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Ultra Meal Plus 360 is a medical food, which targets conditions associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. It contains non-GMO soy protein. Ultra Meal Plus 360 has been demonstrated to help people improve levels of blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, Apo lipoprotein A & B, homocysteine, LDL particle number, and large HDL particle number.
Call my office to order or learn more about Ultra Meal Plus 360:
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Homocysteine | |
Homocysteine is an amino acid that has significance when it is too high or too low. When elevated it causes damage and is associated with risk to all the degenerative diseases. Elevated homocysteine indicates impairment in a critical biochemical process called methylation. B vitamins help to improve methylation and lower homocysteine. Low homocysteine indicates problems with glutathione metabolism - often the result of toxicity or oxidative stress. Any medical lab can test homocysteine blood levels.
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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"What Your Doctor Hasn't Told You About Cholesterol"
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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DR. DEBÉ'S UPCOMING LECTURE:
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"What Your Doctor Hasn't Told You About Cholesterol"
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"THE DIRTY DOZEN"
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The following foods have been found to have the highest levels of pesticides. Do your best to only consume "organic" versions of these:
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Blueberries
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Bell Peppers
Spinach
Kale
Cherries
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Grapes (Imported)
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Greetings!
Welcome to the August, 2013 issue of NUTRITIOUS BYTES where we again delve into Soy, Science, Lies, and Hysteria. |
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"Give me a soy burger, a side of science, and hold the hysteria."
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Soy - It's just a bean!
In my last newsletter, I debunked some of the common myths about soy. Before we tackle one more, I would like to discuss some basics about soy. Soy, like any whole food, actually contains a multitude of components. Soy has a high protein content and a good amino acid profile, which makes it an alternative to meat. It contains a mixture of fatty acids, including some omega 3 - alpha linolenic acid. It contains carbohydrate, fiber, lecithin, and an array of vitamins and minerals. It contains a good amount of potassium and calcium. It also contains phytochemicals, the best known of these being the isoflavones genistein and daidzein. The phytosterols within soybeans inhibit absorption of dietary cholesterol.
The amino acid make-up of a dietary protein influences its health effects. Soy has a different amino acid profile than animal protein and this mediates some of its biological effects. Likewise, the different small chains of amino acids called peptides, which are formed by digestion, have varied biological activities in the body. These peptides may be partly responsible for soy's ability to lower triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Soy must be cooked before it is eaten. There are many foods made from soybeans. A partial list includes sprouted soybeans, tofu, tempeh, bean paste, miso, natto, soy protein isolate, soy milk, soy sauce, and texturized vegetable protein. Some of these forms of soy contain indigestible sugars, which feed the "good" intestinal bacteria and result in gas and intestinal discomfort. Lecithin, soybean oil, and other fractions of soybean are found as ingredients in a variety of refined food products. Although I believe non-genetically modified soy is a good food, I don't advocate consuming partially hydrogenated soybean oil (found in many grain-containing packaged and convenience foods), which is toxic. Likewise, if you eat a food with multiple ingredients and soy is one, you need to consider the health effects of the other ingredients, which often times are detrimental.
Some of the health benefits from consuming soy are derived from transformation of genistein and daidzein into other chemicals by intestinal bacteria. For example, the bacterial product of daidzein called equol has some powerful beneficial effects on male pattern baldness, skin, prostate, and bone health. People differ in their ability to produce equol upon consuming soy. This appears to have something to do with the type of intestinal bacteria. Fermented soy foods such as natto and tempeh appear to offer an advantage in yielding more equol.
Granted, fermented soy foods may be more beneficial but that does not mean that unfermented soy foods are worthless. Asians consume a fair amount of unfermented tofu. Soy has been credited with some of the health benefits of the Asian diet. For example, the region in Japan with the highest soy consumption, Okinawa, is home to some of the longest-lived and healthiest people in the world.
To introduce the discussion of specific reasons to consider eating soy on a regular basis, I would like to expose one more myth and lie.
Some people acknowledge the benefits of certain soy foods but claim that soy protein isolate is "poison". The only legitimate concern I am aware of is that soy protein isolates can vary in the amount of carbohydrate and isoflavones they contain. Too much soy carbohydrate may cause gas and intestinal upset. Please learn a lesson from what I am about to present. You can't believe everything you read, even when it is dressed up with scientific jargon. You have to always question and research things to the best of your ability. Enlisting the help of a trusted health care professional is a good idea.
I read a newsletter on the subject of soy by a popular, pro-vegetarian medical doctor. Carefully reading his comments and reviewing the literature he cites to back up his claims, I found he extrapolates, "cherry-picks" and selectively ignores data in trying to vilify soy protein isolate. I believe he is downright dishonest in his effort to mislead on the facts related to soy protein isolate. He writes, "Another recent study showed how 40 grams of soy or cow-milk protein concentrate added to the diet significantly increases levels of a powerful cancer-promoting growth hormone, called Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 - IGF-1. However, soy protein was almost twice as powerful as the milk protein concentrate - doubling the levels of IGF-1 with 40 grams of soy protein isolate. This growth promoter has been strongly linked to the development of cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon. Excess IGF-1 stimulates cell proliferation and inhibits cell death - two activities you definitely don't want when cancer cells are involved."
Boy that sounds scary! That could discourage just about anyone from consuming soy protein isolate. But is it really true?
It is true that excess IGF-1 may cause accelerated growth of tumors. However, normal levels of IGF-1 are associated with health benefits, including younger looking skin, more muscle mass, and less body fat, to name a few.
I read the study that this doctor referenced in support of his warning that soy protein isolate is a tumor promoter. Did the study find that soy protein isolate increased cancers of the breast, prostate, colon and lung? No. Did the study warn that those conditions were a concern? No. Did the study even mention the word cancer? No! Was the increase in IGF-1 excessive? No. The study is actually entitled "Soy protein has a greater effect on bone in postmenopausal women not on hormone replacement therapy, as evidenced by reducing bone resorption and urinary calcium excretion." This study includes the statement:"... the stimulatory effect of soy protein on IGF-I are suggestive of the bone protective effects of soy protein..." In other words, an increase in IGF-1 was seen to be a positive thing. It is critical to note that soy protein consumption did not increase IGF-1 levels into an excessive range. The IGF-1 levels remained on the lower-side - perfectly normal. Using this study to warn against the supposed dangers of soy protein isolate increasing levels of IGF-1 is like telling a person whose dying of thirst not to drink water because too much water may cause drowning!
Of course this biased medical doctor ignored the findings of this study and the conclusion of the study's authors: "In summary, our findings suggest that women who are not on HRT may greatly benefit from consuming soy products."
There have been dozens, if not hundreds, of studies finding that soy protein isolate consumption is safe and beneficial. Much of the soy research findings that follow refer to soy protein isolate.
Soy has been found to produce many biological changes consistent with improved cardiovascular health. In fact, the FDA allows a heart health claim to be made for soy. Improvements in total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, Apo lipoproteins A-1 and B, blood pressure, homocysteine, C Reactive Protein, and many other parameters have been seen.
Soy has beneficial effects on blood sugar and insulin metabolism. I routinely recommend soy protein-based medical foods for conditions related to insulin resistance or diabetes.
Some studies have found soy to be beneficial for bone health.
Some research shows soy reduces menopausal hot flashes.
Soy appears to offer protection against cancers of the prostate, breast, and colon.
Soy protein appears to improve chronic kidney disease.
Soy offers an advantage for weight loss. A study published in March, 2013 was entitled, "Effects of soy protein supplement on overweight and obese population: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Thirteen studies published between 1988 and 2012 were analyzed. The conclusion of the authors was: "Soy protein supplementation significantly decreased body weight, fat mass and waist circumference in overweight and obese population."
Soy is indeed a bean with a lot of good research behind it. Check into health claims for yourself and don't let anyone scare you about eating this health-promoting food.
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Come October, I will be in a new location. I won't be going too far. Details to follow when plans are finalized.
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Sincerely,
Joseph Debé, DC, DACBN, CDN
Board Certified Nutritionist
38 Great Neck Road
Great Neck, N.Y. 11021
(516) 829-1515
www.drdebe.com
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