Soy Products May Be Causing Your Eczema

As dairy products are common allergens, many people with eczema have switched to soy. However, a number of studies have proven that soy, in most forms, is not a healthy alternative, and you may be trading your eczema for a worse fate. If you have an allergy to dairy and are substituting it with soy, you need to know the facts – when soy is safe, and when it’s not.

Although soy does contain some nutrients that are beneficial, it also contains substances like isoflavones – which are quite easy to overdose. The main problematic isoflavones are genistein, daidzein, and glycitein, which act like estrogen in the body. This has a number of ill-effects, not the least of which is hormonal imbalances, which, in turn, cause problems like eczema and other skin conditions.Soy also contains a number of natural toxins, ‘anti-nutrients’, that interfere with several bodily functions, including digestive system and thyroid function. An unhealthy digestive system inhibits the body’s ability to get rid of toxins, forcing the body to eventually eliminate them through the skin – often resulting in eczema. Thyroid conditions are also frequently associated with dry skin and eczema.

So, if soy isn’t the wonder food that it’s cracked up to be, how did it become so popular? Much of the hype about soy has been based on the alleged high consumption in Asia. However, contrary to popular belief, Asians have historically consumed very little soy, and their diets still contain only a fraction of that consumed by many vegetarians in the U.S. In China, it is always in small amounts, and it is almost always fermented. The Chinese learned about the toxins centuries ago, and developed the fermentation processes that made it safe for human consumption.