Question for the brain trust, soy?

(Geoffrey) #1

Besides the fact that I avoid soy and soy beans because I won’t eat seeds I was just curious if something made of fermented soybeans such as soy sauce, should be avoided as well?
I’ve read that fermentation helps remove or change the toxins in plant matter and makes it safer to eat.
The reason I ask is that foods like jerky are usually made using soy sauce as a marinade so I’ve been staying away from it even though I love jerky.
I know there are a bunch of people around here with a ton more experience than me and definitely smarter and more educated so what say you?

(KM) #2

I usually use organic tamari, which is basically the same thing but is made with fermented rice rather than wheat, like most US soy sauces are. I haven’t had any issues with it, but I’m not 100% carnivore. I don’t think there’s really much soy or rice or wheat in it, it’s the liquid produced from fermentation that’s squeezed out (that is, you’re not eating ground up beans.)

(Bob) #3

My first foray into low carb was Atkins, and he had no problem with soy. I used soy all the time. Made pancakes with the powder, ate tofu, and more. I’m fine, and never grew man boobs, lol.

There is naturally fermented soy (labeled “naturally brewed”) and then there is chemically fermented soy (will list “hydrolyzed soy protein” or “hydrolyzed vegetable protein” in the ingredients).

A toxic substance called 3-MCPD is found chemically produced soy sauce. Soy also contains trace amounts of wheat and gluten.

Personally, a little bit used as a brine for some beef jerky is probably going to be trivial. But as with all things keto-carnivore, add in back in alone for a week or two and see how you react.

(KM) #4

Thanks for that! Always wondered how a fermented product could be so inexpensive. :unamused:

(Geoffrey) #5

Good information Bob, thanks.

I have read that soy, besides the fact that it’s a seed, in and of itself is not healthy for men in general. It supposedly raises estrogen in men and at my age with lower testosterone that may not be a positive thing for me.
Moobs? Yeah well, it’s to late for that. Fat already took care of that for me. Or maybe it was the soy…hmm! Bring on the Autophagy.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #6

Not if you consider phyto-oestrogens to be beneficial to your body. Check the nutrition label on the soy sauce, however, because in Chinese cookery, the tastes of salt and sugar are regulated by adding more of the other.

Also check the nutrition label on jerky before you buy. It might be safer and more nutritious to jerk your own meat. Especially in the U.S., sugar gets added to everything these days.

#7

Soy (regardless of whether it’s fermented or not) is fine unless you’re overdoing it. It’s surprisingly a half descent (and complete) protein. It’s when it becomes a staple in peoples diets like the veggies and vegans that it can be an issue from because it’s Estrogenic, that’s ignoring the glyphosate issues, like corn, it’s gets a good healthy extra 10x of that for some reason. Soy sauce isn’t going to be a problem, I love that crap!

(Brian) #8

So many variables. GMO / glyphosate? Or home-grown? A few ounces a year? Or a few ounces every meal? Fermented? Or unfermented? Sprouted or unsprouted?

Personally, I want nothing to do with soy. My wife is allergic to it. It really just has no place in our desired foods list. Would I worry about a little soy sauce? Probably not. But I don’t have any and have no plans to buy any.