Information provided by Dr. Nasr

Dr. Nasr has a B.S. in Agronomy; M.S. in Biochemistry of anti-oxidants and a PH.D. in Pharmacognosy (science of bio-active products). He received his M.D. from Rush Medical College in Chicago , followed by Internal Medicine and Cardiology fellowships from Chicago Medical School . He is a member of the American College of Nutraceuticals and the American College of Preventive Medicine and is Director of the Medical Care & Diagnostic Center, Lake Villa, IL.

In November 2004, Dr. Mohamed Nasr spoke in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the benefits of soy. Below is a synopsis from notes from the conference.  He uses Shaklee Soy exclusively because it has the very best and most complete soy protein and isoflavone content.

1.    Optiflora and Soy Protein increase the absorption of protein, decrease gas and discomfort and decrease cholesterol by 23%

2.   60 studies have been conducted showing soy protein increases bone density more than just Calcium Magnesium does.

3.   2 studies show that soy and vitamin E together decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) by 40% and that is 17% greater decrease than Zocor and Lipitor

4.   2 studies show that soy protein inhibits oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol) by 40%. When cholesterol oxidizes, it becomes “sticky” and in this condition is when it can attach to blood vessel walls.

5.   Soy prevents gall stones. It doesn’t dissolve them but it prevents them.

6.   Soy prevents kidneys from damage. Lots of animal protein may be hard on the kidneys, but soy protein protects the kidneys

7.   Shaklee’s protein includes valuable protein and isoflavones that are not present in other soy proteins produced with heat or chemicals. Shaklee’s low heat – water wash process keeps the isoflavones in the protein. Isoflavones are natural cancer fighting ingredients that occur naturally in soy.

8.   Soy’s protein and Isoflavones inhibit the mutated cell’s ability to make an enzyme that would cause the cell to reproduce.

9.  Soy inhibits the cancer cell from making the body provide it with additional blood supply (additional blood supply is called angiogenesis).

10.  Soy increases the killing effect of the white blood cells (phagocytosis).

11.  Soy’s amino acid Lysine when combined with Vitamin C decreases Colon Cancer by 90%.

12.  The flavanoids (like those in Shaklee’s Flavomax) when combined with Soy Protein are synergistic (they work even better together) and decrease breast cancer 10 fold.

13.  Beta carotene (like those in Shaklee’s CarotoMax) when combined with Soy Protein and Calcium with Vitamin D are 10 times as effective at preventing cancer cells from getting additional blood supply.

14.  Women in the Orient get about 80 mg of Isoflavones a day….women in US and Europe get about 1.0 mg. That’s an 80% negative difference for US and Europe .

15.  Soy protein helps the differentiated cell (bad cell) convert back to a normal cell.

Forms of Protein:

Dr. Nasr also listed the several forms of protein and the length of their chain of Amino Acids.  The shorter the chain, the more quickly the Amino Acids can be absorbed and utilized.

1.    Soy has the shortest chain and takes less than an hour.

2.   Fish is next.

3.   Chicken takes about 4 hours.

4.   Beef takes about 5 hours.

5.   Pork takes about 6-8 hours to digest.

Does Soy Consumption Negatively Impact Male Sexual Development and Function?

The simple answer is that these projected “problems” with soy are all based on conjecture, with no actual human studies showing any detrimental effects of soy.

Discussions about the safety of soy do occur on a number of websites, of which many offer links to scientific studies. Given the volume of research that has been conducted on soy and soy isoflavones, it’s not a surprise that some studies have shown negative results. However, the weakness of these “anti-soy” websites is that they focus on only a few studies rather than evaluating soy in the context of the body of literature supporting the health benefits of soy. This, in turn, can give consumers a skewed perception of the safety of soy and this simply causes more confusion than providing people with a truly balanced perspective.

Because soy isoflavones exert estrogen-like effects, concerns have been raised that consumption of soy early in life (in utero or during infancy) might cause abnormalities in sexual differentiation and feminization in males, low testosterone levels and impaired semen quality leading to infertility in adult men. We have even heard it proposed that it is soy that is turning boys into homosexuals.  People say these things with no actual scientific evidence to back it up. These concerns stem mainly from animal studies where rats have been injected with extremely large amounts of isoflavones during development.  But the truth is that the amount of isoflavones injected into these rats was equivalent to a human consuming about 2000 servings of protein a day for 60 days or so. That would be drinking a full protein drink about every 45 seconds, 24 hours a day.  It would also be over 200,000 calories per day, which would be far more dangerous than the soy isoflavones.

Soybeans are rich in a class of phytochemical compounds called isoflavones, particularly the phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein. Phytoestrogens (isoflavones) are remarkably similar in molecular structure to the female hormone estrogen. They are thought to behave in the body like estrogen but at just a fraction of the strength of the powerful estrogens naturally produced by the body. Isoflavones — or so-called phytoestrogens — are NOT estrogens.  They are simply molecules that have a SHAPE so similar to estrogen that they are able to take up some of the same receptor sites — which is exactly the reason for one of soy’s very beneficial, protective effects.  The isoflavones take up the receptor sites, thus blocking the adverse effects of the far more powerful estrogens.  This is the root of soy’s increasingly documented protective effect against cancer.

Scientists suspect that it’s the relative weakness of these phytoestrogens that actually work to support and protect our health. Body tissues that utilize estrogen for normal, healthy function contain estrogen receptors, which bind to the estrogen that circulates in the blood.  Research has shown that when a diet is rich in soy foods, phytoestrogens may bind to some of these receptors. Phytoestrogens are currently being studied for heart, bone, prostate and breast health, among other benefits.

After taking Shaklee Energyzing Soy Protein for 26+ years now, a good friend of ours, Stan Pullium, has personally given a huge amount of his time and due diligence to checking out most all of the anti-soy claims that are being made. He said of his findings,

The purported negative effect of soy on boys and men is pure conjecture and extreme extrapolation based on the weakest of “evidence”–something akin to finding a tooth or a piece of skull buried in Africa and projecting from this some museum exhibit of what this “prehistoric man” looked like.

Some of the claims that have been made are complete fabrications.  One case in point is a frequently circulated and often cited soy “alert” that claims that a Jerusalem Post article reported that Israel’s Minister of Health was taking certain actions and had issued certain warning against soy.  I have spent literally many, many hours thoroughly searching the Jerusalem Post archives using every possible search term used in connection with this report — and I could find not evidence whatsoever that any such Jerusalem Post article ever existed.  And yet, that story is repeated over and over by people who have never checked to see if it is true.

One needs to follow the money behind this whole anti-soy campaign of the last 5 years.  Much of this disinformation is being promulgated by economic forces with much to gain from keeping people away the very strong anti-cancer, anti-heart disease benefits of the right kind of soy.

Another Important Point:

A very wide variety of food products — are made from soy.  Just because a manufacturer starts with soy as the raw material does mean the final products have anything in common with each other.  You can make everything from tofu, to fake bacon, to plastic from soy — and each of these has almost nothing in common with the other.  Just because soy is generally thought of as a food product doesn’t mean you would want to eat plastic made from soy.

So you can NOT project that any negative impact one might experience from one particular soy-based item onto ALL soy-based foods. Whatever deleterious effects one might experience from drinking soy milk or eating soy cheese, etc. may very well result from the processing that has changed the essential nature of these compounds — and can NOT be projected simple-mindedly onto all things soy. . . anymore than you could project the harmful effects one might experience from eating a diet of Hostess Twinkies, Little Debbie Cakes, and Pop-Tarts on all things made of wheat!

Important Warning:

In the last 10 years, virtually ALL soy production in the United States has shifted to genetically-modified (GMO) soy—where soy protein products are alcohol-processed, which removes isoflavones. These genetic modifications are made for production reasons, not health or nutrition reasons.  No one knows exactly what the short or long term health effects of genetically-modified soy might be.

It is very likely that allergic reactions or other recently claimed adverse health effects are directly related to genetically-modified soy – We have never seen a single anti-soy expose that distinguished between GMO and non-GMO soy.

Nathan and I have used Shaklee’s Protein for 10+ years now.  They have two types of protein to choose from—Energyzing Soy and CINCH.  We have put in countless hours researching the different products that are out there and Shaklee Protein is the best.  Shaklee has invested over 250 million dollars in research to ensure quality products.  Furthermore, all of Shaklee’s products are free of harmful additives, colors, and artificial flavors and sweeteners.  After all the research we have found, in addition to being able to see with my own eyes that soy is in no way “feminizing” my husband or causing other male problems (we had four children in 5 years!), I think the “proof is in the pudding.”

Shaklee’s Soy Protein is water-washed to retain naturally occurring isoflavones such as genistein and daidzein and preserve the incredible health benefits. Shaklee uses only non-genetically modified (GMO) soy protein certified through an Identity Preservation Program (IPP). This program assures that the soy we use is tightly monitored and controlled from planting and harvesting to processing.

Benefits of Soy Protein

• Energy, Vitality, and Stamina
• Protects against Cancer
• Low fat, Lactose free, and Cholesterol Free
• Heart Health
• Bone Health
• Prostate Health
• Breast Health

Why Choose Shaklee Energizing Soy Protein?

• 14 grams of protein per serving
• Uses only IPP-certified non-GMO soy protein
• Highest-rated protein quality
• Natural vegetarian protein source
• Naturally cholesterol free
• No saturated fat
• 1 gram of total fat per serving
• Naturally lactose free
• 50% of your daily needs for calcium
• All the amino acids, including the nine essential ones you must get from food

Why Choose Shaklee CINCH Protein?

• Provides the benefits of a meal, but tastes like dessert
• Powered by Leucine™ to preserve muscle while you lose weight (as you retain and build lean muscle, your metabolism increases)
• 24 grams of non-GMO soy protein per serving** to help you feel satisfied and full
• High in fiber, with 6 grams per serving
• Low glycemic to retain normal blood sugar levels and sustain energy
• Delivers 35% or more of the Daily Value for 21 essential vitamins and minerals

A Study on Soy and Breast and Prostate Health

It has long been known that many soy-consuming Asian populations have better rates of breast and prostate health than do Western populations. There are many factors involved in prostate health, but a recent, large-scale population-health study suggests soy intake as one of those factors. In this study, men who reported frequently consuming soy milk (which contains isoflavones) were 70% more likely to maintain prostate health during a follow-up period, compared to the men who had little or no soy in their diet.1

A recent population-health study conducted in China investigated the relationship between soy intake during adolescence and breast health later in life. After adjustments for known risk factors, higher soy food intakes reported during the teen years were associated with significantly better breast health when these women reached their pre- and postmenopausal adult years.9 Researchers believe that soy intake starting at a young age and continued throughout life is linked to maintaining breast health.

Another way that soy may promote heart, breast, and prostate health is by providing protection against oxidation damage.* The soy isoflavone genistein has been shown to have antioxidant properties.2

1. Jacobsen BK et al. Does high soy milk intake reduce prostate cancer incidence? The Adventist Health Study (United States). Cancer Causes and Control 1998; 9:553–557.

2.Wei, H et al. Inhibition of tumor promoter-induced hydrogen peroxide formation in vitro and in vivo by genistein. Nutrition and Cancer 1993; 20:1-12.

There is a lot of misinformation being circulated about “soy.”  Much of it is based on bad science and speculation.  Much of the completely baseless information is simply something that one person reads and then distributes to others (especially through emails!) without attempting to confirm the factuality of the information or is circulated by uninformed journalists just looking for a sensational story.

And some of it may apply to certain soy products, but not others.  Keep in mind that a wide range of products are made from soy — everything from plastics, to industrial products, to tofu.  Similarly, there are a wide-range of food products made from soy by widely varying processes.  Just because these food products start with soy as the raw material doesn’t mean the end products necessarily have anything at all in common.

I agree with some of what is out there, but unfortunately many articles are extremely misleading and do a tremendous disservice to the health world.

Do your own research before believing everything you read on the internet.  Many articles have a few over-generalized points made about “soy” that cause the uninformed to then be suspicious of all soy products.  It is impossible to discuss every question raised but hopefully some of these statements will bring some clarity. I have compared articles on various soy products to Shaklee Protein (made by the #1 nutrition Company in the U.S.):

1. Some articles accuse the proponents of soy of “bad science,” saying that soy can even cause cancer.  The fact is that their warnings are based on bad science.

Some will bring up something called phytates.  Phytates are naturally present in almost all cereals, grains, and high fiber foods.  Are we supposed to stop eating whole grains and high fiber foods?  The reality is that you’d have to consume massive quantities for the phytates to have any adverse effect.

Some talk about trypsin inhibitors.  Again, these are naturally found in many foods, not just soy — potatoes, peas, beans, peanuts, corn, whole grains, cereals.  Again, you’d have to consume massive quantities for any adverse effect.

Most of these theories are based on test tube studies or studies with lab rats, but no adverse effect has ever been confirmed in humans consuming normal amounts of soy or other foods.

Ex. #1,  a couple of studies have shown an increased occurrence of breast cancer in lab rates injected with soy isoflavones.  As a result, I hear of a lot of “doctors” telling women to avoid soy.  But the truth is that the amount of isoflavones injected into these rats was equivalent to a human woman consuming about 2000 servings of protein a day for 60 days or so.  Would 2000 servings of protein per day cause an increase risk of breast cancer?  Maybe.  But no one could possibly do that.  That would be drinking a full protein drink about every 45 seconds, 24 hours a day.  It would also be over 200,000 calories per day, which would be far more dangerous than the soy isoflavones.

That is bad science — but it has a lot of people all stirred up.

Ex. #2,  a few test tube studies have shown the possibility that soy may inhibit certain thyroid enzymes.  Consequently, I have people telling me that their “doctor” told them to avoid soy because it might cause them thyroid problems.  However, the possible interference that was observed in the test tube HAS NEVER been confirmed by ANY human study.  In fact, several researchers who have tried to confirm this problem in humans have instead stated that soy does not appear to adversely impact adult thyroid function in humans.

Our personal experience has been that several people in our Shaklee group have actually been able to reduce or eliminate their thyroid medication that they had taken for years by using the Shaklee protein and other supplements!

2. Most articles speak very generally about “soy” products.  But there is a very wide range of products made with soy by a wide range of processes. There is a huge difference in the content of these various products, from soy milk to tofu to the soy flakes used by Shaklee in our soy products.  You cannot possibly lump all soy products together.

Ex. #1, soy beans, as well as members of the cabbage family and some other raw foods, contain substances in them called “pro-goitrogens” which stimulate the thyroid gland to enlarge and can cause goiter.

The soy flakes that Shaklee uses contains NO pro-goitrogens.  The processing of the raw soy into the soy flakes used by Shaklee removes them.

Ex. #2, most soy products on the market use soy beans that have been washed with alcohol or other solvents.  This destroys much of the isoflavone content and may leave some residues in the final product.  The soy flakes Shaklee uses has only been washed with water, preserving the maximum nutrient content and preventing any contamination.

Ex. #3, a few years back the FDA did a study of the top 18 brands of protein supplements to determine the safety and effectiveness of various products that were available.  This study was done without Shaklee’s knowledge.  The FDA then published the results of their study.  The measure they used at that time for indicating the efficiency with which the body utilized the protein in a product was the Protein Efficiency Rating or PER.  The highest PER on their scale was 3.5.  The FDA’s study actually found that the Shaklee Protein was far and away the most efficiently utilized supplement of the 18 brands that they studied.  They listed Shaklee Protein as having a PER of “greater than 3.5″ since 3.5 was the highest point on their scale.  No other product received a “greater than 3.5″ rating.  Most averaged around 2.5, with some as low as 1.5.

Ex. #4, soy beans, as well as many other natural foods such as tomatoes, green peas and corn, have a naturally occurring form of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in them.  There is no MSG in the soy flakes used by Shaklee.

3. Many articles try to cast suspicion on the hundreds of research studies that have shown positive health benefits to soy by saying that many were funded by the soy industry.  It does not present any evidence, however, that any of these studies were somehow skewed or corrupted or that any negative outcomes have ever been covered up.  There is nothing inherently wrong with people who produce a product wanting to find out what health benefits it provides.

The fact is that NO HUMAN STUDY has shown any harmful effects of soy on human health.  Rather, hundreds of studies on humans have shown benefits or potential benefits. Not all of these positive studies have been funded by the soy industry.

4. Many articles try to explain away the differences in breast cancer and heart disease rates between Asian women who consume a diet high in soy and American women.  Certainly, the difference cannot be necessarily attributed all to soy consumption by Asians, but neither can it be fully explained by the other differences in diet mentioned.  With all that we now know about the isoflavones in soy, it is increasingly clear that they play a valuable role in preventing among Asians these major health problems which are so prevalent among Americans.

Conversely, if all that the article tries to portray as bad about soy were true, you would think that Asians would have a huge list of health problems consequently resulting from their high consumption of soy.  The truth is that there is NO evidence that they have any health problems directly related to their high consumption of soy.

5. The final point I would like to make is that if you take a Creationist view, as Dr. Shaklee did, that all the various components within a food are there by design — rather than an evolutionary view that what is there is simply there by accident or chance — you have to consider that all these various components of soy are there by design and have purpose and that it all works together when taken in the total context of human metabolism and life.

It would be a terrible trick of the Creator to put all of these wonderful life-giving nutritional benefits that are well established into soy, only to then hide some deadly or destructive component there in among the mix.  That doesn’t make good sense.