Nexus - 0703 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Colin T. Campbell, found that legume consumption in China var- steady decline. The birds suffered beak and bone deformities, ied from 0 to 58 grams per day, with a mean of about twelve.” goitre, immune system disorders and pathological, aggressive Assuming that two-thirds of legume consumption is soy, then the behaviour. Autopsy revealed digestive organs in a state of disin- maximum consumption is about 40 grams, or less than three tegration. The list of problems corresponded with many of the tablespoons per day, with an average consumption of about nine —_ problems the Jameses had encountered in their two children, who grams, or less than two teaspoons. A survey conducted in the had been fed soy-based infant formula. 930s found that soy foods accounted for only 1.5 per cent of Startled, aghast, angry, the Jameses hired toxicologist Mike calories in the Chinese diet, compared with 65 per cent of calories Fitzpatrick. PhD, to investigate further. Dr Fitzpatrick's literature from pork.” (Asians traditionally cooked with lard, not vegetable review uncovered evidence that soy consumption has been linked oil!) to numerous disorders, including infertility, increased cancer and Traditionally fermented soy products make a delicious, natural infantile leukaemia; and, in studies dating back to the 1950s," that seasoning that may supply important nutritional factors in the genistein in soy causes endocrine disruption in animals. Dr Asian diet. But except in times of famine, Asians consume soy Fitzpatrick also analysed the bird feed and found that it contained roducts only in small amounts, as condiments, and not as a high levels of phytoestrogens, especially genistein. When the replacement for animal foods—with one exception. Celibate Jameses discontinued using soy-based feed, the flock gradually monks living in monasteries and leading a vegetarian lifestyle returned to normal breeding habits and behaviour. find soy foods quite helpful because they dampen libido. The Jameses embarked on a private crusade to warn the public It was a 1994 meta-analysis by Mark Messina, published in and government officials about toxins in soy foods, particularly Nutrition and Cancer, that fuelled speculation on soy's anticar- the endocrine-disrupting isoflavones, genistein and diadzen. cinogenic properties.’ Messina noted that in 26 animal studies, Protein Technology International received their material in 1994. 65 per cent reported protective effects from soy. He conveniently In 1991, Japanese researchers reported that consumption of as neglected to include at least one study in which soy feeding little as 30 grams or two tablespoons of soybeans per day for only caused pancreatic cancer—the 1985 study by Rackis.“ In the one month resulted in a significant increase in thyroid-stimulating human studies he listed, the results were mixed. A few showed hormone.” Diffuse goitre and hypothyroidism appeared in some some protective effect, but most of the subjects and many complained of showed no correlation at all between constipation, fatigue and lethargy, even soy consumption and cancer rates. He though their intake of iodine was ade- concluded that "the data in this review quate. In 1997, researchers from the cannot be used as a basis for claiming The claim that soy prevents FDA's National Center for that soy intake decreases cancer risk". osteoporosis is extraordinary, Toxicological Research made the Yet in his subsequent book, The Simple q embarrassing discovery that the goitro- Soybean and Your Health, Messina given that soy foods block genic components of soy were the very moons cup on 230 game of Soy mwah calcium and cause vitamin D Twenty ie ‘crams of soy protein iso- ucts per day in his "optimal" diet as a deficiencies. late, the minimum amount PTI claimed way to prevent cancer. to have cholesterol-lowering effects, Thousands of women are now con- contains from 50 to 70 mg of suming soy in the belief that it protects isoflavones. It took only 45 mg of them against breast cancer. Yet, in isoflavones in premenopausal women to 1996, researchers found that women consuming soy protein iso- exert significant biological effects, including a reduction in hor- late had an increased incidence of epithelial hyperplasia, a condi- mones needed for adequate thyroid function. These effects lin- tion that presages malignancies." A year later, dietary genistein gered for three months after soy consumption was discontinued.” was found to stimulate breast cells to enter the cell cycle—a dis- One hundred grams of soy protein—the maximum suggested covery that led the study authors to conclude that women should cholesterol-lowering dose, and the amount recommended by not consume soy products to prevent breast cancer.” Protein Technologies International—can contain almost 600 mg of isoflavones,” an amount that is undeniably toxic. In 1992, the PHYTOESTROGENS: PANACEA OR POISON? Swiss health service estimated that 100 grams of soy protein pro- The male species of tropical birds carries the drab plumage of _ vided the oestrogenic equivalent of the Pill.* the female at birth and 'colours up’ at maturity, somewhere In vitro studies suggest that isoflavones inhibit synthesis of between nine and 24 months. oestradiol and other steroid hormones. Reproductive problems, In 1991, Richard and Valerie James, bird breeders in infertility, thyroid disease and liver disease due to dietary intake Whangerai, New Zealand, purchased a new kind of feed for their of isoflavones have been observed for several species of animals birds—one based largely on soy protein.” When soy-based feed including mice, cheetah, quail, pigs, rats, sturgeon and sheep.* was used, their birds ‘coloured up' after just a few months. In fact, It is the isoflavones in soy that are said to have a favourable one bird-food manufacturer claimed that this early development effect on postmenopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, and was an advantage imparted by the feed. A 1992 ad for protection from osteoporosis. Quantification of discomfort from Roudybush feed formula showed a picture of the male crimson hot flushes is extremely subjective, and most studies show that rosella, an Australian parrot that acquires beautiful red plumage at —_ control subjects report reduction in discomfort in amounts equal 18 to 24 months, already brightly coloured at 11 weeks old. to subjects given soy.” The claim that soy prevents osteoporosis Unfortunately, in the ensuing years, there was decreased fertili- is extraordinary, given that soy foods block calcium and cause ty in the birds, with precocious maturation, deformed, stunted and vitamin D deficiencies. If Asians indeed have lower rates of stillborn babies, and premature deaths especially among females, osteoporosis than Westerners, it is because their diet provides with the result that the total population in the aviaries went into _ plenty of vitamin D from shrimp, lard and seafood, and plenty of The claim that soy prevents osteoporosis is extraordinary, given that soy foods block calcium and cause vitamin D deficiencies. PHYTOESTROGENS: PANACEA OR POISON? The male species of tropical birds carries the drab plumage of the female at birth and 'colours up’ at maturity, somewhere between nine and 24 months. In 1991, Richard and Valerie James, bird breeders in Whangerai, New Zealand, purchased a new kind of feed for their birds—one based largely on soy protein.” When soy-based feed was used, their birds ‘coloured up' after just a few months. In fact, one bird-food manufacturer claimed that this early development was an advantage imparted by the feed. A 1992 ad for Roudybush feed formula showed a picture of the male crimson rosella, an Australian parrot that acquires beautiful red plumage at 18 to 24 months, already brightly coloured at 11 weeks old. Unfortunately, in the ensuing years, there was decreased fertili- ty in the birds, with precocious maturation, deformed, stunted and stillborn babies, and premature deaths especially among females, with the result that the total population in the aviaries went into APRIL — MAY 2000 NEXUS - 23