Quello della soia è un buisness enorme, soprattutto in USA...è un prodotto scadente e si è dimostrato che favorisce l'osteoporsi, la mancata assimilazione di alcuni minerali ed è potenzialmente cangerogeno.
La soia, come i cereali da colazione sono alimenti da evitare o al massimo da assumere una tantum.
Nutrizionalmente fanno pena e non è un fatto di gusto (c'è anche il latte di soia gusto cappuccino e caffè) ma di chimica.
Allego lungo studio sulla soia e sui suoi problemi (non ricordo se l'ho già postate...scusate).

Soylent Green
Exactly thirty years ago the science fiction classic Soylent Green hinted Americans of what might happen to our food. In the movie, my man Charleton Heston plays a cop investigating a murder of a executive that owns a food processing plant that feeds the United States. Instead of spoiling the ending of the movie, I have decided to tell my own horror story. In this tale I will share the lovely facts of what the Food Industry is doing to make profits in our expense with the soybean. Years ago when one of my many ex-girlfriends made me a tofu burger in a lame way to show me her "healthy habits", my spider-sense warned me and I fed it to her dog when she went out for her jog. Soylent Green was a grim tale of what is suppose to happen in the year 2022 with our food supply. I guess it happened twenty years ahead of schedule.

It all started years ago with soy milk and now has expanded into soy cookies, cakes, cereals, bars, pudding, ice cream, and even fake meats. Ten years ago the milk was a beany tasting fluid that smelled bad, looked like grey water, and tasted like chalk. After years of tinkering with the food chemistry we now have banana smothies and chocolate shakes. Trust nothing.

The soybean is now the wonder crop with farmers needing a way to to sell a product that grows in various climates and now covers 80 million acres with the bean. Unlike most crops, soy does not deplete the soil and can be used to feed chickens, pigs, turkeys, cows, and now farm raised fish. Years ago it was just a way to help rotate crops, today it is the new wonder food because of large payoffs and marketing. In Fallon and Enig's Soy Symposium review, the authors state in kind words the following:

"Advances in Technology make it possible to produce isolated soy protein from what was once considered a waste product- the defatted, high-protein soy chips- and then transform something that looks and smells terrible into products that can be conusmed by human beings. Flavorings, preservatives, sweeteners, emulsifiers and synthetic nturients have turned soy protein isolate, the food processors' ugly ducking into a New Age Cinderella."

What we know now is that the two authors were right about the risks after the FDA wrote a protest letter when they felt that the American public was getting lied to. Soy has some benefits but it also has it's share of risks as well. They are:

Cancer- The Japanese and Asian populations have high rates of thyroid, stomach, esophagus, liver, and pancreatic cancer and are the largest consumers of soy. While "researchers" will brag about the low incidences of heart disease with eastern diets, they fail to share that soybeans conatain hemagglutinin, a substance that causes red blood cells to clump together. Distance athletes better toss the Cliff Bars and Powerbar Harvest bars to the curb. Add the fact that genistein may not be the best for women with a history of breast cancer, why they hype?

"In summary, genistein can act as an estrogen agonist in vivo and in vitro, resulting in the proliferation of cultured human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and the induction of pS2 gene expression. Here we present new information that dietary genistein stimulates mammary gland growth and enhances the growth of MCF-7 cell tumors.."

Estrogenic effects of genistein on the growth of estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in vitro and in vivo. Hsieh CY, Santell RC, Haslam SZ, Helferich WG. Cancer Res 1998 Sep 1 58:17 3833-8

Thyroid Disorders- The goitrogens in soy depress the thyroid and we have known about this problem for half a century. What is ironic that one popular breakfast cereal uses soy as a way to help us "go" lean. Don't believe the hype.

Antinutrients- The soybean has one of highest phytate levels tested for grains and legumes. Phytates block the uptake of the following essential minerals:

(1) Calcium
(2) Magnesium
(3) Copper
(4) Iron
(5) Zinc

Grains will impair mineral uptake of the above nutrients, but having ZMA, Copper, and Iron supplements in the evening will solve half the Vitamin and mineral insurace used in the morning. I have athletes take the HPF Liquid vitamin complex first thing in the morning, a half hour before breakfast. Based on the research on digestion time, most of the vitamins and minerals will be absorbed.

Hormone disruptions- Nothing kills a pick-up line then male breasts at the beach, so gentlemen say no to soy unless you are picking up the ladies from your own yacht. In fact, only four blocks of tofu a day lowered testosterone by about 10 percent relative to the level of estrogen in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Seppa, N. 2001. Soy estrogens: Too much of a good thing? Science News 159(June 16):375.

Journal Urology April 2003;169(4):1582-1586

Decreased Brain Function- While female rats increased their Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from being fed soy, the male rats decreased their BDNF levels after going soy. BDNF acts like a neuron fertilizer and helps regenerate brain cells, so if you are like me and allways loose tyour keys, adding soy is like adding a six-pack of budlight to the problem.

Neurosci Lett (Feb 1999): "soy phytoestrogens significantly increased the mRNA levels of BDNF [...in] female rats."

Enzyme Blockage- The trypsin action and other enzymes are blocked from the natural toxins in the soybean. Inhibiting the action of trypsin is retarding growth of the body. Rats feed soy were statistically smaller and weaker then rats that were not fed soy. In December of this year our "Rat Cam" will be installed to enlighten you readers one the food supply and the effects of various supplements.

Osteoporosis- Another stretch various "researchers" are claiming is that soy helps with fighting osteoporosis. This is not only false, but the opposite has been researched to be true. The phytates will inhibit the aborbtion of calcium and other componds in soy impair the absorption of vitamin D. What the logic behind the osteoporosis claim is that Asian women tend to not have decreased bone mineral content because they eat soy, what the real explanation is that other factors in their diet such as bone broths and animal products supply the body with the needed vitamin D and calcium.

Kidney stones- I have never had a kidney stone, but after listening to middle age men describe how they feel down the urinary tract, I don't want any. I guess the marketing department at Gardenburger will not be doing any commericals on that aspect. Here is a quote from the real research, not paid off members of the scientific community.

"high levels of oxalate in the urine increase the risk and those with a family history of the ailment are more likely to suffer from the condition; individuals with a low probability of kidney stones are unlikely to be affected by oxalate in soy-based foods."

-Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry September 2001

Natural Slimming System? Please. Real athletes do low intensity tempo, heavy weight training, and smart nutrition to keep lean instead of hoping that their breakfast cereal will help them get "cut up". If you read my article cereal killers you would of course skipped the breakfast aisle and purchased your steel cut oats from Netrition or Trader Joes.

Soy Protein Isolate is now in every product that needs a little boost of cheap aminos. This garbage is in everthing from soy cookies to soy burgers and is spreading like a disease with products you would never thought would need it. Here are the problems I see with soy protein:

(1) Nitrites- During the spray drying a toxin called lysinoalanine is formed and is a potent carcinogen. Add to the mix MSG to mask the taste of the bean and we got a combo that screams long term problems.

(2) Biological Value- Soy protein is a poor choice for athletes and vegetarians are asking for trouble because it is missing lysine, and important amino acid for growth.

(3) Taste and Flexibility- Soy protein makes bars and other products taste creamier and it can be molded and shaped like food clay during the manufacturing process. This makes soy too convienent to companies because it cheaper and flexible.

Have no game with the ladies? Get soy and all the hot blondes will flock to you just for the cardiovascular benefits. Nobody loves blondes more than myself, but I know they will not come running after me if I bust out a few Luna Bars. Speaking of busts, adding soy in your diet if you are a guy will only increase your chances for gynocymastia or male breasts. Bro or Manziere?

For the love of ribs no! It seems that the corporate world voted "yes" for the fake ribs and burgers after the marketing department showed what the food chemists can do with food dye and injection molding . I wonder if they share the same meat molds as Mac Donalds? If is too good to be true, it is too good to be true. After the soy industry hired Robert Norman Associaents to "get more soy into schools" in 1998, the NuMenu program now has Soy Tocos, burgers, and Lasagna for our growing athletes.

Not one of these health bars pass our "Bar Exam" when it comes to taste, macronutrients, and of course soy content. Not only do they tend to be overpriced, but they are too small to satisfy hunger. In my future article called "Bar None" I will show how I don't recommend most bars a way to help with feeding athletes. Anyone with a fifth grade education can make a better tasting bar and save money as well.

You and a friend can win a trip to Hawaii if you listen to this blue monster selling pancakes for Aunt Jemima. What is interesting that the new pancakes are low fat but contain enough sugar to create carnage in a elementary school. Fat fears have caused Americans to consume more refined carbohydrates and processed foods. If people just took more then two minutes to prepare breakfast we wouldn't have so many obese people raising our insurance costs.

Busted! From my records, Aunt Jemima was wasn't living large untill she started adding soybean oil into her pancake mix to make bigger profits. Here on the left whe is wearing a scarf on her head from working her tail off in the kitchen, but after going soy she is now getting perms and 4 karat diamond earings. When we asked for an interview, she refused and tried to drive over us in her new customized SUV.

In summary I feel that soy has too many downfalls to pass the lab test for elite athletes. The first question will be from most is that many of the experts suggest using soy for a protein source because of the benefits like insulin control and disease prevention. I understand that Dr. Sears and Dr. Colgan have many positive reviews of soy but I have my own views on the subject. Still I recommend that you eliminate soy from your diet and follow the Berardi principals for small "support meals" and go Zone for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Zone diet keeps my athletes lean, strong, energized and of course healthy. It is imporant to show my unbiased opinion on my beliefs here because you the reader count on my research and experience. There is good news though, companies are making changes to take the harmfull compounds out of soy and adding various ingredients such as Omega - 3 fatty acids and amino acids to soy products. In a few years I hope we see products that help more then they harm.

Next week I will write about why I use two of Searslabs oil products with my athletes such as the high grade fish oil and olive oil. The oils are so effective I have received twenty five emails from athletes sharing very impressive results with the products. Also included is information on antioxidant supplements.

Armando