The Truth About Soy From Prison Inmates

Mar
16

The Truth About Soy From Prison Inmates

Filed under: Diet;
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What can you learn from prison inmates?

Apparently, you can learn the truth about soy.

I want to share an interesting story with you about the Illinois prison system and their experience with a high soy diet. In 2002, the governor of Illinois determined that it would be a great cost savings to the state to lower the cost of food in the prison system. So in 2003, inmates began receiving a diet high in processed soy protein as a replacement for meat. Up to 60-70 percent of the protein from every meal came from soy.

It wasn’t long after that these prisoners began to experience chronic health symptoms such as:
- chronic and painful constipation alternating with diarrhea
- vomiting after eating
- sharp digestive pains
- heart palpitations
- rashes
- acne
- insomnia
- panic attacks
- depression
- hypothyroidism
- brain fog
- fatigue
- weight gain
- frequent infections
- infertility (
- after being released)
Hmmm… Do you see any correlation with the symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome?

What might be even more interesting is that still to this day, the FDA continues to claim soy as a health food. Even though there are numerous scientific studies that show the adverse health effects of soy.

OK… now let’s take this one step further.

The same FDA that is making these soy health claims has over 288 studies regarding the toxicity of soy filed under their “FDA Poisonous Plant Database”.

I think you can make your own conclusions about soy and it’s place in your diet at this point.

Eat This, Not That

Eat: Make your own salad dressing with olive oil and balsamic or apple cider vinegar.

Not: Store bought salad dressing as these are predominantly made from soy oil.

Bonus Tip

Soy oil is used everywhere because it is so cheap. So if you think your vegetable oil is really from vegetables then read the label and think again.

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27 Comments

27 responses to “The Truth About Soy From Prison Inmates”

Karen Lawless April 10th, 2011 at 06:59

Hi Karen

Just wanted to confirm the soy you are talking about does this include soy sauces and tamari (wheat free version). I like tofu but eat it rarely and have had adverse reactions to most legumes including soya beans and really can’t stand soy milk anyway but the sauces are handy for marinating chicken etc.

Cheers

Karen L
Karen Brimeyer April 26th, 2011 at 02:27

Fermented soy like Tamari is typically not a problem for most people.
Marie July 31st, 2011 at 11:17

Does soy beans like edamame have the same affect on the gut? Also what about fermented soy foods?
Karen Brimeyer August 2nd, 2011 at 22:48

Yes, edamame still has some many negative effects even though it’s not processed. And certain forms of fermented soy can be tolerated but I still don’t believe there is any real nutritional value.
Ann Leroux September 7th, 2011 at 07:30

Well then, if you are vegetarian, don’t like meat or fish wheat and lactose intolerant and have to abandon soy because of leaky gut, what kind or protein do you recommend? eggs, maybe?
Karen Brimeyer September 8th, 2011 at 21:01

I don’t recommend vegetarianism. We have evolved as omnivores not because we can choose to eat either meat or vegetables but because we need both. You can read Weston A. Price’s book “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration” and he studied indigenous cultures all over the world and never found even one totally vegetarian group. And there are plenty of nutrients such as vitamin B12 that you can’t get from plant sources. The protein found in plants, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, etc are very low quality and are almost useless to your body.
kevin burdick September 15th, 2011 at 22:00

I’ve been in Illinois prison and have some of the symptoms that were explained in this article, what can be done? Thanks
Karen Brimeyer September 15th, 2011 at 23:01

The best thing you can do is clean up your diet and cut out all forms of soy and other major allergens.
renee September 30th, 2011 at 14:39

Do you have any sources to go along with this article? I’d love to read more.
Karen Brimeyer October 3rd, 2011 at 22:17

There was a lawsuit funded by the Weston A. Price Foundation. You can read more about it here:

http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert/cruel-and-unusual-punishment-soy-diet-for-illinois-prisoners
Jo December 12th, 2011 at 19:52

This is a brilliant study on the perfect demographic to show adverse health effects. Way to go, Illionois.
Petra September 30th, 2012 at 17:17

Does this include soya milk, as in the UK it is the only alternative offered in coffee shops ?
Karen Brimeyer October 1st, 2012 at 08:24

Yes, soy milk is included.
Sherri Banovatz November 14th, 2012 at 14:50

Karen,
Is Soy Lecithin included? My husband and I are on your diet, and have trouble finding chocolate that doesn’t have soy lecithin in it.
Thanks,
Sherri
Karen Brimeyer November 15th, 2012 at 08:23

Yes it is… there are only a few brands that don’t use it. Try finding the Enjoy Life brand.
Emme January 1st, 2013 at 00:13

I need to take phosphatidycholine. Is there another source besides soy? Is non-GMO lecithin harmful as well?
Michelle March 4th, 2013 at 20:06

Karen, I can’t help but wonder if it is primarily soy protein isolate that is the culprit as well as any soy products that have been bathed in hexane?
Dr. Weil has recommended two servings of soy each day that is oraganic. The only time soy aggravates me is in the form of soy sauce, (even organic, gluten free tamari, soy protein, and non-organic products, as well as the unprocessed beans themeselves.

What are your thoughts on this?
Karen Brimeyer March 6th, 2013 at 13:39

There are a number of issues with soy and the research showing the negative effects is not limited to soy protein isolate.
Lisa March 13th, 2013 at 15:42

Try this website for soy-free chocolate: http://www.soyfreesales.com

Their economy chocolate chips are amazing! Better than Enjoy Life brand.
wendie September 2nd, 2013 at 19:38

What alternative do you recommend for those who can’t tolerate dairy?
uma September 10th, 2013 at 16:12

Hi Karen, How about Soy lecithin.It is there in almost everything.
Karen Brimeyer September 11th, 2013 at 14:07

It is in a lot of things. It’s best to avoid whenever possible.
bill crawford October 16th, 2013 at 14:36

i have read that brewed or fermented soy products no longer contain the problematic compounds in them…is that correct??
Karen Brimeyer October 16th, 2013 at 15:20

That’s NOT correct.
Susan October 25th, 2013 at 14:09

Interesting about the food in Prisons. Sorry, but what do they expect when taxpayers are shelling out $50-60k per year to house these people? I recall being in grade school over 30 years ago and our hamburgers in the school lunch were rubbery and you could see the soy fillers. Same with the Fish sticks. This has been going on for years, to stretch the meat and fish, etc.Surely this is found in the Government surplus food they are feeding our kids at reduced lunch food rates.
THE Irony is that it has long been lauded to be the reason for Japanese longevity, or is it only bad now because of the GMO and hexane processing?
Karen Brimeyer October 28th, 2013 at 12:17

The Japanese don’t actually consume a lot of soy. And the dangers have a lot more to do with GMO and hexane processing.
Ursula March 12th, 2014 at 21:36

Hi Karen. I was considering taking Phosphatidylserine. Would you think these issues relate to the supplement also. Is there perhaps a sunflower equivalent?