The Soya Story

Everything you wanted to know about soya. The truth about how it impacts our health and the environment

About the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation The Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation (VVF) is a science-based health and nutrition charity which monitors research on diet. The Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation (VVF) is a science-based health and nutrition charity which monitors research on diet. We help the public, health professionals and the food industry make informed choices by providing accurate information and advice on healthy eating. The VVF also runs health education campaigns, gives talks, cookery demonstrations, engages in joint projects with our sister group Viva! and contributes to the shared magazine, Viva!life. We produce educational materials, run the free online Vegetarian Recipe Club and answer nutritional queries from the public, media and health bodies.

Juliet Gellatley
Juilet Gellatley BSc, DipCNM, Dip DM, FNTP,NTCC has a degree in zoology and is a qualified nutritional therapist. She founded and directs Viva! and the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation and is an authority on vegetarian and vegan health and nutrition. She has given hundreds of public and school talks on these issues, as well as many media interviews. She is the author of several guides, books and reports.

Tony Wardle
Tony Wardle is a journalist and writer and was an award winning TV producer before helping to found the UK animal campaign group Viva! and the health charity the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation. He has numerous book credits and authored Viva!’s environmental report, Diet of Disaster.

Dr Justine Butler
Dr Justine Butler is a senior health campaigner at the VVF. Justine holds a PhD in molecular biology, BSc biochemistry and Diploma in nutrition. As well as writing numerous scientific reports, guides and factsheets for the VVF, Justine has had an extensive list of articles published in health and trade journals, national and regional newspapers. She is a regular contributor to Network Health Dieticians magazine.

Jane Easton
Jane Easton is consultant food and cookery coordinator for the VVF. Jane regularly gives public talks and cookery demonstrations for the VVF and our sister group Viva!. She creates recipes for Viva!’s magazine Viva!life and the VVF’s Vegetarian Recipe Club

Introduction

A diet rich in soya is linked to a lower incidence of certain cancers, it can combat menopausal symptoms and may promote bone health. It might even boost brain power!

Soya is one of the most well researched health-giving foods available today. But not all the reports on soya are favourable and the health benefits have been questioned by some, whilst others have launched a vigorous anti-soya crusade. The result is confusion, people don’t know what, or who, to believe. In this guide, VVF looks at the research and sets the record straight.

The Soya Story - Contents

• Introduction
• History


• Soya: the superbean! - The nutritional power of soya


• Soya: the health protector - The health effects of soya
• Phytoestrogens
• Heart health
• Blood pressure
• Diabetes and CVD
• Diabetes
• Menopausal symptoms
• Bone health
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Colon cancer
• Brain power
• Soya-based infant formula
• Thyroid function
• Allergies
• Soya production
• Summary
• References


• Soya: a global threat? - How soya impacts the environment


• Bean cuisine! - An introduction to cooking with soya
• Ingredients
• Tofu Manufacturers
• Stockists


• Soya recipes
• Nutty Walnut Granola Crunch
• French toast
• Pancakes – Sweet or Savory
• Instant Tahini and Miso Sauce
• Andy’s Tofu Scramble
• Edamame, Pea & Mint Soup
• Miso Soup
• Oriental Bean Salad with Sweet Chilli, Lime & Coriander Dressing
• Tofu Satay Skewers
• Asparagus and Cheatin’ Meatie Spears with Vegan Hollandaise Sauce
• Tofu Muttar Panir
• Tempeh & Mushroom Pie
• Sticky Tofu Stir-fry
• Supersonic Noodles
• Smokey Stuffed Baked Potatoes
• Tofu burgers
• Martin Shaw’s Chilli Non-Carne
• Creamy Baked Cheesecake
• Raspberry & Almond Syllabub
• Chocolate Mousse


• Bean in the kitchen

Resources:

The Soya Story
Read the online version of our guide to soya
Download the pdf
Buy the guide

The Safety of Soya
Read our fully-referenced soya fact sheet
Download the pdf
Buy the factsheet

Soya-Based Infant Formula
A safe alternative to cow's milk formula
Download the pdf

The Soya Saga
Should we be running scared or welcoming this little bean into our hearts and stew pots?
Read this article on soya from VeggieHealth issue 4

Myth-Busting
The VVF examines the soya scare-mongering stories and investigates what, if any, scientific basis there is behind them

Soya and the Environment
Soya farming is devastating the Amazon, but where does all the soya go? It's not for human consumption…

FAQs
What worries you most? Read some of our most frequently asked nutritional enquiries

Soya research
Read the scientific evidence for yourself…