Soy is still widely perceived to be a “health food” in the United States, raking in some $4 billion a year. In the United States, every part of the soybean is used for profit, including soy lecithin -- the waste left over after a soybean is processed -- and soy protein isolate, which was initially invented to be used to make cardboard.
Many people consume soy because of claims that it can reduce the risk of heart disease, alleviate symptoms of menopause, lower cholesterol and even cut your risk of cancer.But in reality, as Mary Vance describes in the important essay linked below, when people consume soy products it can eventually lead to health problems ranging from digestive upset and bloating to hormonal disruption. And among infants, the estrogens in soy formula can be devastating, causing problems in their brains, reproductive systems and thyroid glands.
Despite countless studies to the contrary, soy products still regarded by many as a healthy snack. In reality, they contain estrogens that can disrupt your body’s delicate hormonal balance, which can cause extensive health problems, especially for infants, but also for adults. What’s more:
Even if you don’t experience obvious symptoms, soy is highly allergenic and a subclinical sensitivity to it can lead to health problems over time.