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Soy Or No Soy?"Soy contains enzyme inhibitors, which block the action of the very enzymes needed to digest protein. This is why some people get bloated after eating soy. These 'antinutrients' are not completely deactivated during cooking. Soy also contain hemagglutinin, a substance that could promote blood clots. Both of these substances are deactivated when soy is fermented, which is why the Japanese almost always eat soy in its fermented form (miso, tempeh, and seitan). Soybeans are also high in phytic acid, which blocks the uptake of essential minerals. However, when soy products are eaten with meat or fish, the phytates are reduced, which is why tofu is mostly eaten in a fish or meat broth in Japan. The isoflavones that are touted as being anticarcinogenic and great for menopausal women are present only in fermented soy products. Suffice it to say, if you enjoy soy, make sure it is always fermented and be really wary of imitation soy meat products, because many of them contain not only soy protein isolate, a highly processed form of soy, but also a host of unhealthy additives, including high-fructose corn syrup.The soy industry has spent billions of dollars touting it as a healthy and perfect food, especially for vegans. But it's a good idea to understand its health implications, especially if you eat a lot of it. The really annoying thing about soy is that it is totally counterproductive if you are trying to lose weight: The isoflavones and phytoestrogens depress thyroid function and thus pack on the pounds. When some women initially switch to a soy-based vegetarian diet, they are thrilled because they lose weight. This is because their poor thyroid is working overtime to counterbalance the effects of the isoflavones--eventually, however, t gives up and these hopeful women wind up regaining their excess weight and then some. Don't despair, though--there's a healthy, eco-friendly way of incorporating delicious fermented soy into many of your dishes." "The Gorgeously Green Diet--How to Live Lean and Green" by Sophie Uliano
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