Excerpt from the book “Food to the Rescue” by Dr. Jennifer Shell, D.C. 

Photo by Fernando Andrade on unsplash.com 

Soy;

Soy is marketed as a healthy food, but there is concern about its safety: Most of the soy used in the United States is genetically modified. For that reason, we are very leery of most products with soy. Clinically, we find a lot of people to be sensitive to soy. Most infants we see cannot digest soy formula, and it leads to GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). Acid reflux is something very commonly seen in babies and kids these days. We have cared for many newborns that were put on drugs for acid reflux before they came to see us, which we find unbelievable. Babies (actually everyone) needs digestive juice to digest food; reflux medications stop the production.14 Also soy-based baby formula is considered estrogenic, which can lead to increased estrogen activity and can lead to breast development in boys.  Babies fed soy formula receive the equivalent of five birth control pills worth of estrogen a day. 

Soy can cause problems with the thyroid gland, hormonal imbalances, infertility, and immune system problems.14 By impairing the thyroid gland, we get fat, our hair dries out (or fall out), and we become exhausted. We want to mention that fermented soy like miso or tempeh are both fine, it they are organic. Fermentation removes the things that impair proper absorption.14 Whole organic soybeans called edamame are acceptable as well. They are high in protein and fiber.