the complete history of soy and everything you ever wanted to know about it. Fermented soy is good, regular is bad in a nutshell.
October 15, 2019
Extremely thorough on the subject... perhaps even too thorough for some people who don't have a nutrition or biology background and/or interest. However, whereas the author is trying to make an argument, I believe it's understandable why the text should be as in-depth as possible. Perhaps she realized how deep she was going and inserted bits of comedy & sarcasm to make the book not seem so uptight which I appreciated alot. I was initially motivated to read it because of my own questions/concerns about soy and the reading nicely answered them & thessome so I would definitely recommend it to anyone with similar curiosities.
March 10, 2012
This book provides very well written and easy to take in information on why soy should be eaten only in the traditionally fermented forms (tempeh, natto, miso) and only in very small amounts, if at all.
The facts on soy are shocking. Not only are the many health claims made about soy extremely dubious, there are many serious concerns about its safety as a food.
Soy is hardly the health food it is promoted to be by the soy industry and in the highly processed form it is almost always eaten in, it is not very 'natural' either, and should not be considered a 'whole food.'
The idea that huge amounts of soy are eaten in asian countries, and have been for very long periods of time, and that this contributes to their good health is just a myth!
Products containing soy protein isolate, soy oil, hydrolized vegetable protein etc. should be avoided - especially by pregnant or lactating women, babies and children and women who are trying to become pregnant. (Sterol containing margarines should also be strictly avoided by this group.) Soy supplements are also to be avoided.
Giving a baby soy formula is like giving them 3-5 birth control pills a day and can have permenent effects on their reproductive health such as precocious puberty, small penis size, overdeveloped male breasts, longer more painful periods and infertility. Eating lots of soy has a drug-like or hormone-like effect.
Soy can inhibit enzymes in the body, reduce testosterone levels, reduce libido, cause a number of thyroid problems, increase cancer risk, cause cardiac arrhythmias, cause a toxic build up of manganese or aluminium and low iron levels and many other problems. Soy is also one of the top 8, 7, 6 or 4 top food allergies - depending on whose numbers you listen to.
Problems with the thyroid often occur at a dose of only 30 grams a day. 5 recent studies showed that soy is worthless in treating menopausal symptoms. 4 recent studies linked soy estrogens to infant leukemia. The goitrogens in soy which interfere with thyroid fuinction cannot be cooked out of them, as with many other goitrogenic foods. Most soy in the US is also GM. The list goes on.
This book includes some very sad case studies of the terrible effect soy has had on peoples lives, especially when soy is given to very small children and babies.
One of the worst things about the heavy promotion of soy is that this inferior food is displacing many healthier food items in our diets and on our farms. The (very well funded) soy lobby has done such a good job of demonising far healthier oils and foods such as coconut oil, eggs and butter, based on twisted science.
I'm going to find a traditionally brewed/fermented soy sauce for use in cooking occasionally and restrict my soy intake to that plus a few of my lecithin containing supplements (where I can't find a soy free alternative).
If you are a big soy eater, or eat foods which are processed and may contain hidden soy, this book is essential reading.
You may also want to read the information on soy and its dangers on the Weston A. Price website.
The facts on soy are shocking. Not only are the many health claims made about soy extremely dubious, there are many serious concerns about its safety as a food.
Soy is hardly the health food it is promoted to be by the soy industry and in the highly processed form it is almost always eaten in, it is not very 'natural' either, and should not be considered a 'whole food.'
The idea that huge amounts of soy are eaten in asian countries, and have been for very long periods of time, and that this contributes to their good health is just a myth!
Products containing soy protein isolate, soy oil, hydrolized vegetable protein etc. should be avoided - especially by pregnant or lactating women, babies and children and women who are trying to become pregnant. (Sterol containing margarines should also be strictly avoided by this group.) Soy supplements are also to be avoided.
Giving a baby soy formula is like giving them 3-5 birth control pills a day and can have permenent effects on their reproductive health such as precocious puberty, small penis size, overdeveloped male breasts, longer more painful periods and infertility. Eating lots of soy has a drug-like or hormone-like effect.
Soy can inhibit enzymes in the body, reduce testosterone levels, reduce libido, cause a number of thyroid problems, increase cancer risk, cause cardiac arrhythmias, cause a toxic build up of manganese or aluminium and low iron levels and many other problems. Soy is also one of the top 8, 7, 6 or 4 top food allergies - depending on whose numbers you listen to.
Problems with the thyroid often occur at a dose of only 30 grams a day. 5 recent studies showed that soy is worthless in treating menopausal symptoms. 4 recent studies linked soy estrogens to infant leukemia. The goitrogens in soy which interfere with thyroid fuinction cannot be cooked out of them, as with many other goitrogenic foods. Most soy in the US is also GM. The list goes on.
This book includes some very sad case studies of the terrible effect soy has had on peoples lives, especially when soy is given to very small children and babies.
One of the worst things about the heavy promotion of soy is that this inferior food is displacing many healthier food items in our diets and on our farms. The (very well funded) soy lobby has done such a good job of demonising far healthier oils and foods such as coconut oil, eggs and butter, based on twisted science.
I'm going to find a traditionally brewed/fermented soy sauce for use in cooking occasionally and restrict my soy intake to that plus a few of my lecithin containing supplements (where I can't find a soy free alternative).
If you are a big soy eater, or eat foods which are processed and may contain hidden soy, this book is essential reading.
You may also want to read the information on soy and its dangers on the Weston A. Price website.
January 29, 2010
Eeek! This book scared me out of my kitchen. As someone who used to feed my kids a massive amount of soy each day, (in consequence of their allergies to dairy, eggs, and various nuts) I have now made some drastic changes to cut back on the amount of soy we eat around here.
You know, I am not a scientist. And I am a skeptical enough person that unless I do the testing myself, I will never really know for sure who to believe with all this health and nutrition information. But this book really does seem solid to me. The evidence and the incredible depth of scientific explanation convinced me that soy is truly something to be wary of. There are people making serious money on soy, and I do believe the health risks outweigh the benefits, especially for infants on soy formula, vegetarians, and other people who take in excessive amounts of soy. If you fit into this category, this book is worth the read so you can decide for yourself!
You know, I am not a scientist. And I am a skeptical enough person that unless I do the testing myself, I will never really know for sure who to believe with all this health and nutrition information. But this book really does seem solid to me. The evidence and the incredible depth of scientific explanation convinced me that soy is truly something to be wary of. There are people making serious money on soy, and I do believe the health risks outweigh the benefits, especially for infants on soy formula, vegetarians, and other people who take in excessive amounts of soy. If you fit into this category, this book is worth the read so you can decide for yourself!
February 15, 2013
I did not find this book easy to read. I glossed over much of it and still felt that I got a pretty good understanding of what Raayla Daniel was conveying. Using a good dose of sarcasm and hostility towards soy and the industry, Daniel makes some good points of why soy isn't what it is hyped up to be. That said, most of the horror "soy stories" told of horrific health reactions based on a either a complete soy over-consumption, those with allergies to soy, and those who fed soy to their babies and children. This is what I take from the book and how it mixes with my beliefs: 1. If you chose to eat soy, don't over do it. Eat it/drink it occasionally, not everyday. Over consumption of any food can cause adverse medical problems...too many carrots can turn your skin yellow. 2. Don't feed soy to your infants and children. Done. Lastly, I would like to add that I am a vegan and while I will continue to eat soy, I will eat much less than I would have if I did not read this book.
February 2, 2015
I was equally delighted and horrified to read this book. I will admit that I did not read the entire book. It was a bit too thick for me, so after reading the first half, I picked which bits I wanted more information on. Regardless, the long and short of it is that I am now completely off non-fermented soy products. This means, sigh, no tofu, no soy milk, etc. As a person-with-female-hormones, and with my family history of female-based-cancers, it is clearly too dangerous for me to potentially fan that particular flame. So this book had a _huge_ impact on my life. That being said, it was not the best written book I've consumed. It was a bit dogmatic, stilted, and rather dry for most of it. I think it's an important boo that everyone should read, but just don't expect an easy read.
November 25, 2008
A comprehensive study of a common weed that we all thought was or is good for health. Some parts of the book go into medical detail that might be hard for the reader to get through but it is well worth the extra effort to be exposed to this complex commodity. The basic message of the book is that there are 5 elements to soy that should not be consumed.
The differences between hydrogenated and fermented soy are profound and should not be ignored. This is a must read if you intend to eat processed foods. There is approximately 60 percent of all processed foods that contain some element of soy.
Beware aware and read the book.
The differences between hydrogenated and fermented soy are profound and should not be ignored. This is a must read if you intend to eat processed foods. There is approximately 60 percent of all processed foods that contain some element of soy.
Beware aware and read the book.
January 26, 2010
I didn't read this cover to cover, it tended to be quite redundant, by the time I was a third of the way through, I just started skimming for things I hadn't actually read yet. However, inbetween the redundancies and the abundant information of the process of the soy bean and it's products, was some startling information. In fact, the beginning was most intriguing, around the history of soy, it's advocates and of course the contemprorary "pushing" of soy isn't so contemporary after all. I wish there was a little more about this, including the environmental impact, which was mentioned but not in the detail I would have liked. The moral of th story, don't eat soy (unless it's fermented)!!!
July 11, 2010
I hope and pray that everyone is now learning how devestating eating soy in non-trational forms is. Traditonal forms of soy are fermented soy sauce, natto, miso and tempeh. Period.
There are 41 pages of small print references to back up the mountain of horrific evidence presented in this book. Very thorough.
I taught a class based on this book at my chapter meeting and don't feel like waxing long in a review, but could if I really wanted to. Maybe sometime I will add to this.
My heart goes out to all those who have have their health ruined because of the corruption behind this "food." I pray recovery is swift for you.
There are 41 pages of small print references to back up the mountain of horrific evidence presented in this book. Very thorough.
I taught a class based on this book at my chapter meeting and don't feel like waxing long in a review, but could if I really wanted to. Maybe sometime I will add to this.
My heart goes out to all those who have have their health ruined because of the corruption behind this "food." I pray recovery is swift for you.
April 4, 2009
The information in this book is "must know" but this almost 400 page book is a little long to read fully. Basically, stay away from soy. We're at the mercy of the government and food industry on the misinformation we're getting about the nutritional benefits of soy. It's a poison from being packed with estrogen(bad for men) and preventing the absorption of vitamins (called an anti-nutrient) it should be avoided at all costs. If you don't read this book, at least be informed.
March 21, 2012
This lengthy project contained much well-researched material, but the arrangement of it and the sometimes ridiculous conclusions drawn from it diminished its authority. Regardless, I recommend it for anyone who has children or who intends to have children, for vegans, vegetarians, and people who consume a lot of soy for any reason.
Want to Read
February 4, 2021I'll just leave this here:
https://www.riseofthevegan.com/blog/t...
Yes, I'm aware it's on a vegan website.. but since the author of this book is on the board of the 'Weston A Price Foundation' whose primary mission is to spruik the consumption of whole milk & beef products, I feel like the potential for bias is on both sides so perhaps cancels itself out?
https://www.riseofthevegan.com/blog/t...
Yes, I'm aware it's on a vegan website.. but since the author of this book is on the board of the 'Weston A Price Foundation' whose primary mission is to spruik the consumption of whole milk & beef products, I feel like the potential for bias is on both sides so perhaps cancels itself out?
September 13, 2009
This got really academic and difficult to read in parts, but I am still giving it 4 stars because the material contained within is so amazingly important. What a fascinating read, I will never look at the entire soy industry to same again.
Currently Reading
January 13, 2011In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan begins grappling with vegetarianism by reading Animal Liberation while dining at a steakhouse. I began reading this book tonight while dining at Red Bamboo; I had the vegan BBQ pulled-pork sandwich.
November 12, 2010
Tells you why you should eat anything that's soy (soymilk, soy flour, tofu, etc.) unless it's slow-fermented soy (tempeh, miso, natto).
April 18, 2012
People everywhere need to read The Whole Soy Story. It allows you to see what our government really does and how little they care about taking care of its people!
January 20, 2013
This book woke me up. We talk about soy a lot as a health food, which it is. But, not the way we produce it, process it, and consume it. Great book for taking some myths out of people's beliefs.
July 26, 2024
IS SOY REALLY ONE OF THE BEST "HEALTH FOODS"?
Kaayla T. Daniel has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies, and is a clinical nutritionist. She states in the first chapter of this 2005 book, "claims that soybeans have been a major part of the Asian diet for more than 3000 years---or from 'time immemorial'---are simply not true." (Pg. 10) She summarizes, "Asians simply do not eat any soybean products in great quantity. They are used in small amounts as condiments or seasonings, not as main courses, and rarely more than once a day." (Pg. 53)
She observes that "Tofu is famous for its bland, self-effacing personality. Tofu absorbs other spices and flavors readily and comes in so many different textures that it can be easily cut, crumbled or creamed. It's the perfect food for people who think they want to eat soy, but prefer not to know it's there." (Pg. 72) She later points out that "Soy is an incomparable gas producer... heavy soyfood eaters experience so much ... rumbling and flatus that soy is the (subject) of a great deal of bathroom humor." (Pg. 185)
She argues that "second generation soy foods are billed as 'health foods' whereas other processed foods are widely acknowledged to be what they are---junk foods that do not support health." (Pg. 121) She dryly notes that "Discovering that soy protein is better than casein as a cancer preventer doesn't mean much. It's like designing a study that pits Snickers against Twinkies. Neither offers a healthly option, but Snickers would likely come out on top because it contains a few nuts." (Pg. 166)
She concludes, "The story of soy sheds light on the dirty little secrets of the modern food processing industry, the power of public relations, the corruption of scientific inquiry and the collusion of FDA and other government agencies that are mandated to protect us... Old-fashioned whole soy foods that contribute to health if eaten in moderation have given way to ersatz products that lead inevitably to malnutrition and disease..." (Pg. 393-394)
This book is a very thought-provoking, well-documented reconsideration of the value of soy in diets; while it clearly upsets some readers, it is well worth reading for people from all perspectives on the matter.
Kaayla T. Daniel has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies, and is a clinical nutritionist. She states in the first chapter of this 2005 book, "claims that soybeans have been a major part of the Asian diet for more than 3000 years---or from 'time immemorial'---are simply not true." (Pg. 10) She summarizes, "Asians simply do not eat any soybean products in great quantity. They are used in small amounts as condiments or seasonings, not as main courses, and rarely more than once a day." (Pg. 53)
She observes that "Tofu is famous for its bland, self-effacing personality. Tofu absorbs other spices and flavors readily and comes in so many different textures that it can be easily cut, crumbled or creamed. It's the perfect food for people who think they want to eat soy, but prefer not to know it's there." (Pg. 72) She later points out that "Soy is an incomparable gas producer... heavy soyfood eaters experience so much ... rumbling and flatus that soy is the (subject) of a great deal of bathroom humor." (Pg. 185)
She argues that "second generation soy foods are billed as 'health foods' whereas other processed foods are widely acknowledged to be what they are---junk foods that do not support health." (Pg. 121) She dryly notes that "Discovering that soy protein is better than casein as a cancer preventer doesn't mean much. It's like designing a study that pits Snickers against Twinkies. Neither offers a healthly option, but Snickers would likely come out on top because it contains a few nuts." (Pg. 166)
She concludes, "The story of soy sheds light on the dirty little secrets of the modern food processing industry, the power of public relations, the corruption of scientific inquiry and the collusion of FDA and other government agencies that are mandated to protect us... Old-fashioned whole soy foods that contribute to health if eaten in moderation have given way to ersatz products that lead inevitably to malnutrition and disease..." (Pg. 393-394)
This book is a very thought-provoking, well-documented reconsideration of the value of soy in diets; while it clearly upsets some readers, it is well worth reading for people from all perspectives on the matter.
March 6, 2018
I found this book chock full of information, so much so that I need to read it again.
There are so many negative affects from Soy products, and I was shocked to find how soy is found in so many common products. A real eye opener.
There are so many negative affects from Soy products, and I was shocked to find how soy is found in so many common products. A real eye opener.
March 23, 2018
This book is very detailed and a must read for anyone who consumes a lot of soy. The Japanese fermented soy is not the same! Especially if you are considering using soy formula- there are many reasons that soy will wreck havoc on your body.and studies to back it up.
November 20, 2018
Everything you want or need to know about soy. . . .
March 21, 2021
3.5 out of 5 stars.
July 2, 2021
Dry, biased, uninteresting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2010
Always good to read things that contradict one's beliefs to rethink or sharpen one's thinking.
An interesting read, with a chapter-by-chapter approach to a chemical in soy, then an explanation of how it affects human physiology (usually in nebulous quantities), then an anecdote of someone who blamed soy for a problem. Overall, not tremendously convincing.
Or rather, it's convincing that soy has many effects on the human body. Many negative ones. But I saw insufficient evidence that any of these negative effects were more than rounding errors in a typical diet, even a soy-heavy vegan one. The most persuasive were perhaps the points on too much soy for pregnant women and the slight "feminizing" effect that massive amounts of soy could have. Fair enough, keep soy as part of a balanced diet, never too much of it in that situation.
I'm sure a similar book could have been written about almost any food product, except soy does happen to be infiltrating the food chain almost everywhere, I'll give her that one.
An interesting read, with a chapter-by-chapter approach to a chemical in soy, then an explanation of how it affects human physiology (usually in nebulous quantities), then an anecdote of someone who blamed soy for a problem. Overall, not tremendously convincing.
Or rather, it's convincing that soy has many effects on the human body. Many negative ones. But I saw insufficient evidence that any of these negative effects were more than rounding errors in a typical diet, even a soy-heavy vegan one. The most persuasive were perhaps the points on too much soy for pregnant women and the slight "feminizing" effect that massive amounts of soy could have. Fair enough, keep soy as part of a balanced diet, never too much of it in that situation.
I'm sure a similar book could have been written about almost any food product, except soy does happen to be infiltrating the food chain almost everywhere, I'll give her that one.
May 27, 2014
Soy was touted as the greatest health food in the late 1990s, early 2000s. It was said to cure heart disease, prevent breast cancer, etc. Soy eaten the way most Asian countries traditionaly eat it is healthy, such as tempeh, soy milk, tofu, and miso. Adulterated soy eaten by most modern societies in the form of the cheap by-product isolated soy protein, found in most protein bars, cereals, soy protein powders is not healthy.
This book makes compelling arguments of how advertisers/sellers market and push foods as healthy based on a few scientific articles. I am always leary about current trends in the health food industry. Time often goes on to show that these "health food" trends are not so healthy or appropriate. Current examples are how research is showing that daily vitamin supplements may do more harm then good for most people. Many people are following the "gluten-free" diet trend, because they think it is healthy, when usually it is not necessary or even beneficial to about 99% of the population. It is more of the placebo effect.
This book makes compelling arguments of how advertisers/sellers market and push foods as healthy based on a few scientific articles. I am always leary about current trends in the health food industry. Time often goes on to show that these "health food" trends are not so healthy or appropriate. Current examples are how research is showing that daily vitamin supplements may do more harm then good for most people. Many people are following the "gluten-free" diet trend, because they think it is healthy, when usually it is not necessary or even beneficial to about 99% of the population. It is more of the placebo effect.
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