More Soy Joy?
- Susun Weed
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
You can listen to my show on soy, including some beany poems I wrote, next week at HealthyLife.com.Â
Catch previous shows at: Susun Weed HealthyLife.Net Radio Show Archive
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Are soy isoflavones truly a public health concern?
Front Nutr. 2025
1 Introduction
"Isoflavones are phytoestrogens, which are plant-derived compounds found in high concentrations in soy and other legumes, such as chickpeas and lentils. These molecules exhibit estrogen-like activity, which has been linked to both potential health benefits, such as reducing menopausal symptoms, improving bone health, and preventing hormone-related cancers, and concerns about their endocrine-disrupting effects.
"Children, as a developing population, are considered particularly vulnerable to exposure to substances with endocrine activity due to their ongoing hormonal, metabolic and reproductive development.
"Despite the growing use of soy-based products in pediatric nutrition, especially in the form of infant formulas and plant-based alternatives, regulatory agencies have issued inconsistent recommendations, reflecting a lack of consensus on the interpretation of the available evidence.
"This study aims to analyze in detail the recommendations issued by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) regarding isoflavone consumption in children, evaluating the basis of these measures in light of broader scientific evidence, with a particular focus on studies conducted in humans.
2 ANSES recommendations
"ANSES conducted a comprehensive review to assess the safety of isoflavones, analyzing numerous toxicological and epidemiological studies on isoflavone consumption and its potential effects on human health.
"As a result of this review, the ANSES defines the toxicological reference value (TRV) for daily isoflavone intake.
> For the general population, a TRV of 0.02 mg per kg of body weight per day was established.
> For vulnerable populations, which include children before puberty, women of reproductive age, and pregnant women, the TRV was halved to 0.01 mg per kg of body weight per day.
< "ANSES revealed a substantial risk of exceeding these TRVs among individuals who consumed soy-based foods." >
"Importantly, the ANSES report focuses on concerns about isoflavones and hormone-related effects but does not evaluate the benefits of soy, soy products, or isoflavones themselves.
Conclusion
"The debate over soy isoflavones exemplifies the complexities of translating scientific research into public health policy. While animal studies have raised valid concerns about their endocrine activity, robust human data consistently refute their classification as endocrine disruptors or harmful to health.
"Dietary recommendations should prioritize evidence-based approaches that consider both safety and nutritional value. Future research should aim to strengthen causal inference through studies with detailed dietary assessments and long-term follow-up, as well as mechanistic studies that clarify the biological pathways through which isoflavones exert their effects.
"Ultimately, fostering collaboration among regulatory agencies and researchers will ensure that public health policies are informed by comprehensive scientific understanding rather than isolated findings.
"Soy foods remain a safe and valuable component of human diets when consumed responsibly, a conclusion supported by decades of research across diverse populations. Rather than focusing solely on potential risks, public health policy should also recognize and embrace the well-established benefits of soy consumption in the context of overall dietary quality and sustainability."
Susun's comments:
> Sustainability?
Cultivation of soy is the single largest factor driving destruction of the Amazon rain forest in Brazil, which now tops the USA as the world's primary producer of soy.
> Quality?
More than 95% of the soy grown in the USA is GMO.
More than 90% of the soy grown in Brazil is GMO.
> Well-established benefits?
No way!
Quotes from The Ploy of Soy - The Weston A. Price Foundation which I referenced earlier this week.
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"Some researchers believe the rapid increase in liver and pancreatic cancer in Africa is due to the introduction of soy products there."
"Claims that fermented soy products like tempeh can be relied on as a source of vitamin B12 have not been supported by scientific research."
"Soybeans do not supply all-important fat-soluble vitamins A and D, which act as catalysts for absorption and utilization of all minerals and water soluble vitamins."
"The increased reliance on bean curd as a source of protein, which occurred between 700 A.D. and the present time, has not necessarily been a beneficial [healthy] change for the populations of the Orient and Southeast Asia."
"Soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein are used extensively in school lunch programs, commercial baked goods, diet beverages and fast food products. They are heavily promoted in third world countries and form the basis of many food give-away programs. 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."
"To summarize, traditional fermented soy products such as miso, natto and tempeh-which are usually made with organically grown soybeans-have a long history of use that is generally beneficial when combined with other elements of the Oriental diet including rice, sea foods, fish broth, organ meats and fermented vegetables. The value of precipitated soybean products is problematical, especially when they form the major source of protein in the diet. Modern soy products including soy milks and ersatz meat and dairy products made from soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein are new to the diet and pose a number of serious problems."
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I eat miso and shoyu daily.
Shoyu/tamari is real fermented soy; not soy sauce, not Bragg's unfermented aminos.
I avoid all other forms of soy to the best of my ability,
Absolutely no soy/vegetable oil.
It is in beauty.
It is a giveaway dance.
We breathe with the plants.
Our hearts beat as one with the heartbeat of the earth.
We are surrounded by green blessings.
Gratitude
Joy