Soy, tofu may be hurting your brain

Editor:

Health Canada recommends soy products as a milk alternative, and tofu (pureed soybeans) as a meat alternative.

They also detail a study which shows that soy can lower cholesterol.

Here are the facts that they have failed to mention which I referenced from a study done in Hawaii by Dr. Lon White.

Soy may make your brain age faster, leading to serious problems with memory and mental function in later years.

Aside from this research, has anyone noticed that the number of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s has been increasing over the years? The diets of 8,000 people were examined over the course of 30 years.

Loss of mental function occurred in 19 per cent of subjects who ate the greatest amount of tofu.

They were given brain scans between the ages of 71 and 93 years old. Out of 26 foods studied, only tofu was significantly related to loss of brain function.

We all eat foods that may not be good for us, but those that try to live a healthy lifestyle will try to limit their consumption of foods that carry health risks.

So after reading this, some people may decide to limit their use of soy products with the belief that they may be avoiding the loss of mental function in later life.

The reason this may have little effect is that about 60 per cent of all processed foods such as salad dressings, mayonnaise, margarine, breakfast cereals and energy bars, contain soy protein. You are also indirectly consuming it by eating meat because it is also used in livestock feed.

In my opinion, Health Canada should not be recommending soy products without a warning of possible loss of mental function.

And they should not allow the use of soy in such a large percentage of our food source.

If you agree, Health Canada is now accepting public opinion to help determine a new food guide which will be announced in 2018.

For those unaware, this food guide is used by public institutions such as schools and hospitals.

Judy Galley, Sorrento