Finding Soy in the Grocery Store
By Sian on Nov 01, 2011 with Comments 5
For the next few weeks, GGS Media is going to be dedicating Tuesday blog post on Soy and Soy Products. I personally fascinated with this topic as I really don’t know much about soy. So together we can learn more. To help celebrate all of this learning we are going to be doing, every Friday we will be having an awesome giveaway. So mark your calendars and stay tuned for some really exciting posts to come. And, if you would like to know more about soy or have any questions about soy, please email me at sian at girlgetstrong.com and we may be able to incorprate your questions into a blog post.
This weeks topic is Finding Soy in the Grocery Store, so let’s get started!
For myself, the grocery store that I regularly shop at has a soy section in the produce department refrigerator section. There found is vegetarian burger, meatless ground beef, meatless deli slices, tofu, soy cheese and more such meatless items. I buy these items at least once a week as a vegetarian option. My 2 kids have no idea there isn’t ‘real’ meat in the spaghetti sauce. It’s my little secret. There is also whole selection of soy in the freezer area of the grocery story that sells, vegetarian burger, vegetarian crumbles, faux chicken, edamame and many more meatless items. I also know about soy milk and cheese found in around the milk selection of the grocery store and of course, soy nuts. But with more research, I really had no idea soy was located in so many other areas of the grocery store. Let’s go to all of the grocery store.
Cereal aisle
Soy protein is used in the manufacturing of breads, cookies, crackers and other baked goods. Soy protein improves texture; holds moisture; creates cake richness.
Soy protein is used extensively as an ingredient in hot cereal mixes and breakfast bars to boost protein value and quantity.
Juices and drinks
Instant drink mixes, ready-to-drink beverages, protein drinks, soy milk such as , Bolthouse Farm Chai Tea Smoothie’s, Odwalla Super Protein Mango Smoothie’s
Meat aisle/frozen meats
Sausages, hamburgers, meatballs, bologna, frankfurters, tofu such as Match Meats
Dairy and butter aisle
A number of dairy analog products have been developed with soy protein, including imitation milk, imitation cheese, non-dairy frozen desserts, coffee whiteners, yogurt and others. Soy protein improves nutrition and reduces allergenic response.
Desserts
Chocolate, ice cream, pastry fillings
Pasta
Pasta products can be fortified with soy protein to increase nutritional value. For instance, the U.S. National School Lunch Program uses soy-fortified pastas with 15 to 17 percent protein content.
Front of store
Chewing gum….say what??
I am very surprised that so much more had soy in it than excepted. I had no idea about pasta, meat items and even gum. Are you surprised? Also a secret tip about the giveaway on Friday, Nov 4, 2011. Bring your camera/ phone to the grocery store and take some pictures of the items you find with soy.
Are we missing any?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Solae. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the Solae.
What about all the crap in soy? This is not a health food…why would I want to go shopping and look for it? I also hear it gives you cancer and is really bad for your thyroids…it is not CLEAN Food at all.
What do you think about the high estrogen content of soy, especially in unfermented soy?
That and the trypsin inhibitors in soy make it a food I stay well away from.
Hi Naomi,
I know there are so many misleading articles on the internet which really makes the story on soy confusing. However, soy does not contain estrogen. Estrogens are female sex hormones. Soy on the other hand, in addition to flaxseeds, legumes and some other types of produce contain phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens selectively bind to estrogen receptors in the human body. Here’s a good article if you’d like to learn more about soy: http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/Soy-Remains-a-Healthy-Choice.htm
I am a consultant to Solae, a company that develops soy ingredients and technologies. However, I only work with companies I believe in and I myself eat soy foods and consider them a healthy addition to one’s diet.
Sincerely,
Marie Spano, MS, RD, CSCS, CSSD
Hi Marie,
Actually, I don’t find the issue of soy consumption all that confusing at all.
The overly high omega-6 content of soy oil makes the consumption of soy foods a practice that needs to be consciously balanced with the intake of enough omega-3 fatty acids to prevent systemic inflammation.
The article you linked to has these conclusions:
“Moderate intake of dietary soy is safe, though the safety of concentrated soy supplements (e.g., pills, powders) needs further study.”
“Although the current research shows that soy may not protect against heart disease at the level once believed, it’s still a healthy source of protein, fiber, minerals and is a great alternative to red meat–the Harvard School of Public Health’s Nutrition Source website suggests two to four servings per week to replace red meat.”
Boy, what sterling recommendations! Maybe I should consume charcoal — which is a great source of “minerals”! — because studies show it doesn’t cause heart disease.
At least I can trust the charcoal-pill-pushers to never have falsely asserted — as the soy pushers have — that their product promotes cardiovascular health.
And the implication that soy is a good source of protein on par with red meat is false. Trypsin inhibitors and an unadvantageous amino acid profile make soy protein a very substandard protein source. I could go on about the other anti-nutrients in soy, but others have done it for me.
http://www.tbkfitness.com/soy.html
MY bottom line: there’s no reason to bother actively adding soy to your diet as if it’s some kind of health food, because it isn’t.
The best you can say about soy is that it’s “not too bad”. But when it starts replacing healthier foods (like eggs, grass-fed beef, etc) in significant amounts — as this article tries to push on the reader at every turn — then it is actively problematic.
I’m not against a little soy milk here and there, but I consume it conservatively and only when better options like almond and coconut milk aren’t available.
Soy is so harmful and I just had to add my two cents….
Look what studies show about soy:
Increase the risk of breast cancer in women, brain damage in both men and women, and abnormalities in infants
Contribute to thyroid disorders, especially in women
Promote kidney stones
Weaken the immune system
Cause severe, potentially fatal food allergies
Soy products also contain:
Phytoestrogens (isoflavones) genistein and daidzein, which mimic and sometimes block the hormone estrogen
Phytates, which block the body’s uptake of minerals
Enzyme Inhibitors, which hinder protein digestion
Haemaglutin, which causes red blood cells to clump together and inhibits oxygen take-up and growth