Do you remember those old “Milk. It does a body good” commercials and advertisements that used to be everywhere in the 80s? Back then milk was milk, it came from a cow and even if you hated it your mother forced you to choke a glass of it down!
These days milk is anything but straightforward and there are many different types beyond the traditional cow or goat’s milk on the market. People now have almond, hemp, rice, coconut, and soy milk varieties to choose from. Each has their own benefits and drawbacks, whether it’s the taste, price point, or the health benefits they provide. However, none has been more controversial than soy milk.
Soy milk is the number one most consumed type of soy-based food. Many lactose intolerant people use it as a milk substitute, vegans like it because they don’t want to drink milk produced by an animal, and some like it because it’s low in fat. While there are undoubtedly some nutritional benefits to soy milk, the negatives outweigh the positives.
Below is a sampling of the harmful effects soy has on your body and Dr. Josh Axe covers more points in the accompanying video. While you are free to decide what to put in your body, consider the reasons why soy milk is bad for your health before you drink another glass of it:
1) The majority of soybeans are genetically modified organisms (GMO)- According to statistics kept by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the adoption of genetically engineered crops in America, 94% of soybeans were genetically modified in 2014 and 2015. This means the plants have had their DNA altered to make them herbicide tolerant so that they can be sprayed with Monsanto’s RoundUp, a pesticide product that kills weeds, and not be affected by the super toxic chemicals.
In effect, this has also made soybeans one of the most pesticide contaminated foods out there. There are many serious health risks posed by pesticides and herbicides to people, if you ingest them they can make you very sick.
2) Soy contains high levels of aluminum- Aluminum is believed to be a contributing factor to many degenerative brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, because it produces immense oxidative stress on our bodies. The toxic metal is absorbed and accumulates in our bone, liver, brain, and kidney tissue, which negatively impacts our entire body and the nervous system overall. In addition, soy based infant formula has been found to be worryingly high in aluminum and should be avoided whenever possible.
3) Soy contains isoflavones, biologically active compounds called phytoestrogens which look like estrogen and can thus activate estrogen receptors in the human body. Phytoestrogens can disrupt and depress thyroid function, alter normal estrogen levels, and interfere with endocrine function. They have also been causally linked to breast cancer in animal studies and an increase in levels of carcinogenic breast cells.
4) Soybeans contain anti-nutrients, including phytic acid- Anti-nutrients bind to minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc and makes them unavailable, or completely unusable, to our bodies. Phytic acid also inhibits digestive enzymes in our stomach and intestines, which may lead to problems and disruption.
5) Raw soybeans are poisonous- Soybeans must be cooked before eaten to eliminate the poisonous compounds found within them!
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