Soy also contains phytic acid which binds with, and reduces, the absorption of vital minerals such as niacin, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. When soy is soaked and/or boiled (a common practice in the United States), this does not lower the amount of phytic acid. However, when soy is fermented, it removes over half of the phytic acid, and when it is fermented and fried (common preparation in Asian cuisines), all the dangerous properties of phytic acid is removed. Scientists are in general agreement that phytic acid contributes to widespread mineral deficiencies among people who eat large amounts of soy beans.
Because phytic acid can cause zinc deficiency, consuming it can lead to a wide variety of health issues, including skin problems, impaired appetite, fatigue, altered gene expression, and weakened immune system. The phytic acid in soy is a trypsin inhibitor, which means it blocks the enzyme trypsin, which is needed to digest protein. When blocking happens, the pancreas has to work harder to produce more enzymes, which can lead to hypertrophy and cancer of the pancreas in humans. Studies have also shown that a diet high in soy can have negative effects on gut bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, two strains that are important for microbial health.
What is your opinion on vitamin supplements?
Many people choose dietary supplements as a natural approach to keep from getting sick and some even take them to boycott giving their money to Big Pharma. What many of these folks don’t realize is, the pharmaceutical industry owns all of the major vitamin companies on the market. Bayer HealthCare (of aspirin fame) makes One-A-Day and Flintstones Chewables. Theragran-M is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Centrum, the giant in the vitamin industry, is owned by the largest pharmaceutical company, Pfizer.
Just like the synthetic drugs they manufacture, there is nothing ‘natural’ in their vitamin and mineral supplements. Most vitamin supplements are made by chemists in a laboratory. Our body wasn’t created in a lab and I believe our nutritional supplements shouldn’t be either. In my book Food Sanity, I share how many of the vitamin supplements sold on the market are created with chemicals also used to manufacture drugs. For example, synthetic vitamin A is made using methanol, benzene, acetylene, petroleum esters (also used to make antibiotics). Synthetic B vitamins are manufactured using 2N acetic acid (also used to make antimicrobial and antifungal medications). Because the term “natural” isn’t clearly defined by the government, this gives supplement manufacturers free reign to create inferior and often unhealthy supplements. It is possible to get the daily nutrition you need from eating a healthy diet; however, if you choose to supplement your diet, follow my ABCs: Absorption, Balance, and Certification.