Present in all products
True. Many Ukrainians do not even suspect that they eat soy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Manufacturers of a generous hand put it in sausages and meat semi-finished products (pelmeni, ravioli, pancakes with meat), milk drinks, mayonnaise, margarine, baby foods, pasta and even sweets and chocolate. This unhealthy tradition is associated with the active release of cheap food analogues, that is, surrogates. Nowadays, about 500 kinds of food products are produced, in which a soy substitute is used instead of a natural base. And the more in a soya product, the cheaper it is. However, even price is not an indicator. Want to know what made sausage or dumplings? Look at the label. If the composition contains "vegetable protein," it is likely that it is about soy. And it is designated as E479 and E322.
Absolutely useless
Misconception. Natural soy, like other natural products, is useful. By the amount of protein it surpasses fish, eggs and meat. In this case, soy proteins, unlike animals, are digested by 90%. In soy there are almost all amino acids that are contained in beef or pork, and also - calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. There are a lot of B vitamins necessary for the nervous system, skin and hair beauty, as well as vitamins C and E, protecting the body from the harmful effects of the environment. Products based on soybeans regulate cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart and vascular disease, improve kidney function in diabetes, normalize fat metabolism and contribute to weight loss. If you adhere to a vegetarian diet, it is advisable to include in the menu products based on natural soy - soy meat, milk, sauce and tofu. Do you want to strengthen immunity? Enter in the diet of salads from soybean sprouts. To taste, they resemble pickled asparagus, in the dishes well in harmony with cottage cheese and soft cheeses. Germinated for 5-6 days sprouts - a favorite food of yogis, a real elixir of health. Soy sprouts normalize the metabolism, improve the work of cells of the brain and nervous system. And most importantly - vitamin salads can be prepared at any time of the year.
Useful to all and at any age
Misconception. In soybeans are found plant hormones isoflavones, which in their composition and action are similar to female sex hormones estrogen. According to the scientists of the Swedish National Institute of Health, the American National Institute of the Environment and the National Center for Toxicological Research, regular use of soy can disrupt the hormonal balance. This is especially dangerous for pregnant women and is highly undesirable for those who are just preparing to conceive - phytohormones adversely affect the development of the brain of the embryo and increase the risk of miscarriage. In addition, experts at the Department of Pediatrics Clinic at Cornell University in New York proved that frequent use of soy is causing hypothyroidism (a deficiency of thyroid hormones), the symptoms of which are apathy, constipation, overweight and fatigue. All this is a real threat to the fragile endocrine system of children in the first years of life. If the baby is fed soya mixtures (this is now a common phenomenon) - he needs constant monitoring of the endocrinologist. Knowingly in Australia and New Zealand, doctors recommend giving soy children only under the supervision of a doctor and exclusively for medical purposes. Therefore, despite the useful properties of soy, it should be used in moderation.
Harmful if genetically modified
Unknown. The impact of GMOs on the human body has not yet been studied. Disputes about his harm do not stop, the world is constantly shocked by sensational reports in the press that GMOs are the main cause of many ailments. The ardent opponents of transgenic soybeans assert that GM foods affect the metabolism, immunity, hormonal system, the biochemical composition of the organs and tissues of living beings. Their opponents are parrying: people eat pork and beef for a thousand years, but no one has muzzled and not grunted - so why are there any DNA to be afraid of? We will be objective: today there is no research that confirmed or denied the safety of transgenic products in general and soybeans in particular. So it is too early to make unambiguous conclusions. But it's better not to take chances. In Europe, it was decided to label products containing GMOs, so that each person would make an informed choice, whether to use them or not. Unfortunately, the sign "Without GMOs", for example, on a sausage stick does not always guarantee its safety for health. It is better to pay attention to that: products that GM-soybeans are added to are manufactured according to the specifications (specifications) instead of GOST (formerly - Gosstandart, and now interstate standard in the CIS). Choosing a product, ask if it is made according to GOST or TU. In the GOST there is a mandatory condition - GMOs should be absent, the requirements of TU allow the use of genetically modified soy.
Relieves discomfort with menopause
True. Surprisingly, the same isoflavones, which are so dangerous for infants and pregnant women, can be an elixir of youth for women in the period of approaching menopause. A well-known fact: with age, the development of estrogen in the body of a woman slows down. Because of hormonal restructuring, ladies change beyond recognition. Classic symptoms of menopause - irritability, hot flashes, excessive sweating, depression, sleep disorders. All these troubles will recede if you add soy dishes to your diet. Soy hormones act in the same way as female sex hormones, and the process of restructuring will be smooth, almost invisible.
Reduces the potency of men
True. Soy homeland is China; Asians have been eating soy products for centuries. Soybeans are joking: if Chinese men complained of potency, they would not have such a population increase. However, physicians at the Harvard Institute of Health in Boston came to the conclusion that soy is really not very useful for male potency. They compared the quality of the sperm of lovers of this bean and men with other preferences in food. It turned out that in the first it is much lower. And even 100 g of soy meat or one soy chocolate bar a day affect the decrease of libido and impair the quality of sperm. The negative effect is enhanced if the man is overweight or obese. Scientists from the Royal Institute in Belfast also discovered a similar dependence. In their opinion, regular use of soy is leading to infertility. By the way, contrary to the established opinion; Asians do not eat that much - an average of 10 g (two teaspoons) a day. In doing so, they use it as a seasoning, and not as a substitute for animal products.
Does not cause allergies
Misconception. From allergy to soy protein children suffer up to two to three years. According to statistics, it manifests itself in 5-10% of babies. In adults, it occurs rarely, and is classified as food intolerance. If the beans are treated with chemicals or genetically modified, the risk of rebellion of the immune system increases. And the reactions can be very different: abdominal pain, loose stools, difficulty breathing and even anaphylactic shock. The only way out in such a situation is to completely eliminate from the diet products with soy protein. In the US, Canada and Argentina, GMO products are not labeled - there is no such legal norm. In EU countries, Russia and Ukraine, marking is required if the product contains more than 0.9% GMO. In Japan and Australia, the reason for marking is 5% of GMOs in the composition.