These soy products greatly inhibit zinc and iron absorption; in test animals they cause enlarged organs, particularly the pancreas and thyroid gland, and increased deposition of fatty acids in the liver. Human feeding tests to determine the cholesterol lowering properties of soy protein isolate have not shown them to be effective. Nevertheless, they are often promoted as having beneficial effects on cholesterol levels.
Cancer Preventing or Cancer Causing? The food industry also touts soy products for their cancer preventing properties. Isoflavone aglycones are anticarcinogenic substances found in traditionally fermented soybean products. However, in non-fermented soy products such as tofu and soy milk, these isoflavones are present in an altered form as beta-glycoside conjugates, which have no anti-carcinogenic effect. Some researchers believe the rapid increase in liver and pancreatic cancer in Africa is due to the introduction of soy products there.
The fatty acid profile of the soybean includes large amounts of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids compared to other pulses legumes); but these omega-3 fatty acids are particularly susceptible to rancidity when subjected to high pressures and temperatures. This is exactly what is required to remove oil from the bean, as soybean oil is particularly difficult to extract. hexane or other solvents are always used to extract oil from soybeans, and traces remain in the commercial product.
When precipitated soy products are consumed with meat, the mineral blocking effects of the phytates are reduced. The Japanese traditionally eat tofu as part of a mineral-rich fish broth. Vegetarians who consume tofu and bean curd as a substitute for meat and dairy products risk severe mineral deficiencies. The results of calcium, magnesium and iron deficiency are well known, those of zinc are less so. Zinc is called the intelligence mineral because it is needed for optimal development and functioning of the brain and nervous system.
In a parallel move, the FAO, the United Nations’ food agency, has declared 2004 the International Year of Rice to focus attention on declining food output. The Japanese government will host another gathering on the issue in Tokyo in November. Why rice reigns supreme Rice is getting most of the attention because it provides between 35 percent and 75 percent of the total calories consumed by Asians and is the prime food source for 50 percent of the world’s poor. As such, it is central to the UN’s efforts to achieve a 50 percent reduction in hunger and poverty by 2015.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) has a number of interesting effects in addition to its actions as a vitamin. High doses (100 milligrams two or three times a day) help relieve nerve compression injuries (like carpal tunnel syndrome), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and some cases of depression andarthritis.
Many doctors and patients like injections of vitamin B-12 as an occasional tonic or pick-me-up. The usual dose is one milligram, a lot for this vitamin, which the body needs in microgram amounts. No toxicity is known for B-12, and people who get shots of it often report immediate feelings of warmth, energy, and a general glow of health. These effects tend to be short-lived and are most prominent with the first injection.
Thiamine (vitamin B-1) is selectively destroyed by alcohol. I recommend that drinkers take 100 milligrams of it once a day, especially on days when they drink. Riboflavin (vitamin B-2) is a yellow pigment, which is what turns the urine bright yellow when you take a B-complex supplement. This is harmless, but can be upsetting if you don’t know the cause. I do not know any reason to take this vitamin separately.
NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS Folic acid deficiency is associated with birth defects. Pregnant women who are folic acid deficient risk having babies with neural tube defects such as anencephaly (failure of the brain to develop) and spina bifida (failure of the spinal column to close). These defects can occur before a woman is aware that she is pregnant so maintaining adequate folic acid levels is vital for any woman who might become pregnant.
