Uncovering the Shocking Link Between Soy and Thyroid Disease, Part 1 & 2 with Dr. Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD
Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place.
On this episode we’re going to begin our examination of the link between soy and thyroid disease. As I have spent time deep in the research, my opinion of the correlation between the two has changed over the years. My goal for this three-episode series is to have conversations with people with strong views from both sides of the argument of the link between soy and thyroid disease. Each guest will present their perspectives on the topic and then afterward I will weigh out their evidence and discuss the results.
I’m first joined by Dr. Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD and author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side to America’s Favorite Health Food. She shares her experience with studying soy and thyroid disease — from poor-quality research to studies that have been inconsistent in proving the effects of soy on the thyroid. Dr. Daniel highlights who is at greater risk for negative soy effects and also shares her top picks for soy in a healthy diet.
After our conversation I will wrap up with my key takeaways, citational studies and a look at four main areas of health that can be affected by soy consumption — including breast cancer in menopausal women, perimenopausal symptoms, cardiovascular health, and bone density. The studies are conclusive and the evidence is clear, and you won’t want to miss the results I share on this first of three conversations about the highly important topic of thyroid disease and soy.
Key Takeaways:
[:35] Today’s topic is the first of three segments on the correlation between soy and thyroid disease — and we’re looking at it from the angle of an anti-soy expert.
[2:31] Introducing Dr. Kaayla Daniel, who shares her experiences with soy research and an overview of ayurvedic medicine and soy consumption in Asia.
[7:05] A look at the numbers — how the correlation between cancer rates and soy consumption increases or decreases based on cancer type, how it affects symptoms of menopause, and its effect on cardiovascular health.
[13:24] Dr. Daniel shares her findings about soy as it relates to thyroid health, it’s effects as a goitrogen, and a look at supporting research.
[21:28] Studies that have been inconsistent in proving that soy does not have any effect on the thyroid often select humans that are not at risk for thyroid disease in the first place.
[25:06] Understanding the iodine issues is not a simple, isolated factor to the soy issue, especially in people that already have health and thyroid problems.
[29:15] Differentiating the effects of foreign xenobiotics (non-biologically derived estrogens) from plant phytoestrogens and how the body responds to each at different stages in the life cycle.
[31:50] Dr. Daniel’s general health takeaways include understanding who is most at risk for negative soy effects, including vegans, menopausal women, and infants on soy-based formula.
[38:35] You may be surprised to hear that Dr. Daniel enjoys eating natto, tofu, and tempu, all of which she considers safest in moderation and when avoiding this list of highly processed soy foods.
[44:25] A description of some of the best sources of soy, and what Dr. Daniel really thinks of the taste of natto.
[48:25] Dr. Daniel’s work with debunking the dirty secrets of detoxification programs and one obvious reason that you can’t always trust studies at face value.
[54:46] A look at the citational studies from my conversation with Dr. Daniel, including soy as a cause of cancer, soy affecting thyroid peroxidase, and the risks associated with feeding soy formula to infants.
[1:00:17] Is there a drawback to avoiding soy? The evidence shows that soy may not simply be a neutral product to avoid but is actually beneficial to overall health.
[1:01:29] Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer of adult women, and it can be preventable in part by soy consumption.
[1:04:02] Bone density and menopause studies show that soy consumption can have a positive effect on estrogen level status in females.
[1:07:30] The breast cancer studies results that have shown that soy intake was a cause in lower risks of death or recurrence of cancer.
[1:10:05] Large population studies results are conclusive — ‘soy supplementation has no effect on thyroid function’.
[1:15:56] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths.
To learn more:
The Comprehensive (and Shocking) Guide to Soy and Thyroid
The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side to America’s Favorite Health Food by Kaayla T. Daniel
