This post is NOT meant to be a research piece on soy but a personal testimony as to the effects of soy on my body. We’ve already been there, done that with a post on why we don’t recommend soy . And a bazillion of other real food bloggers have done so as well (see: Weston A Price, Food Renegade, Wellness Mama, Small Footprint Family).
People seem to either be in one camp or the other regarding soy. They either advocate for it or call it EVIL. I tend to fall into the latter category. However, I don’t believe that soy itself is the monster, but a by-product of a very corrupt food production system that values profit over health. (I will leave that for another post because this really is about a my personal story with soy and not a rant per se.)
Soy, Estrogenic Compunds, Infertility, and Female Health Problems
Much of my health history as it relates to infertility has been written about in my infertility posts (part 1 and part 2). In those posts I alluded to soy as being the culprit for my female problems and I still believe that this is true to this day. However, it is not as simple as just removing soy from my diet to fix my infertilty.
If I look back over my dietary life I now see that most of my dietary intake was consuming convenience foods. And by convenience, I don’t mean McDonald’s. I mean packaged or canned items that saved me a step or two in the kitchen. I do love-me-some mayo and folks that is a convenience food if you buy it in the store. Packaged foods like mayonnaise contain soybean oil or other soy by-products.
And looking way back, I know that my mother cooked with A LOT of canned soups, veggies, etc. I am not sure when BPA was introduced to cans, but I do know that MOST cans today are lined with BPA. BPA, like soy, is a known to have strong estrogenic effects on the body.
My body has been in estrogenic overload my ENTIRE life. The evidence is in my female cycle. I’ve read articles blaming these issues on heredity, but there is NOT ONE WOMAN IN MY FAMILY WHO IS INFERTILE. NOT.ONE. — neither my mom’s nor my dad’s side of the family.
Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance
Because of my infertility I have had many tests done to check my hormone levels. Often I was told that progesterone was relatively low. But an imbalance of estrogen to progesterone is more often than not a sign of imbalance rather than a deficiency of progesterone. I had high estrogen levels that likely occurred unknowingly from estrogenic compounds (or FAKE ESTROGEN) called xenoestrogens that are found in the environment. The answer is NOT SUPPLEMENTATION of the low hormone but removal of the fake dominating hormone, since estrogen and progesterone work antagonistically yet synergistically in the body.
My Signs of Estrogen Dominance
- heavy or irregular periods – My periods were always regular, but often VERY heavy and painful. I thought this was normal my whole life, apparently it’s not. I would often have ‘accidents’ not just at night but during the day as well during the first three days of my period. My periods would also last 7-8 days.
- mood swings
- insomnia
- endometriosis
- fibroids
- infertilty
- headaches/migraines
There are multitudes of other possible symptoms associated with estrogen dominance but these are my symptoms. A simple search on Google will give you many sites that list other symptoms. You will find a lack of quality websites that actually post data on this subject unfortunately. There is a reason for that . . . there are no studies, nor do I ever think that there will be.
All of the above symptoms have plagued me since my puberty. Oddly enough I never questioned it. Partly because I had parents who didn’t ever take us to the doctor (I am actually grateful for that) and partly because I never discussed these things with other people. As I got older I did have some conversations with girlfriends in college who assured me that my periods were not normal, but by then I just figured I got cursed with bad genes or something. It never occurred to look into the reason for my problems.
It wasn’t until after I got married and had an ectopic pregnancy that I started to realize that I had some issues that could cause me to be infertile. Yet even then, I leaned heavily upon what the doctors told me (WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING), that no one really knows why people get endometriosis. By my third and fourth surgeries I was seeking information other than from western medicine.
My Understanding of Xenoestrogens/Phytoestrogens on the Body
In one of my infertility posts I mentioned that I visited a Chiropractor who was also trained in nutrition (I believe he has a Doctorate in nutrition as well). He preformed a test on me that is considered controversial and I personally only recommend it if you find an honest practitioner who knows how to use it (otherwise you can get scammed). I was skeptical at first, but I now know that this guy was legit and really knows what he’s talking about. He also cares more about healing people and changing the culture rather than making a buck. It was this Chiropractor that pinpointed that one of my main issues was soy (and liver toxicity). I never told him that I ate soy but his tests picked up on it.
At this point in my life I was eating a lot of soy ON PURPOSE because many medical people were saying that the estrogen was good especially if you are having a hard time conceiving. If you have heard the same thing please know that these people are wrong. Soy and other estrogenic factors are so pervasive in our environment that we do not need any extra in our diet. This is a fact!
Xenoestrogens are found in mattresses and new furniture! Did you know that? Here are places in the environment that you can come into contact with estrogens in the environment:
- Furniture
- Water – from chlorine and other toxins
- Plastic food containers
- Styrofoam
- Teflon-coated pans
- Non-organic meats (animals are often fed synthetic hormones that get passed on to us in the food)
- Cosmetic and Hygiene Products – like soap, shampoo, conditioners, lotions, make-up
- Household cleaning products
- Laundry soap and dryer sheets
. . . . . and the list goes on. Do you really think we need to supplement with estrogenic foods? I think not. More xenoestrogens create imbalance with our hormones between progesterone and estrogen.
The Problem with Xenoestrogens: They are not REAL estrogens!
Xenoestrogens were explained to me this way by the Chiropractor/Nutritionist:
Think of estrogen as a key. Estrogen opens locks in your body’s female functions that are created to only be utilized by estrogen. Xenoestrogens have keys that fit the lock but they will not turn the lock and perform the body’s normal hormone functions. As a matter of fact, they try to unlock the door, but instead ‘break’ off in the lock keeping our bodies’ real estrogen from being able to perform the necessary functions because it can no longer get into the cells.
This is what I believe to be my problem. I have xenoestrogens that my body can get rid of. I’m dominant in estrogen and have all the symptoms of estrogen dominance in my body yet the real estrogen can not do its job.
Once I removed SOY and ESTROGENIC FOODS from my diet my female problems started to resolve.
- My periods are now down to 3 days, which has never been the case my entire life prior to this.
- I am guessing that the fibroids and the endo are whittling away in some fashion as I have less pain associated with them.
- My migraines happen so infrequently now that I might only have them twice a year where I used to have them atleast once a month.
- I’m still working on mood swings and insomnia, but even those seem to be mellowing out.
It may seem odd to those in the “I LOVE SOY” camp to understand why I am so down on what has been touted as a superfood in this modern era, but my body knows it’s no good. And I am staying away from it, lest I have another nasty surgery and potentially more reproductive issues.
My Stand on Fermented Soy and other Estrogenic Foods
Fermented soy has been accepted in real food circles. We even allow ‘fermented soy’ recipes on our real food blog carnival. However, fermented soy only reduces phytic acid and a few enzyme inhibitors. FERMENTING does not remove phytoestrogens (which are plant based xenoestrogens). Therefore, I stay away from all soy and estrogenic foods as much as possible. This means no flax either. Flax is highly estrogenic as well.
If you know about the history of soy it is debatable whether is was ever intended to be consumed by humans to begin with. Yet in small amounts in a non-estrogenic filled world they may have been acceptable to be eaten when traditionally fermented. Flax is a real food. There’s no doubt about it, but for the same reasons I will not be eating it. There are too many extra xenoestrogens floating around out there for my body to be forced to deal with let alone ones that I choose to ingest.
My intention of this post is only to give a perspective on where I am on soy and estrogenic foods. I realize I may be wrong but until I see sufficient data to prove otherwise, I will be staying away from these foods and my posts and recipes will reflect such a stand.
Have you noticed any ill-effects from soy or estrogenic foods? If so what have you experienced?
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Jen, I suffered the same things since I was a teenager. I also fell for the soy health food claim when I thought I was lactose intolerant (just intolerant to wheat). I miscarried my first pregnancy but easily got pregnant the next two times… in fact both were surprises. I had no idea flax was an estrogenic food and I eat it almost every day… not anymore!!! My cousin had trouble getting pregnant too (I know she eats soy) but she was also diagnosed with a blood-clotting condition: factor 5 Leiden. After daily shots of Heparin she was able to carry a baby to term. It is a hereditary condition that they are finding is rarely diagnosed but more prevalent than doctors realize. I keep my own daughter and my son away from soy. I am also finding relief through homeopathy now.
I did have one miscarriage too (I had an ectopic pregnancy) Haven’t gotten preggers since. I am sure there are a number of factors but I am almost certain that it is the phytoestrogens as the main cause. It is amazing how my cycle changed dramatically once all traces of it in my diet disappeared. Feel free to share this with your cousin. Maybe it can help her. And I think it is very wise to keep children away from the stuff. There are many other foods to eat and soy is not one that is necessary if it has this many problems associated with it.
I have been using homeopathy as well. But I wonder if he is only treating the surface causes of fibroids and scare tissue from my surgery. I am supposed to go for heavy metal testing soon so he can treat that if it’s an issue.
BPA was originally fed to cattle and chickens in the 1930′s to increase their growth. It was also used as an estrogen replacement for women. It has been used in plastics and container linings since the 1950′s.
I have spent three years trying to reverse an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. It’s slow going after a lifetime of exposure.
Yep, I think the stuff is on our cells from what I understand.
Thanks for the history on BPA. Was not aware that it started as early as the 1930′s in cattle. EEK! That explains a lot and what I know about the third and fourth generations being affected by the stuff. Good luck as you try to work through detox as well. It is a long slow road.
I already avoid soy and doing so has done wonders for me. What other foods are estrogenic? You mentioned conventional meat and flax, any other major players?
I had originally mentioned (then removed reference to it) about sauerkraut. It’s not estrogenic but it is a goitrogenic food which can cause problems with the thyroid. Thyroid plays a role in hormone regulation. Since it wasn’t related to phyto or xeno-estrogens I left it out since that wasn’t what I was focused on. Once cabbage, broccoli, and such are cooked these problems resolve. So I eat them in the cooked form. However, fermentation of these foods does not resolve the goitrogens. Many people can eat them without issue. But because I am not sure if my thyroid has been damaged due to the soy, I avoid it too.
I have a whole theory (just opinion really) about the thyroid. And I took that part out of the post as well. I think it is all tied in but I have no evidence for it . . . . yet.
I would love to hear what you know about the thyroid. My mom had hyperthyroidism and she asks me about food advice. We usually don’t heat our sauerkraut but now you have me worried!
You may want to check out this website, Bethany. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/goitrogens/
I have found the info on it to be helpful regarding research of thyroid concerns.
Wow, thanks for all the great information. I believe I am high in estrogen too, so I am trying to reduce it through food. I don’t think I eat a lot of soy, but I am going to check everything to make sure!! I guess I currently am infertile (not conceiving), and am trying to make food/lifestyle changes to help with that. I thought I ate relatively healthy, but I am trying to reduce carbs and sugar. I just ordered the fermented cod liver/butter oil so I am going to see if that helps, and just focus on healing through food! I didn’t know about flax either! Good luck to you!
Good luck to you Jane as you try to figure out your infertility. I find that the doctors want to take shortcuts and offer to do invtro or AI before attempting to figure out what is really wrong. I am currently using homeopathy to target some issues plus of course I am trying to eat clean.
I’m not sure what you mean about reducing carbs. Veggies and fruit are still really important to eat. And Chris Kresser has a fantastic post about how some white rice intake is helpful for trying to conceive. I understand the need to reduce wheat products though. Those can be problematic especially if you have sensitivities to gluten or the new fangled hybrid wheat.
When I began my real food journey, eliminating grains, I discovered the “one minute muffin” made with 1/4 cup of flax. I was still breaking myself of the grain habit so having a daily muffin was a nice substitute for breads and cereals I ate on SAD.
About 2 or 3 weeks in, I started having some spotting. Since I have PCOS and very irregular periods, I didn’t think much about it at first. But over the course of a few weeks, that bleeding became very steady and HEAVY. It got heavier and heavier until there were some times that it was similar to the hemorrhaging I experienced with my first pregnancy due to placenta previa. Panicking at that point, I contacted my doctor who said that it was “probably just menopause” (I’m 52) and that I should not be concerned. But after 8 weeks of heavy bleeding, I WAS concerned (and I was becoming anemic, too).
It didn’t take much googling to learn that the phytoestrogens in flax may cause vaginal bleeding. I stopped the daily flax muffins, and the bleeding stopped within 2 days. Perhaps that was coincidental, but I don’t think so.
I still eat flax, but only very occasionally now. I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to phytoestrogens.
I think you are very wise to make that connection. And actually I think you are the first person that I have heard with such a severe reaction to flax. It confirms my suspicions about it and why I won’t touch it myself. I really don’t think your situation was a coincidence. It’s like with my elimination of soy. The heavy periods stopped almost immediately. These doctors haven’t a clue.
Saliva test showed my estrogen off the chart (literally) too high for the machine to read. Naturopathic pharmacist quizzed about my soy intake, water out of plastic bottles, body lotions…kept saying, “Plastics? Plastics?” I whispered “breast implants” and she felt that was the culprit (but of course the medical community would never think that to be the case). So had the implants removed and am trying to detox my liver. Traditional medicine has very little to offer those who are estrogen dominant. The good news is there are some excellent books out there (but they will never be accepted by the mainstream physicians who are educated by the pharmaceutical companies). It really is “patient heal thyself” (with help from God of course).
I completely agree with you. We need to research the answer on our own and especially with God’s help — overwhelmed without it. What are some of the books you are reading? Maybe they are ones I haven’t read yet.
I have had the opposite experience with soy. I am peri-menopausal and by having a small amount of homemade non-gmo soy milk every day, I have eliminated my PMS and the period related migranes I was having. I eat some other soy on occasion, mostly tofu, a few times a month. I think it comes down to each person’s individual hormonal balance and what is right for them.
Of course the plastics issue is for everyone.
Pixie I would agree that a small portion of the population can tolerate soy in small amounts. Menopausal women might be an exception. However, you still want to properly ferment soy so the nutrients are properly absorbed and be aware of thyroid problems that can be associated with xenoestrogens. Also be aware of other placed where you might be ingesting it. I think you might be surprised how many places soy is found in your diet, including animal meat.
I’ve had the same symptoms you had ever since I got my period, subsiding only for a brief time when I was overweight. Since I lost weight and my symptoms returned, I cut out soy and BPA as much as possible. I’m still identifying possible xenoestrogen sources in my life, but I am currently pregnant with a miracle baby! I started to miscarry but took bioidentical progesterone and it stopped. Because of this hormone problem, I know I still need to work on the issue. I wasn’t aware of flax seed either. Thanks for the heads-up!
Congratulations on your miracle baby.
I also had hormone fluctuations after losing weight. Interesting how that plays a role. I wonder how much of that has to do with insulin and inflammation.
Thanks! Can you explain the insulin/inflammation connection a little more? I’ve really been wondering why losing weight (and keeping it off for 5 years) intensified my symptoms.
@Esther, I don’t know really. I was wondering the same thing about why losing weight would cause your symptoms to get worse. Gut issues (inflammation or leaky gut, sometimes resolved by the GAPS diet) or sugar issues are sometimes good places to start looking if you are looking into alternative treatments. I’m no doctor. Just curious, myself.
Thank you for sharing all of this. I went back and read your infertility posts, too. I’ve always had painful, heavy and long periods. Unfortunately two plus years of real food and GAPS have done nothing to resolve this. Right now I’m trying acupuncture, which I’m hopeful about, but no results yet…
Hope you are able to get it resolved Meghan. I am seeing a homeopath to resolve some of my issues as well. I do believe that alternative medicine is better equipped to deal with detoxing our cells than modern medicine ever will. Good luck to you and if you have any success with the treatments come back and let me know.
All PUFAs, beans, nuts, seeds, leafy greens and grains are inflammatory and/or estrogenic like affect on the body.
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/natural-estrogens.shtml
The degree at which you would want to avoid them is dependent on your personal needs.
My understanding of legumes and nuts is that phytoestrogens in those foods are reduced or eliminated by soaking/fermenting. Where it is not reduced much or at all in soy and is found in much larger amounts.
Hi Jen,
I’m really sorry to hear about your health issues. Having a thyroid problem myself, I know very well about infertility. I stopped using soy all together about a year ago, i say all together but I sometimes have 100% soy sauce, but besides that…
I can’t say I noticed any difference when I stopped eating soy. I can’t really say that any food elimination for me has really helped, except maybe gluten. I’m strongly considering the GAPS diet, I’m sure you have looked into it. I don’t expect miracles, but I’m just stuck where I am so I figure it won’t hurt to try.
I am amazed by your recovery from eliminating soy, it obviously has a big effect on you!
I know that there is so much differing information out there it is sometimes hard to know what the right thing is or what is next. I will tell you though, my first steps to change were eliminating soy, gluten and processed oils/foods and adding chicken and fish, now I have eliminated all grains (so no rice
) and looking to add more meat, which as a life long vegetarian is hard to even type.
Anyway, let me know if you want to know about GAPS, it might make sense for you.
Good luck and I hope it works out for you. xo
I have looked into and ‘thought’ about trying GAPS. But in the end I have never thought it was right for me. Although I do believe there is some detoxing that I still need to do (I have done a detox fairly recently). But I feel like because I have limited time that I can not mess around by severely reducing carbohydrates which are needed for reproductive organs and processes.
I truly believe that most people don’t have overt reactions to soy. I didn’t think I did either. No anaphylactic reactions or anything like that. But it certainly seems evident with my cycle as I see the immediate results.
But thyroid . . . boy that’s a tough one. It seems like every vital function in your body is reliant upon that little organ working optimally. I do hope GAPS works for you. I look forward to hearing how it goes. And good luck with eating meat. I know that will be a tough transition.
Are you allergic to soy? As far as the thyroid goes, I know it can be quite hard to get the right diagnosis, but I would venture to say that if you do have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder that could be the answer to all your fertility problems. And if… then, there is a question of how to treat it. This might be going off topic but, there are different thyroid tests, but again I’m sure you know that. If you do find that you have something auto-immune then I would really reconsider a gut-healing diet. I am sure that I will somehow chronicle my GAPS experience, if/when I go down that road.
No sure what qualifies as an allergy to soy. I don’t have problems with breathing, hives, digestion, etc. It is more the estrogenic qualities of the soy itself that is causing my female cycle to go haywire. It was the main factor in the growth of the uterine fibroids and endometriosis and thus my very heavy periods.
I have been dragging my feet on Thyroid testing. I have heard horror stories about getting the right diagnosis. I would rather find the right doctor first. I am thru with going to doctors that don’t know anything and can’t think for themselves. For now, I am doing homeopathy and he is working on my thyroid issues. I worry about modern thyroid treatment options. Because many of those options are lifelong once you start I would rather wait until I know more about how to approach it. Doctors can be really pushy when they THINK they know what you should do, even when you are still questioning.
I’m not sure the soy issue is auto-immune. I think it is more the estrogen effect which is why WAPF warns against it. If people are allergic to wheat or eggs they suggest GAPS or a healing protocol. Yet with soy WAPF has stern warnings about it. This is why I am almost certain it is not a gut issue.
Well, I’m glad by giving it up you saw significant changes!
I know what you mean about thyroid, and every doctor has a different prognosis— or ways to deal with it. I was diagnosed about 8 years ago and went through an Endo, which may or may not have been the best course. I’m working with a naturopath now and she says that the GAPS diet really could help, but no guarantees.
I wasn’t suggesting that your issue with soy was auto-immune, I was trying to say if you figured out that you had one you might want to try the diet. Look at me, I haven’t even started it and I’m already singing it’s praises!
I have no issues with my gut either, but 80% of our immune system is in our gut that’s why the diet is so healing. But, I am sure I’m not telling you anything that you don;t already know.
Good luck and we’ll continue to fight to keep the bad stuff out of our food.
After having 2 miscarriages my periods were all messed up, long and heavy with clots. At first I thought my body needed time to heal but after a year of no improvement I found out about xenoestrogens and started cutting them out of my diet etc. I also found out about Progestelle which is a natural progesterone. I started taking Progestelle and 6 months later had a normal, light, short period. I was so happy to be normal again and then I also got pregnant and had a healthy baby! I know Progestelle really helped me and maybe it would help you too. Here is the website with lots of info. http://www.womhoo.com/
I am 53 and had a hysterectomy 3 years ago because the fibroids, heavy bleeding and frequency of my periods (2 to 3 weeks) were leaving me anemic. I have a great internist who has been treating my Hashimotos thyroid disease, fibromyalgia, leaky gut and what turned out to be aclorhydria (instead of GERD) for over 12 years. We were trying to avoid the surgery by balancing my thyroid and my hormones bio identically. I had the surgery because I had a growth (cyst) on an ovary. It took me two years to recover. The lack of estrogen and all the hormones basically made my stomach issues explode. I developed severe esophageal spasms as well. Lost a lot of weight fast and could eat almost nothing but steamed simple veggies and steak (of all things.) I have been researching ever since and on a fairly strict food sensitivity diet (ALCAT testing) my internist started upping my estrogen and added testosterone saying estrogen has something to do with the stomach lining. I realized when I took less estrogen I was nauseated and anxious. I can’t seem to tolerate any progesterone so that is very low. I don’t eat soy for the same reasons you don’t and the more I read the more complicated it gets. I gained all the weight back from some gut healing but now have the big tire belly (estrogen?) I have flax everyday! Didn’t know that one so thank you. I am wondering if phytoestrogens can cause anxiety….. Are they connected to inflammation which would irritate leaky gut, or the flip of that… And could they cause the body to attack the thyroid (which is Hashimotos) All leading to fibromyalgia…. When I look back I see so many wrong turns. A heavy dose of antibiotics for mastitis in 1988 that led to candida that led to leaky gut etc… I think I was also estrogen dominant my whole life. With stomach issues, anxiety and mood swings. I am trying to give advice to my daughters from lessons learned and its hard as I find out more and more layers of issues. I will now tell them no flax. No SOY. They are both vegetarians. They eat lots of soy and have horrible periods. We have no idea what we are passing on to the next generation and it scares me. My 4 year old grandson has autism and on it goes….
I can’t stress enough to anyone, get a good Dr. to test your thyroid and learn to read the results yourself. It’s not very hard and at least you will know a bit more about what you are dealing with. Sorry about the length of this post
Carolyn, I am so sorry that you have had to go through all that. I really do think all of your issues are interconnected somehow though.
I agree with what Robin (goatmom) said. Healthy fats like lard, butter, and non-hydrogenated coconut oils are key. Just keep up what you are doing, it takes a long time to undo what we have unknowingly done in our past. If I let myself get all hung up on that I would be cursing myself that I may have caused my infertility (and sometimes I do go there unfortunately), but most of the time I focus on what I can do today. That’s all we can really do, right?
Have you looked into alternative medicine like a homeopath or naturopath? I would also recommend looking into that website that I posted in the comments earlier ‘stop the thyroid madness’. It might help give you some direction. I know, it’s overwhelming, especially when you are dealing with thyroid disorders. It’s so complicated.It does sound like you have a good internist though. Good luck. If you get any news on what is working for you, please let us know.
To answer your questions about phytoestrogens and anxiety, I believe the answer is YES! They cause all types of mood swings and anxiety fits in there. As far as inflammation, not so sure about that. Not saying it doesn’t (cause I am just a lay person myself), but I think it causes more problems with hormones that regulate water retention and such. Not sure it can be related to gut issues or inflammatory responses.
I had heavy long periods, fertility issues, difficulty carrying to term when i did concieve, fibrocyctic breast disease and just felt like hell when I was younger eating soy, low fat, nearly vegetarian. I resisted having a hysterectomy and finally carried to term 1 child. Now post menopausal and feeling so much better with no soy, avoid cans and plastic as much as possible, natural high fats like coconut oil, real butter, lard, lots of fresh veggies, pasture raised meats, lots of nutrient defiencies reversed, limit wheat, sweets. I will always wonder if I had discovered these changes earlier would my daughter have a sibling? But just thankful for her fertility and that our family is enjoying better health overall now. I lost half my thyroid12 years ago but even that is well contolled as far as symptoms now. And the tumor that devloped on my remaining thyroid disappeared over a 3 year period as I improved my eating/health even more. Just keep trying to find what works best for your body and know it won’t get fixed in a week after years of feeding incorrectly. Prayers for all who are struggling.
Thanks for the encouragement Robin! So true that it took us a lifetime to get here and we need to be patient with the progress we are making. . . . Thanks for sharing your story.
darling there are studies on any and every issue to “prove” anything and everything. not that science doesn’t have a place in our world – it does. but i think we need to listen to our bodies as well. science and/or medicine doesn’t know us best – we do. if your body responds negatively to soy based products, listen to it. i do eat some soy but i avoid it in mass concentrations. And when I do eat it, I stick to organic non-GMO stuff. We have to be conscious of what our bodies are telling us and I think you’re doing great work here. love it.
thank you for sharing with us at the Wednesday Fresh Foods Link Up! i look forward to seeing you again this week with more seasonal & fresh/real food blog posts
xo, kristy
Yeah, that’s why I put the word ‘quality’ to preface that statement. Unfortunately there aren’t studies to validate what I am looking to understand. Even the stuff that WAPF uses to discuss the soy problem fall far short of an answer for me. But it’s one of the reasons that I did this post as a personal testimony to soy’s effect for me. I really think we need to listen to our bodies and investigate these things for ourselves. These doctors just aren’t educated enough on these things to help us.