By Guy Lawrence
Do you hang out in cafes? We do! Do you drink soy lattes? Mmm, we don’t.
This post was inspired by a conversation I had recently in a cafe (of course …) so let me paint a quick picture for you.
The one thing I’m finding as 180 Nutrition continues to grow is that Stu & myself seem to be involved in more meetings. This is actually a compliment and we are always looking at different ways to make them fun and worthwhile.
Our usual criteria is:
- funky cafe
- great staff
- stones throw away from the ocean
Just last week we had the NSW Police S.W.A.T team sitting next to us in a cafe. One of them approached us and it turned out that he uses our 180 protein supplement and also trains CrossFit. We hung out with them for 20min talking everything from CrossFit to diet and gave them bar samples and a t-shirt… relevant? No… Seriously cool? Oh yeah!
I try and stick to one coffee a day and anything after that I reach for the tea – but never the soy.
Turning up at these meetings, I can’t help but notice what different people order. Now I’m a live and let live kind of guy, as I certainly don’t like to judge. But it doesn’t take long before I get asked questions on health and nutrition, it simply comes with the territory.
During a recent conversation, I happened to mention that I ate 1 – 2 avocados a day as I have them in my 180 smoothies. The person I was meeting seemed quite shocked and their instant reaction was ‘what about the fat?’ They felt counting calories and a low fat diet was the way forward. This was said whilst they sipped on their soy lattes with honey (you can read my thoughts on honey & fructose here).
Without wanting to sound like a tool, my reaction was simple. I said I would rather eat half a dozen avocados a day than drink that soy latte. Naturally I had to explain myself, and here are my thoughts on why I don’t drink it…
Why I don’t drink soy latte…
Milk can certainly be a heavily debated topic whether you drink the stuff or not. If you are lactose intolerant and you want a cup of coffee, soy seems like a natural healthy alternative. But here are a few things to consider before you order your next soy latte.
First of all, the soy bean is inedible for human consumption in its natural state:
For human consumption, soybeans must be cooked with “wet” heat to destroy the trypsin inhibitors (serine protease inhibitors). Raw soybeans, including the immature green form, are toxic to humans, swine, chickens, and in fact, all monogastric animals. – Wikipedia
This is very off-putting in itself. And the soy protein isolate, which is the main ingredient you find in many supermarket products is first mixed with an alkaline solution to eliminate fibre, then separated using an acid wash, and finally neutralised in an alkaline solution. The curd is then spray-dried at high temperature to produce a high protein powder. (Nora Gedgaudas).
This doesn’t sound healthy to me…
It get’s worse…
Soy is an estrogenic food. Think about this for a moment.
Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen, which is a plant compound resembling human estrogen. These compounds mimic and sometimes block the hormone estrogen, and have been found to have adverse effects on various human tissues. Soy phytoestrogens are known to disrupt endocrine function, may cause infertility, and may promote breast cancer in women.
Drinking even two glasses of soy milk daily for one month provides enough of these compounds to alter your menstrual cycle. Although the FDA regulates estrogen-containing products, no warnings exist on soy. (Dr Mercola)
With this in mind, soy consumption will cause decreased testosterone levels in men. Being a male this really doesn’t appeal either!
And to top it off…
I mentioned in a post recently that I had spent a bit of time with the Weston A. Price foundation. I feel that they are well researched and make for some compelling arguments when it comes to conventional wisdom and nutrition.
Here are some of the other dangers summarised from the Weston A. Price website:
- High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have caused growth problems in children.
- Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.
- Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
- Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
- Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body’s requirement for B12.
- Soy foods increase the body’s requirement for vitamin D.
- Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.
- Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
- Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy foods.
- Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.
You can read more from Weston A. Price regarding soy here.
When in doubt, the first thing I always do is follow the money. If it’s a billion dollar industry, I’m always a little concerned.
From 1992 to 2006, soy food sales increased from $300 million to nearly $4 billion, practically overnight, according to the Soyfoods Association of North America.
Soy is indeed big business, very big business.
From 2000 to 2007, U.S. food manufacturers introduced more than 2,700 new soy-based foods, and new soy products continue to appear on your grocer’s shelves.
So what can I have?
I stick to fermented (not unfermented) soy products such as natto, tempeh and soy sauce. Asian people have been consuming these for centuries, predominately as condiments.
As for a soy latte alternative, if you are drinking it because you are lactose intolerant, then I’d personally have a long black instead.
At the end of the day though, everything I’ve mentioned in this post is simply my opinion from my own experience and research. Everyone has access to the biggest library in the world… Google! Have a poke around and see what you come up with, we’ve love to hear your thoughts.
Recommended websites/reading:
Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet - Nora Gedgaudas
On a side note: I truly enjoy writing these posts, hence our frequent blog posts. At the end of the day though, these are just my thoughts and feelings around a topic I’m passionate about. I encourage everyone to do their own research and check out the facts for themselves.
If you did enjoy the post and got something from it or have something to share on the topic, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. If you feel others would benefit from this then it would be great if you could share it using one of the icons below (Facebook etc). Cheers, Guy…
August 8, 2012 at 11:14 am
Hi Guy
Thank you so much for your post on soy lattes … it was very timely for me, as I have 1-2 soy lattes daily, and I’ve been wondering whether this is healthy or not.
I’m a big fan of your 180 Nutrition protein supplement and also a fan of Sarah Wilson’s IQS program, so I’m constantly working on improving my diet and I find these blogs fascinating. I’m indebted to people like you and Sarah for doing such in-depth research, and then sharing it with the rest of us! Awesome :)
Anyway, I’ll be switching to long blacks (or something) from tomorrow onwards … so thanks again.
Cheers, Kate
August 8, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Thanks Kate. By cutting out the soy lattes I feel you will be doing your health a great service!
August 8, 2012 at 11:16 am
Interesting article as always, and one that rings true for me! I am an ex-vegan and I initially felt fantastic for years as I was eating mostly a whole food diet. Then as I got lazy and found myself increasingly reliant on processed soy foods (soy milk, soy faux meats of all descriptions, soy yoghurt) I felt unwell. VERY unwell. I truly believe they were doing more damage than good. I’m back on an omnivorous diet and I feel healthier although I have gained quite a shocking amount of weight (almost 10kg in 1 year).
My question is, as an alternative to soy milks, how do you rate almond milk (home made with only almonds, filtered water, sea salt… perhaps a little stevia and/or vanilla extract) compared with dairy milk (0rganic, unhomogenised) in terms of healthfulness? Which would you recommend over the other and why? Thanks in advance and keep up the great work! :)
August 8, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Homemade almond milk is certainly a good alternative. If you are trying to lose weight I’d cut back on the milk even if it is unhomogenised because of the lactose/sugar content will not help the cause… Hope that helps.
August 8, 2012 at 11:27 am
Oh man!
Freaking out now.
Have at least 2 cups of soy milk EVERY day… and have had so for the last 8 years or so….
Must. Change. Today.
August 8, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Hey Guy,
Thanks for taking the time to put these posts together. I am an avid reader, so I have a great deal of accumulated knowledge – to match the white hairs that my clever stylist covers regularly. Having said that, I continue to read, as i believe that I can always learn something new, or at least add to my knowledge base.
Regards, Donna-Lee
August 8, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Thanks Donna-Lee… I enjoy writing them :)
August 8, 2012 at 12:58 pm
What are your thoughts on lactose free milk, and rice milk as alternatives?
August 8, 2012 at 2:40 pm
I always check the ingredients of alternative milks, as I’m usually wary of what they put in them…
August 9, 2012 at 5:24 pm
I stopped drinking milk as it would irritate my stomach then I tried soy milk which made my face break out in pimples which I found out was common due to the plant based eostrogen u have outlined!
I also found rice milk too sweet and have since been sticking to oat milk as it tastes quite nice. Do u know much about oat milk whether it has any benefits or will it effect my efforts in trying to lose a bit of weight?
August 8, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I love coffee and as I do not drink milk of any kind (I live a low carb lifestyle) I choose to order long blacks with a side of pure or pouring cream, there is virtually no lactose in cream, and it makes the coffee oh so luxurious. :)
August 8, 2012 at 2:40 pm
I like the sound of that Rae… Will try one in the morning :)
August 8, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Great post! I wish I had known earlier about soy not being such a great alternative for milk. After being told I had a strong intolerance to cows milk I started having soy milk and initially felt fine but with an autoimmune thyroid disease this was the worst thing for me! St least 2 soy lattes a day for 3 years and I wondered why I wasn’t feeling better. Finally stopped the soy and not only am I much better with more energy and don’t get puffy anymore, but my regular 40 day cycle went down to a regular 28-30 day cycle!
August 8, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Be very careful with the Weston A Price info.
Here’s some well researched counter-arguments – http://zenhabits.net/soy/
For what it’s worth I use WPI (not SPI) and be very careful of Bonsoy – thebonsoydebacle.com.au
Cheers,
Tim
August 8, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Couple of points.
Whilst soy is a big industry, the protein/supplement industry is just as big.
Read some more here: http://www.velonomad.com/articles/nutritition-myths/ (interview with a nutritionist/sports dietician).
With your avos comment – there’s a bucketload of calories (as quality fat, admittedly) in an avocado. I’d certainly not advocate more than 1 for most people as they just won’t burn it off.
I ride anywhere from 200-500km a week, work a farm, run, do weights, surf and still don’t have more than 1.
August 8, 2012 at 6:18 pm
An interesting reaction to the “estrogen level” claims of soy (which I fully agree with!) is a couple of “scientific” studies suddenly appearing to debunk the claim of testosterone issues in men. As far as I am concerned just the horrendous processing of the soy bean should be enough to put it high on my avoidance list. You could probably push nuclear waste through enough processes to make it “edible” – it still doesn’t make it safe.
August 8, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Guy I have one thing to query about this article.
You mentioned that Soy is high in photic acid but aren’t a lot of the ingredients in the 180 products also high in photic acid and therefore guilty of causing deficiencies in minerals if consumed too often throughout the day?
August 8, 2012 at 8:52 pm
How refreshing to find another bod who thinks the soy industry stinks! Here’s another fact. There is no soy on the earth that isn’t GMO …
They put soy and maize (corn, also GMO) in animal feeds in big commercial feed lots (cruelty, no nutritional value, cheap ass meats) to fatten beef, sheep and pigs. They feed it to milking cows in those big factory farms too. All good reasons to give soy a big miss.
Keep up the good work. :))
August 8, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Liz, do you think that’s accurate?
Bonsoy is heavily marketed as non GMO as are many others. (Spiral Foods makers of Bonsoy are in trouble at the moment)
Then there’d be a lot of soy in Oz that isn’t GMO. Obviously Monsantos stuff in the USA mostly is, doesn’t mean it is everywhere else.
It’s a good reason to support your local farmer’s market wherever possible.
August 9, 2012 at 3:24 am
Hi Guy,
thanks again for another great article.
“I stick to fermented (not unfermented) soy products such as [...] soy sauce.” What about the glutamate in soy sauce and products which is supposed to have bad side effects for the brain including the nervous system, eyes etc.?
Proud of you!!
August 9, 2012 at 10:14 am
What do you think about almond milk products? I have been off and on soy milk for sometime and after two weeks away in Thailand not drinking or eating any dairy I found I don’t enjoy it anymore, love my long blacks and if I am feeling decadent adding a dash of cream or full cream milk.
August 9, 2012 at 11:39 am
Hi guys,
This is a little scary! I’ve been having 2 soy drinks a day for many years and have been trying to solve lots of health issues, all of which are listed in the side effects of soy above! I will consequently be stopping drinking soy as of today and can’t wait to see the differences. Many thanks for the article!
August 9, 2012 at 12:29 pm
This is funny – I was on my way to work this morning and wanted to try something different to my usual skim latte – was thinking about getting a soy latte thinking it may be healthier for some reason. I didnt end of up getting the soy latte and sticking to my usual. After reading this I am so glad I didnt go for soy!! Cheers, Erin.
August 10, 2012 at 12:45 pm
I’m such a soy mocha girl, use to be a daily thing, then cut down to a weekly treat.
I managed to pick myself up a copy of Primal Body Primal Mind by Nora, recommended reading on your site. Great book, wealth of information.
After reading the chapter on soy, well bye bye soy mocha for me, no matter how great it tastes.
I’ll just stick to tea thanks,lol.
August 11, 2012 at 8:41 am
I was raised on an organic farm. One of the foods I ate heavily was soybeans, edible not for fodder. No GMO in 1960′s. I would eat the young “beans” with the pod, green, like sugar peas. When our crop matured more, I would shell them and eat like peas. In the fall, I pulled up the plants, hit the dry plants against a cement wall, stored them dry in jars using like lentils during the winter.
Now I hear all these horror stories but many seem to be tied to processing and GMO, not fresh from the garden. Are the bean themselves harmful if you grow them yourself?
August 13, 2012 at 11:52 am
Given your view on soy, I take it you avoid all soy products too, such as tofu? I love tofu… now i’m very torn!
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October 18, 2012 at 5:06 pm
I don’t drink powdered soy. I have watched my friends make soy milk and tofu and it nothing like you say the powdered soy Milk is made. You can find Chinese recipes on the net. They are healthy . Most beans have ingredients that are harmful and that is why it is recommended that we soak them overnight. M glad you admitted it was you personal opinion. I was starting to wonder how much you were being paid out to discredit soy. If done the right way as in other beans it is safe. The Chinese have used it for a long time. There was a documentary on it, as did you, trying to discredit it. They said in one part of China people had Deformatives from it. Only they forgot to tell or admit, that toxic wastes had been dumped in that area!!! No I’ll stick with my soy. I’m even going to buy a mackine that will make it for me. Then I can make my own tofu. I feel very well on it when I eat it. In fact I must start eating it again!! Thanks for the reminder.
October 22, 2012 at 8:20 am
Thanks for the comment Gabrielle. Whilst I don’t agree with soy, I appreciate there are many that do. Food is a personal choice and I always encourage people to do their own research instead of simply taking the manufactures word for it. Cheers.
February 18, 2013 at 10:59 pm
I knew I couldn’t be the only person who isn’t a fan of soy! It makes me feel ill, I stick to almond milk these days for my smoothies.