Is Soy Milk Healthy Or Not?

We have heard that it's extremely bad for you and we have heard that it's extremely good for you.

Long has soy been a part of different Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, Japan and so on. And we all know that they are healthier than their western counterparts by a long shot. I have heard that they don't go crazy on soy and use as much as it as we are beginning to do now though.

That is part of our problem. We take something that we deem healthy or have heard is healthy and we overindulge. We need to learn to stop overeating and start eating what we need and in moderation.

But getting back to soy milk, I found many pages of advantages and dis-advantages that said the same things over and over again. I did not find many studies on the subject to back up some of the claims while of course other points are obvious such as low calcium or high fiber.

Keep in mind that most of the benefits and negatives I found could be argued either way and while some did have studies to back it up, the studies that I found had factors that could change the reasoning for such conclusions, such as in one study that looked at older Japanese men and their lifetime diet of soy and it was found that the men who consumed more soy were at a higher risk of low cognitive skills than men who did not. Although it was not taken into factor other parts of their diet as well, and the study took place in Hawaii instead of in Japan where more soy is consumed and with different growing conditions and other variables.

There are benefits to soy milk such as:

• Soy milk is high in proteins and contains more fiber than cows milk due to the fact it's made from beans
• Soybeans have all of the essential amino acids our body requires which makes it a complete protein. They are the only plant food that can claim that.
• Soy milk is an aid in reducing high cholesterol.
• Soy milk can help to prevent and treat menopausal symptoms.
• Isoflavones are found in soy milk. They are quite similar to the hormone that we call estrogen. They are associated to the prevention of many cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis and more. They are also antioxidants which protect our cells and DNA against oxidation.
• Some studies have shown that cows milk can result in insulin dependent diabetes over time whereas consuming soy milk has not reflected this outcome.
• Only 0.5 percent of the children are allergic to soy milk, whereas 2.5 percent are allergic to cows milk.

The negatives of soy milk are:

• Calcium levels are not the greatest. Even though they do add calcium to soymilk it is still not as healthy as natural occurring calcium but calcium can be obtained from other sources like green leafy vegetables and almonds to name a couple.
• Soy food contains goitrogens. Goitrogens are compounds that interfere with thyroid function and in extreme cases can cause an enlarge thyroid. It is also contained in other foods as well. To rectify this eat a well balanced diet. If you are a vegan you should make an effort to include adequate sources of iodine in your diet.
• Estrogen is found is soy. Testosterone in males, including young boys, can be suppressed by ingesting soy products.
• Soy milk and infertility have been linked together and from the information I found, giving an baby soy formula is comparable to giving a baby up to five birth control pills per day but I also found that that research has been very limited in regards to the advantages and disadvantages to babies drinking soy formula.
• The increased level of estrogen can manipulate the menstrual cycle in women.

The other thing I want to state here is that most of the information that I have found about soy milk and soy products is not listed in benefits or cons but mostly as only one or the other. People seem very adamant about the way they feel about soy and because of their intensity I have started to question what is true and what is not true now.

For me, there is too little actual evidence that supports the health dangers to humans from soy; although, I don't think I would take a chance with the claims about giving babies soy milk. There needs to be more research done.

The best statement I found was that 'moderate amounts of soy foods have been eaten happily by entire civilizations for thousands of years'. And to me the key word is moderate. And what comes with moderate? Diversity. The two best things, I believe, you can do for your diet and health.

Isabelle is the owner of The Healthy Vegetarian. For all your vegetarian information, news, articles, and recipes visit us at http://www.thehealthyvegetarian.net.

Soy Milk May Be Tied To Infant Deaths

Although the autopsy is inconclusive and tests on the food are not yet complete, a porridge made of EdenSoy Extra soy milk and cornmeal may be responsible for the deaths of two infant brothers living in Brooklyn.

When their mother attempted to wake them, shortly after noon, she found they were unconscious and took them to the hospital. Both were pronounced dead on arrival.

Initial thoughts were that the twins had been overcome by a gas leak, but tests showed no leak.

Because medical examiners also found no evidence of choking as a result of consuming the food, or any signs of foul play, the police instead began focusing on what the infants had eaten. The police cleaned out two nearby supermarkets of EdenSoy milk and cornmeal for testing.

New York Times October 21, 2005 Registration RequiredNYNewsDay.com October 22, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment: If you ever wondered why I'm so concerned about the health dangers tied to the rampant use of soy products -- especially in processed foods -- this kind of incident is exactly the reason. In my view there just simply isn't any justification to ever use soy formula or worse, soy milk, in infants.

This isn't the first time soy milk has been investigated for its toxic side effects. Separate incidents in California and Arkansas prompted the FDA to issue a 1990 warning against using soy milk as a formula substitute. Most brands have followed the tougher FDA labeling guidelines, except EdenSoy, says Dr. Kaayla T. Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food.

In fact, the deaths of three infants prompted the Israeli Health Ministry to issue a health advisory earlier this year, recommending babies not be fed soy formula -- except as a last resort -- and severely limiting a child's intake of soy products.

Without question the best food you can give your infant is breast milk and this should be your primary choice if at all possible, as it is the healthiest source of milk you can give to your infant. I believe very strongly all soy formula should be avoided andis not fit for human consumption.

If breastfeeding is not an option,the best article I ever read on the topicis one published in a recent edition of the Weston Price ogranization. I am on their board and was able to obtain reprint rightsfor their article onhealthy alternatives to breast milk and commercial formula from Sally Fallon to run it in our newsletter. I would strongly encourage you to review thismulti-part series in this issueif you are unable to breastfeed.

When making the alterntaive to breast milk described in the article, ideally, it would be best to use raw milk as the base (other ingredients to add are described in the article). The best way toget it is tofind a local dairy farmer in your areathrough your local health food store orthe Real Milk Web site. Raw milk is a safer and farhealthier alternative to pasteurized milk.

This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!

Tips For Vegetarians and Vegans to Eat Healthier

You no doubt understand the importance of having a balanced diet for your good health. This means a diet that is rich in all the vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy body, but of course this balance is especially challenging for vegetarians and vegans.

When you eliminate one entire food group such as meat and poultry and even dairy, this balance in one's diet becomes more difficult to maintain. Meat and dairy both contain many important nutrients, including protein, calcium, and many different vitamins as well.

Vegans of course face the most challenges in this area since vegetarians often eat dairy products while vegans do not; this means no meat as well as no eggs, milk, butter, and so on. Vegans often are deficient in vitamin B12 and often need a supplement to replace this important part of their nutrition.

These types of problems do not mean that vegetarians and vegans need to sacrifice their health in exchange for their choices. Many are even healthier than those who eat meat on a regular basis. However they can and should pay attention to their dietary needs and also should be aware of signs of deficiencies in nutrition. Usually just some moderation and balance is needed, as it is with all diets, and a wide variety of foods should be eaten as well so that nutritional needs can be met.

Protein of course is a common concern when it comes to vegetarians and vegans, and even their friends and family members may wonder how they get enough when they don't eat meat or dairy. But often those who eat meat are getting more protein than they even need, so this itself isn't always a concern.

For vegetarians who eat dairy products they can often get all the protein they need from milk, yogurt, cheese, and so on, and they may also opt for soy based products and items like nuts, seeds, lentils, and beans, all of which are high in protein. It's also possible to get protein from many non-animal products, so their protein levels should be sufficient in most cases.

Vegans too can get enough protein in their diet even without eating dairy products such as milk and cheese. They can fill up on nuts, lentils, seeds, beans of all sorts - pinto beans, soy beans, black beans, kidney beans, etc. - and on many other items that are full of necessary protein but that don't come from animals.

Many vegans also opt for tofu and other soy products for their meals and soy contains a high amount of protein so this too may be sufficient. Meals that are high in beans are also great sources of protein. Did you know that a cup of cooked beans - of many different varieties - has the same protein as two ounces of meat?

Everyone needs to be concerned about nutritional deficiencies, whether vegetarian, vegan, or just the general populace. Vegetarians and vegans who follow a balanced and varied diet typically have their nutritional needs met just as well as anyone else.

Of course vegans do have some special concerns and they should be aware of those concerns, include the risk of developing a vitamin deficiency, or of lacking calcium and protein. Many animal based products contain these items and so when they're left out of the diet, a deficiency can develop.

Most typical when it comes to the deficiencies of a vegan's diet are the B vitamins, specifically vitamin B12. The majority of ways to get vitamin B12 in most diets are animal based products. Most vegans take a B12 supplement, or are sure to eat plenty of foods rich in this vitamin or that have been supplemented with this. Included in this are soy milk.

Calcium too is a concern for many vegans since most people get their calcium from milk and dairy products. Having a calcium supplement or eating foods that have been fortified with calcium are common solutions. Soy milk and many cereals are fortified with calcium as well as vitamin D, which again most people get from animal products.

Whether vegetarian or vegan, you can have good health even without animal products. You simply need to have a balanced diet, make the right food choices, and of course get plenty of exercise as well!

For a guide to losing weight get your free report, "The Seven Personal Trainer Secrets to Weight Loss" visit GetRealAboutWeightLoss.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anu_Morgan

Natural Breast Enhancement Foods - Your Breast Size Will Increase With the Right Enhancing Foods!

The Chinese culture has long been a proponent of healing and enhancing through natural means. They believe that the way to get ideal bodily proportions is by controlling it through proper diet and natural supplements, amongst other things. In this regard, they are not alone since a number of other cultures also believe that foods can affect the body's development, including for natural breast enhancement.

Studies have shown that 8 out of 10 women with underdeveloped breasts can attribute it to hormonal imbalance and that eating the right foods can correct this imbalance and consequently improve breast development.

Soy and soy products are among candidates for this food, as well as other whole grains and some yams that contain a substance called phyto-estrogen which can help in breast development. This substance can be found in abundance in the Chinese diet in the form of soy sauces, curds and paste.

There is some disagreement to this claim due to the fact that the amount needed to sustain the necessary levels of phyto-estrogen in the body can be quite large. However, there have been claims by actual women who have seen the results and attained bigger breast through the long term consumption of these food groups.

Since most of these food groups are also health foods, there is little risk in consuming them in quantities that are necessary to sustain the proper phyto-estrogen level in the body. It will also be easy to ingest them because they are palatable, easy to prepare, and very flexible. They can even be used as replacements for meats and other protein sources for vegetarian or vegan diets, and soy milk can be used to replace cow's milk even in desserts and other dishes where the use of milk is called for.

To know more about how to Increase Breast Size with foods and other natural methods, please Click Here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Bigsby

The Hidden Dangers of Soy

Are you one of the millions of people suffering from unusual weight gain and who could be developing thyroid disease and never thought that soy might be the cause?

Do You Believe Soy Is Healthy? With obesity, thyroid problems, osteoporosis, and a host of other problems on the rise, you may want to reconsider.

Did you know that the soy industry is a $70 billion a year business? I started researching soy when I developed a severe allergy to soy in 2003 (the anapylactic shock type). What I learned is very disturbing.

We are eating soy products today at levels never before seen in history. Advances in food technology have made it possible to isolate soy proteins, isoflavones, and other substances found in the bean and add them to all kinds of foods where they have never been before. The number of processed and manufactured foods that contain soy ingredients today is astounding. These days it can be hard to find foods that do not contain soy flour, soy oil, lecithin (extracted from soy oil and used as an emulsifier in high-fat products), soy protein isolates and concentrates, textured vegetable protein (TVP), hydrolyzed vegetable protein (usually made from soy) or unidentified vegetable oils. Even canned tuna lists contains soy on their ingredient label. Now why would you need soy in that?

Most of what is labeled "vegetable oil" in the U.S. is actually soy oil, as are most margarines. Soy oil is the most widely used oil in the U.S., accounting for more than 75 percent of our total vegetable fats and oil intake. And most of our soy products are now genetically engineered.

There was considerable research done in 1966 about the harmful substance within the soybean. Soy contains several naturally occurring compounds that are toxic to humans and animals. The soy industry frequently refers to these toxins as anti-nutrients, which implies that they somehow act to prevent the body from getting the complete nutrition it needs from a food. The soy toxins (such as phytic acid) can certainly act in this manner, but they also have the ability to target specific organs, cells and enzyme pathways, and their effects can be devastating. As with any toxin, there will be a dose at which negative effects are not observed.

Health experts are particularly concerned that breast-cancer sufferers who take soy or phyto-estrogen supplements could feed the disease and reduce the effectiveness of their treatment. Those soy food or isoflavone supplement manufacturers that proclaim the anti-cancer properties of their products are guilty of giving false hope to millions; but worse they may be placing consumers at greater risk of contracting the same horrendous diseases they are trying to avoid

Another area of concern is infant soy formula. New research suggests high concentrations of manganese found in soybean-based baby formula can lead to brain damage in infants and altered behaviors in adolescents.

They say soy can reverse child obesity because soy foods provide critical vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. They claim soy foods contain less calories and fat grams making weight loss easier. Kid friendly foods like soymilk, frozen pizza, taco-style meat and chicken-style nuggets. This does not sound like a healthy diet to me. When in actuality, soy is depleting the vitamins and minerals a growing child needs.

When you hear fast food chains are making the switch to 0 trans fats, that means they are using soybean oil!

And, now I would like you to claim your free chapter of The Hidden Dangers of Soy and also receive soy free recipes. http://www.hiddensoy.com/soy-milk-thyroid.php

Dianne Gregg, author of "The Hidden Dangers of Soy" decided to write this book after developing a severe allergy to soy. She has done extensive research on this subject and wanted to share this crucial information to protect your health. The fact of the matter is that soy is not the "health food" it's cracked up to be.

Listen to Dianne on the radio Tuesdays, 4pm - 5pm EST http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Health-Watch-Radio interviewing experts in the health and wellness industry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dianne_Gregg

Prostate Health Meets Soy Health

One passage into middle age for men is the dreaded prostate exam. No it's not fun but it is necessary. Prostate cancer is men's second most frequent cancer in the United States.

But one must look at the world in order to fully understand prostate cancer and men's health, in general.

Prostate cancer is a disease that is more common in certain populations. If you're an African American male living in the United States, your chances for developing prostate cancer is greater than if you are an Asian man living in Indonesia.

Due to this phenomenon, many studies have found that prostate cancer can be directly linked to diet and food choices. In fact, it is believed that an estimated 75% of all diagnosed prostate cancers could be avoided if better eating habits and dietary changes were followed.

That's a promising note for American males, so let's dive into the particulars and see why soy is so great for prostate health.

Isoflavones are plant compounds found in soy products. Isoflavones act as hormones in the human body and can actually have great effects on several bodily functions.

For example, they can help lower your cholesterol, maintain good blood glucose levels, and even help build healthy bones. But for men, they can also act as inhibitors for prostate cancer.

It is for this reason that many studies have asked why? Why is it that Asian men are more prone to avoiding prostate cancer? Why is it that the American male tends to have larger prostates in their later years their Asian counterparts?

The best found answer to this question has been diet. It is no secret that the Asian population has been eating soy for over one thousand years. Most infants and children in the Asian population will find themselves eating the 80 to 100 mg of soy per day. After a number of years, the isoflavones in their bodies will build and their chances for prostate cancer will be reduced with each bite.

One recently conducted study focused on a group of 41 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer. These patients were given 100 mg of an isoflavone supplement twice a day for 6 months.

Results showed a lowering of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and ultimately a slowing of the prostate cancer growth. PSA is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The higher the PSA level, the more likely there is cancer present.

Isoflavones are found in all soy foods. One need only drink one 8 ounce glass of soymilk per day to receive 40 mg of isoflavones. Currently there is no recommended dosage of isoflavones to help lower prostate cancer risks.

However, the FDA has recommended that a person needs approximately 25 grams of soy protein per day in order to lower cholesterol levels.

Although more studies are underway to further investigate the relationship between soy isoflavones and prostate health, preliminary studies contain a hopeful future for the male population. When it comes to lowering the risks and avoiding prostate cancer, it seems that diets high in soy have been labeled a promising ally.

Dee Overly is an artist who discovered the health benefits of soy milk and now sells a Soymilk Maker at http://www.SoymilkCrossroads.com Stop by to grab a free Vegan recipe book and check out the blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dee_Overly

Hot Flashes Remedy - Is There One that Really Works?

Looking for a much needed hot flashes remedy? Then you are obviously experiencing "the change." Hot flashes are the first sign of approaching menopause and the one symptom that most women would like to conquer. Before you run to your doctor and begin hormone therapy, try employing a few simple tips that can work as your hot flashes remedy.

One little known hot flashes remedy is apple cider vinegar. Taking a little of this vinegar has given many women relief from migraines, sinus headaches and even allergy symptoms. More importantly, women report fewer hot flashes! If apple cider vinegar works as your hot flashes remedy it may even increase your energy, alleviate dry skin and aid in weight loss. For no known side effects, I say bottoms up!

Another more prevalently known hot flashes remedy is exercise. Women who reported hot flashes so severe that they plagued them day and night sing the praises of exercise as the ultimate hot flash cure. The amount of exercise required to diminish your symptoms and act as your hot flashes remedy will vary. Reportedly, moderate exercise for 1-2 hours a day, 4-6 times a week has squelched hot flashes completely. On a side note, when the regular exercise stopped, the hot flashes immediately came roaring back. Talk about an incentive to keep exercising!

An increasingly popular hot flashes remedy is to drink soy milk or take soy products. In some women a glass of soy milk has almost a miracle effect. One woman reported that a glass of daily soy milk kept her hot flash free during the day, but she was continuing to experience night sweats. After warming up a good old cup of soy and enjoying it before bed, her night sweats disappeared and she finally got that elusive good night's sleep. As long as you're not allergic to soy, there's a great possibility it may be your long sought after hot flashes remedy.

Soy not doing it for you? How about trying a little Tumeric? Women in India use this powder to help ease their menopause symptoms. This spice is said to not only ease hot flashes, but also soothe irritated skin. Taken in a small dose Tumeric has no known side effects, but they have the potential to help your fight in finding your hot flashes remedy.

A more common hot flashes remedy is cutting out the sugar in your diet. Cutting your sugar intake is known to help with many physical and emotional ailments, but also may decrease the frequency and intensity of your hot flashes.

If the above suggestions don't help, never give up! There's no need to live in misery for years and years to come. There are many other natural remedies that relieve hot flashes. It is simply a matter of systematically finding what your triggers are and eliminating them, then trying some of the many remedies that are readily available to you. Keep at it and you will eventually develop your own hot flashes remedy.

Discover how YOU can relieve hot flashes and menopausal symptoms without Hormone Replacement Therapy at Linda Bruton's Survive Menopause site. Pick up your free special report "Coping with Hot Flashes the Natural Way" (a $27 value) by clicking here: http://www.survivemenopause.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_J_Bruton