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The Israeli Health Ministry recently issued a health advisory strongly recommending that soy foods be eaten only in moderation. They also recommended that soy formula be avoided altogether by infants.

A Host of Disorders

There are hundreds of studies linking soy with such disorders as:

• Digestive problems
• Thyroid dysfunction
• ADD and ADHD
• Dementia
• Reproductive disorders
• Cancer

Phytoestrogens are the Culprit

The Israeli Ministry based its advice on the findings of a panel of nutritionists, oncologists, pediatricians and other specialists who spent over a year looking at the available evidence. They concluded that the phytoestrogens in soy (estrogen-like plant hormones) can be harmful. Their recommendations are in accord with those made by the United Kingdom’s chief medical officer and the British Dietetic Association.

The panel found that:

• The evidence that soy alleviates menopausal symptoms is inconsistent.
• Soy phytoestrogens increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Soy phytoestrogens can also reduce male fertility.

They also noted that while soy has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol, there is no proof that it reduces the risk of heart disease.

The panel concluded that the proven risks of soy foods outweigh the possible benefits.

Mothering August 2005

Dr. Mercola’s Comment:

The Israeli Health Ministry has made a wise decision, and I hope the knowledge of the potential dangers posed by uninformed soy use continues to spread.

After an aggressivemarketing campaign from the soy industry, Americans are convinced that soy is a miracle health food. Some 200 million Americans are now eating soy in record amounts and in newly created, highly processed forms like soymilk, soy burgers, soy energy bars, soy ice cream, soy cereal and soy meat.

Meanwhile, thousands of studies link soy foods to malnutrition, digestive distress, immune-system breakdown, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, infertility and a host of other problems.

Millions of Americans feed soy formula to their infants. The estrogens in soy can irreversibly harmyour baby’s future sexual development and reproductive health, and can cause many other developmental abnormalities.

Soy formula should never be used as it can damage your infant. It:

• Will adversely affect hormone levels, as it has been associated with reduced testosterone levels.
• Will impair thyroid function through isoflavones present in the formula.
• Increases the risk of behavioral problems.
• Will expose infants to up to 2,000 times higher estrogen content.
• Has potentially high concentrations of aluminum and manganese.

There are some soy productsthat are, in fact, good for you — but only certain types and in limited quantities. Fermented soy, which includes natto, miso andtempeh,is a health food for most. But soy formula is an abomination that has caused much damage to the children of this country, and it should be immediately banned for sale everywhere.

Related Articles:
Soy Formula Kills Three Babies
Think Soy is Healthy?
Here’s Why it’s Not as Good as You Think
Soy Formula May Stunt the Intestinal Growth in Your Baby

Dr. Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com, one of the world’s most visited and trusted health websites, and publisher of the free Mercola.com e-newsletter — the #1 dietary health and wellness newsletter on the Web with over 500,000 subscribers. Dr. Mercola, a physician for over two decades, is also a New York Times bestselling author whose latest book, “Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program,” presents his entire renowned dietary health program and has sold over 150,000 copies. He is routinely interviewed by the media for his expert insights, including CNN and ABC World News Tonight. His passion is to change the fatally flawed conventional medical system to one focused on real prevention and cure.

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Eating a bowl of oatmeal each morning is the perfect way to start your day off right. This article will explain the six benefits of eating oatmeal and ways to make it taste delicious.

First off, the oatmeal discussed here is not the instant kind that comes in the different flavors- these are full of sugar. The real stuff is the plain oat flakes from Quaker Oats or a similar brand.

The benefits of oatmeal are due to the fact that it’s made from oats and oats are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

According to the American Cancer Society:

1. Insoluble fiber’s cancer-fighting properties are due to the fact that it attacks certain bile acids, reducing their toxicity.

2. Soluble fiber may reduce LDL cholesterol without lowering HDL cholesterol. LDL is bad; HDL is good.

3. Soluble fiber slows down the digestion of starch. This may be beneficial to diabetics because, when you slow down the digestion of starch, you avoid the sharp rises in your blood sugar level that usually occurs following a meal.

4. It has been found that those who eat more oats are less likely to develop heart disease, a disease that is currently widespread in the United States.

5. The phytochemicals in oat may also have cancer-fighting properties.

6. Oats are a good source of many nutrients including vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oats are also a good source of protein.

The difference between insoluble and soluble fiber, besides the foods that they come from, is what they do in your body.

Insoluble fiber’s main role is that it makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut, relieving constipation. Soluble fiber breaks down as it passes through the digestive tract, forming a gel that traps some substances related to high cholesterol, thus reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream.

Oatmeal has a pretty bland taste which makes it hard for the average person to consume every morning. Here are ways you can make it taste better.

1. Make the oatmeal with milk instead of water. This will also add calcium and more protein.

2. Add Stevia powder to the oatmeal. It will naturally sweeten up the taste without adding sugar.

3. Stir in your favorite-flavored protein powder to it after it’s been cooked. This gives the oatmeal a pretty good taste plus it adds protein. Combine this with using milk and you’ll have a meal that is high in fiber, calcium and protein!

4. Add fruit such as blueberries to the oatmeal.

You should aim to eat roughly 1 cooked cup of oatmeal each morning for optimal health benefits. And play around with the above preparation suggestions until you find a taste that you fall in love with.

Your heart and body will thank you for it!

Ryan Cote is the owner of http://www.SimpleHealth123.com, a health and wellness website providing healthy aging products and free resources. Come visit and download his free health and wellness e-mail course, 4 Days to Better Health.

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When it comes to food, we can’t ignore the facts - or the science. You need a healthy diet for a healthy life.

Research shows a healthy diet could help or prevent a number of health problems, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. And that number keeps growing as researchers learn more about how nutrition affects your health.

What You Should Know

Adopting a disease-fighting diet is easier than you think. When you shop, choose fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Avoid foods high in sugar and fat.

Here are some tips for arming yourself against disease with good-for-you foods:

Follow the Food Guide Pyramid

This guide tells you what foods to include in your diet each day and in what portions. It shows you how to have a balanced diet by eating foods from all the basic food groups:

• milk, yogurt and cheese (two to three servings; one cup of milk or yogurt would be one serving)

• meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts (two to three servings; one serving would be two eggs,
  Tags: anti oxidants, cancer, diet, exercise, food, health foods, illness, nutritionanti oxidants, cancer, diet, exercise, food, health foods, illness, nutrition

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