The humble soybeans, a staple food
Asian cuisine for centuries has made
significant advances among the health conscious
consumers in the West.
Soy food products also form the
nutritional basis for many
vegetarians who have ethics
have qualms about eating meat or who
you simply want to spiritualize the body.
Soy is a nutrient-dense food that contains all the essential elements
amino acids required by our body, which makes it a complete
protein. Soy foods are high in fiber and contain no cholesterol.
In addition to the many vitamins and minerals, soy foods also
contain phytochemicals (such as isoflavones) that
They have been linked to numerous health benefits.
In particular, soy isoflavones lower LDL (bad) cholesterol
and decrease blood clotting, which lowers the risk of
heart attack and stroke. Research at the University of Illinois
suggests that soy consumption may help prevent two of the
The biggest complications that people with type 2 diabetes face (kidney
disease and heart disease). Soy foods are believed
improve the body’s ability to retain and absorb calcium in the
bones, helping to prevent osteoporosis.
One of the most popular uses for soy foods and supplements in
The last few years is the relief of the symptoms of menopause. Tea
Isoflavones in soy can help regulate estrogen when this hormone
it is fluctuating and declining. There are reports that soy
It can also decrease the symptoms of PMS.
Soy-based foods have been extremely
useful for people with lactose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance is the result of
the inability of the body to digest a sugar
called lactose which is present in milk and
dairy products. The American Dietitian
Association estimates that between thirty
and fifty million americans are lactose
intolerant. Symptoms of this common
diseases include abdominal gas, bloating,
stomach cramps and diarrhea. From soy
does not contain lactose, soy-based dairy
substitutes prevent these annoying digestives
problems.
Questions about soy
The soy food train has reached a
a couple of potholes in the road lately. Research
at the University of Illinois suggests that
the well-documented health benefits of
Soy consumption in Asian cultures can
get lost largely by processing techniques
used in the West.
In particular, the qualities to fight cancer
of soy can not only be absent in
Western soy-based foods and supplements,
but highly processed soy products can actually stimulate growth
estrogen-dependent breast cancer
Tumors The troubling investigation was conducted
in mice and therefore not conclusive
with respect to humans.
Previous investigation of a team of Dutch
scientists also highlighted differences
between highly processed soy foods and
more natural diet soy foods that are
traditionally consumed in Asia. Tea
The Dutch study did not go so far as to suggest
that processed soy products could be
a risk factor for tumor growth.
Edgar Cayce on soy
Edgar Cayce spoke about the soy base
food in fifteen readings for individuals
of all ages. The readings affirm
that soy is the best substitute for meat
(257-252).
One of the highlights of this
group of readings is the importance of
each individual’s response to soy. To
For example, when asked if a
The girl should drink soy milk and
not cow’s milk, Cayce stated that this
must be governed by the child himself
appetite. He noted that sometimes soy milk
“It doesn’t work well with other influences.”
He went on to say that if there were
it was a desire for soy milk in preference
to cow’s milk, the system would balance
himself (1206-9).
A nine-year-old girl was told that soy
milk was not preferable to cow’s milk.
Follow-up readings one and two years
later they were more favorable to soybeans
milk, finally stating that drinking soy
the milk “part of the time we find it is excellent”.
(1179-7) Perhaps the girl’s digestive system
The system had changed during that
span to better assimilate soy
Milk. The theme of individuality was
also present at readings for an eight-year-old boy
boy who was told that, “For this
body, it would be very nice to “replace
soy milk for cow’s milk (1188-7, italics
aggregate). Two other readings for children
(2153-2 and 1206-11) recommended
soy milk.
A couple of curious readings for adults
suggest another peculiar aspect of soy
lifestyle related food digestion. TO
Forty-eight-year-old woman battling menopause asked if she should drink
soy milk. Cayce replied, “This
depend a lot on the activities of the
body. If there’s enough of the energies
used for physical activities to do
The same assimilates more easily, okay.
If these energies are used for activities
that are more mental than physical,
it wouldn’t be so good. “(1158-18) Clearly,
this reading may be relevant to women
considering soy products for the relief of
symptoms of menopause.
A similar sentiment was present in
reading 340-31 given for forty-seven years-
old woman who asked if she
you should alternate the soy bread with
integral. Cayce replied, “Soy
bread is healthy for certain characters
And conditions; as long as the body is
being outdoors, very active, fiery
or dictatorial, then eat soy bread!
But if you will stay inside with more
of normal temperamental reactions,
leave it alone! “This woman had a long experience
“spastic colitis” problem
we now call irritable bowel syndrome.
These last two examples suggest that
being physically active can be essential
for the correct assimilation of soy foods
for some people.
If you include soy foods in your diet
makes sense to you, here’s some soy
options to consider:
- Choose natural soy products that are processed as little as possible.
- Pay attention to your body’s individual response to soy foods.
- Include soy as part of a broadly balanced diet with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables.
- Make outdoor exercise a part of your lifestyle as much as is reasonably possible.