Is Soy Good For Us

Not too long ago, several centuries, soy was not considered as a food source, and it is amazing how modern propaganda could push this product into the spotlight. It wasn't until the 2nd Century in China's Chou Dynasty that the fermentation of soy made it a viable option for human consumption. Up until that point it had been mainly used in crop rotation to moderate the nitrogen levels in the soil. The unfermented soybeans were never eaten, as they contained large levels of natural toxins that blocked digestion. Many of these toxins cannot be gotten rid of even through cooking. Soy has been shown to produce serious gastric distress and reduce the proteins needed for proper digestion, and, can also cause cancer.

According to some sources, 99% of soy is genetically altered and contain more pesticides than any food produced in the world today. Studies have shown that vegetarians who consume soy products such as tofu as a substitute for meat run the risk of severe deficiencies in calcium, magnesium and iron.

Producers of soy are still trying to figure out how to get these "anti nutrients" out of soy and make it more "user friendly". One process involves mixing the soy with an alkaline solution to remove the fiber. The process takes place in large aluminum tanks where the aluminum has a chance to seep into the soy as well. After this process, the curds are spray-dried under high temperatures to produce textured vegetable protein (TVP).

Despite the poor results shown in studies where animals were fed soy products, we still see the soy industry pushing soy into school lunches, commercial baked goods and fast food. Soy has been marketed as the perfect food. In 1913, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) listed soy as an industrial product and not as food. When the soy industry first started this campaign, the public wasn't as enthusiastic as they are now, so the soy industry changed tactics. Instead of marketing soy as a cheap source of food for the impoverished, soy is now presented as a miracle food that will cure all that ails you. Apparently this is working, after all, don't we all want to live forever?

Countless studies have affirmed that diet plays a major role in both provoking and preventing a wide range of diseases. But just what is a healthy diet? What does the body need to stay strong and get well? This interview is about Dr. Murray’s new book, The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, where he draws on an abundant harvest of data to present the best guide available to healthy eating.

• Find out why food is your best medicine
• Learn the 7 key principles of healthful eating
• Discove why dairy products may not protect your bones
• Untangle the latest research on diet, breast cancer, and bone health
• Understand how cinnamon can help control diabetes
• Learn how to use turmeric to reduce inflammation and pain
• Optimize your health by taking just three basic nutritional supplements
• Find out how grains may be making you ill
• Learn about the latest research on how antibiotics increase your children’s risk of developing asthma
• Hear a dialog about the benefits and risks of a vegetarian diet
• Learn how to relax about what your children eat
• Hear about a brand new low calorie sweetener
• Find out how to normalize your cholesterol levels without drugs
• Get quick tips on detoxing from mercury

Dr. Michael Murray, Naturopathic Doctor (ND) is widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine. He is on the Board of Trustees of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. As a consultant to the health food industry, Dr. Murray has been instrumental in bringing many effective natural products to North America, including:

• Glucosamine sulfate
• St. John's wort extract
• Ginkgo biloba extract
• Silymarin
• Enteric coated peppermint oil
• Saw palmetto berry extract
   

Traditional Healing in Modern Medicine

You've heard that it's takes a village to raise a child, but Dr. Mehl-Madrona believes that it often takes a community to heal someone who is ill. The indigenous ways have much to teach us. In his books and this interview he tells us stories that he's told to his patients to help in their healing process. These stories give us universal wisdom and strength.

• Discover how to use the community to help your friends and family heal
• See how to integrate contemporary medicine with traditional healing
• Learn the traditional meaning of the Four Directions
• See how you can use stories to enhance the healing process
• Discover the hidden meaning of the Native American Medicine Wheel
• Be Inspired to live in harmony with the seasons and nature
• Learn about the real meaning of “success” in healing
• Explore how to use our ancestors’ spirits in healing and story
• Find out what the benefits of ceremony can be in your life
• Learn to create your own ceremonies for daily living
• See how the Ravens Beak story relates to modern health issues

Lewis Mehl-Madrona holds an M.D. from Stanford University and has been a practicing doctor for over 20 years. An experienced healer who has led many Native American healing ceremonies, Dr. Mehl-Madrona has also headed traditional medical clinics, helping AIDS and cancer patients as well as researching the benefits of relaxation techniques to aid in the natural correction of breech positioned babies. He is currently an Associate Professor of Family Practice at the University Of Hawaii School Of Medicine. He has been studying and working in the field of Native American and indigenous healing for many years.