Not soy good for you (Day 17)
My weight rose 0.4kg to 68.3kg. My body fat rose 0.2% to 17.7%. My Body Water dropped to 56.5% and my Body Muscle dropped 0.1% to 42.8%.
Quinoa, soy milk, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and agave nectar
For breakfast I had hot lemon juice followed by quinoa with soy milk, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries with a drizzle of agave nectar.
Channa dal, wholegrain basmati rice, salad and vegetable juice
For lunch I had whole grain Basmati rice with a Channa dal, red kidney beans, corn and green peas curry and salad accompanied with a glass of vegetable juice.
I had a really good resistance workout, beating most previous rep records. By the time I did my laps around the park, my body decided to take it easy and I decided not to challenge its decision, hence completing my laps in 1 hour 2 min and 57 sec. I finished my workout with a 10 min HIIT session on the cross trainer.
A box of Anwar Retol mangoes from Pakistan set me back £4.99
Anwar Retol mango, fresh dates and watermelon: a delicious post-workout high GI treat!
Post workout I treated myself to a high GI treat of a Pakistani Anwar Ratol mango (GI 80), water melon (GI 103) and fresh dates (GI 103). I also had a glass of soy milk and a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter for protein.
As meat and dairy have been eliminated from my diet for this detox, naturally I looked for protein and milk alternatives. In my search, products made from the soy bean like tofu and soy milk came up top. As a plant source, not only are they high in protein but the protein is a complete protein (a source of protein that contains adequate amounts of all essential amino acids required by humans). On top of this, the pro-soy camp claim many other health benefits of soy: promoting a healthy heart; stronger bones; prevention of cancer; and alleviating menopausal symptoms.
Unfermented soy may get on your tits... but does it make men gay?
Contrary to these claims there is a growing number of soy research suggesting dangers of using unfermented soy products like tofu and soy milk. While fermented soy products like tempeh, miso and soy sauce are considered safe due to the fermenting process eliminating the chemicals deemed dangerous, unfermented soy products have been found to: block absorption of essential minerals as a result of the phytic acid in them; increase the phytoestrogen levels in a person which can change women’s menstrual cycles; suppress thyroid and endocrine function; lead to growth inhibition; promote kidney stones; weaken the immune system; interfere with protein digestion; and possibly cause infertility. Interesting soy fact: according to the Evangelical Right, unfermented soy makes men grow up to be gay.
As with any subject there are always alternative perspectives. And quite often the different perspectives are promoted by industries that benefit commercially from that particular viewpoint. This is also true with the food industry. It is said by pro-soy vegans that the anti-soy research and conclusions are often funded by the dairy industry. While others claim that the healthy claims of soy is promoted by the soy industry.
For me there is enough doubt in my mind to avoid unfermented soy products. Once I’ve finished this carton of soy milk, I will experiment with other vegan milk alternatives. As for Tofu, I have a couple of cartons in my cupboard and it seems unlikely I will use them during the rest of this detox. If I can get hold of tempeh, I will certainly try it, as it is a fermented source of soy. However it doesn’t seem that easy to get hold of in the UK. The supermarkets don’t stock it, and I’ve checked my local health shops, no tempeh there. Next stop will probably be a Chinese shop, if I can find one that is. Perhaps this gap in the UK tempeh market is a potential business opportunity for somebody?
Sliced tempeh