This from the Weston Price Foundation:

Myth: Use of soy as a food dates back many thousands of years.

Truth: Soy was first used as a food during the late Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC), only after the Chinese learned to ferment soy beans to make foods like tempeh, natto and tamari.

Myth: Asians consume large amounts of soy foods.

Truth: Average consumption of soy foods in Japan and China is 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) per day. Asians consume soy foods in small amounts as a condiment, and not as a replacement for animal foods.

Myth: Modern soy foods confer the same health benefits as traditionally fermented soy foods.

Truth: Most modern soy foods are not fermented to neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way that denatures proteins and increases levels of carcinogens.

Myth: Soy foods provide complete protein.

Truth: Like all legumes, soy beans are deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine. In addition, modern processing denatures fragile lysine.

Myth: Fermented soy foods can provide vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets.

Truth: The compound that resembles vitamin B12 in soy cannot be used by the human body; in fact, soy foods cause the body to require more B12

Myth: Soy formula is safe for infants.

Truth: Soy foods contain trypsin inhibitors that inhibit protein digestion and affect pancreatic function. In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors led to stunted growth and pancreatic disorders. Soy foods increase the body’s requirement for vitamin D, needed for strong bones and normal growth. Phytic acid in soy foods results in reduced bioavailabilty of iron and zinc which are required for the health and development of the brain and nervous system. Soy also lacks cholesterol, likewise essential for the development of the brain and nervous system. Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicated in the current trend toward increasingly premature sexual development in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development in boys.

Myth: Soy foods can prevent osteoporosis.

Truth: Soy foods can cause deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, both needed for healthy bones. Calcium from bone broths and vitamin D from seafood, lard and organ meats prevent osteoporosis in Asian countries—not soy foods.

Myth: Modern soy foods protect against many types of cancer.

Truth: A British government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased risk of cancer.

Myth: Soy foods protect against heart disease.

Truth: In some people, consumption of soy foods will lower cholesterol, but there is no evidence that lowering cholesterol improves one’s risk of having heart disease.

Myth: Soy estrogens (isoflavones) are good for you.

Truth: Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters. At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams (about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue.

Myth: Soy foods are safe and beneficial for women to use in their postmenopausal years.

Truth: Soy foods can stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors and cause thyroid problems. Low thyroid function is associated with difficulties in menopause.

Myth: Phytoestrogens in soy foods can enhance mental ability.

Truth: A recent study found that women with the highest levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels of cognitive function; In Japanese Americans tofu consumption in mid-life is associated with the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease in later life.

Myth: Soy isoflavones and soy protein isolate have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status.

Truth: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) recently withdrew its application to the FDA for GRAS status for soy isoflavones following an outpouring of protest from the scientific community. The FDA never approved GRAS status for soy protein isolate because of concern regarding the presence of toxins and carcinogens in processed soy.

Myth: Soy foods are good for your sex life.

Truth: Numerous animal studies show that soy foods cause infertility in animals. Soy consumption enhances hair growth in middle-aged men, indicating lowered testosterone levels. Japanese housewives feed tofu to their husbands frequently when they want to reduce his virility.

Myth: Soy beans are good for the environment.

Truth: Most soy beans grown in the US are genetically engineered to allow farmers to use large amounts of herbicides.

Myth: Soy beans are good for developing nations.

Truth: In third world countries, soybeans replace traditional crops and transfer the value-added of processing from the local population to multinational corporations.

© 1999 Weston A. Price Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

The ride home from work on 209 is so beautiful right now; I feel very tree-focused. The oaks are still covered in shades of cinnamon, russet, and ochre, but most of the others are just bare grey trunks and branches, with the occasional incandescent maple in those impossible, transparent shades of orange that maples wear.

The weather is strangely warm—60° ‘s and cloudy—-but somebody said the “s” word for next week. I guess it is time.

All four of us went to Asheville on errands yesterday; had a great time except for my pesky migraine. You know what? I think I get migraines when I don’t drink enough. Water, I mean. I’ve been beginning to suspect as much, and a conversation with A* last week helped cement this idea more firmly. The last three migraines I’ve had, my first action has been to drink lots of water, and all three have been relatively quick and mild. I’m having much less “filbert-head” hangover today, too—I think because I drank a half gallon of water before leaving the Inn this morning. Hmmm–this could be promising, especially if I can prevent them by drinking enough water.

It’s good being married. It’s hard work—no “happily ever after”; you work for it. But it’s good. I think I was definitely brought up to believe Prince Charming was going to drop by and sweep me off my feet, etc. etc. But I think it’s more like these lines from the Scottish ballad “Tam Lin”:

Tomorrow night’s Halloween

The fairy folk do ride

And those that would their true love win

At Mile’s Cross they must hide.

First you let pass the black horse

Then you let pass the brown

Run up to the milk-white steed

And pull the rider down.

First they’ll turn me in your arms

Into a lion wild

Hold me close and fear me not

As you would hold your child.

Next they’ll turn me in your arms

Into a snake or adder

Hold me close and fear me not

I am your baby’s father.

Next they’ll turn me in your arms

Into a red hot iron

Throw me into the well

And throw me in with speed.

Next they’ll turn me in your arms

Into a naked knight

Wrap me in your mantle

And hold me close from sight.

So well she did what he said

She did her true love win

She wrapped him in her mantle

As blithe as any bird.

It’s hard and often no fun; but the rewards are so great sometimes. You know?

Today started out at 26°, but warmed up this afternoon to around 60°. I finally got myself out to the poor, neglected, unloved garden and started the fall cleanup. I pulled a lot of weeds—-mainly bermuda @$$@##! grass—and even burned a little pile. I cleared most of two beds and planted garlic in them; I also just did a lot of scoping out what’s out there. Lots of parsley, which looks so lush and green and juicy; some volunteer cilantro; some humongous beets; green onions; potatoes (I dug a basket of fingerlings); sunchokes; bolivian sunroot (a new one for us); kale; chard; still lots of comfrey. Oh, and chickweed. Lots and lots of chickweed.

M* and I have had a bit of synchronicity going lately; yesterday it involved pot roast. Tonight I’ve got one in the oven with fingerling potatoes and rutabagas—-it smells so good! Makes the house feel cozy, too, and it will make it easier to read our couple of chapters of Farmer Boy this evening. Last night we went over to P* and M*’s for supper and had a great time (and a great meal—pot roast!). We all wore ourselves out as the night grew ever later; finally we forced ourselves to leave. After the long, winding trip back up the mountain we staggered into the cold dark house, exhausted, to discover that it was only 8:30! We felt a little silly—we were all sure it was so late. Bunch of night owls.

There was another gorgeous pink and gold sky today—this time at sunset—and crowned with a thin, pale crescent moon. A turkey hen flew across the road in front of the car as Bernard and I were driving home from town in all the gold light. A spectacular evening—this is the perfect place to live.

DH and I got up at the same time as if I was going to work this morning; I love getting up early knowing I can just hang out and drink tea and play on the computer and visit with my sweetie. He’s got the wood cookstove cranked up—-the kitchen is hot, the living room is…not. I’m wrapped up in a wool blanket and warming my hands on my tea mug.

Christmas shopping and plans are in full force right now. The girls are funny—-they don’t like to get too much stuff for Christmas; they’ve been known to complain that, “We got too much stuff this year.” No kidding. So it takes a bit of pressure off of us poor parents! (This is not a phenomenon isolated to our children—J* and E* have made a similar complaint to P* and M*.) The girls aren’t terribly toy oriented, either. They like books and music and craft supplies, and this year they are really into miniatures. So (don’t anybody tell them please)—we bought dollhouse kits that DH is going to assemble before Christmas (right DH!?). They’re really cute farmhouses that the girls will be able to paint and decorate and furnish. I have a secret fascination with miniature stuff myself, so I’m very excited about all this!

The birds have completely depleted the sunflower seeds in the feeder by the kitchen window; they’re still working on the thistle seeds. I went to the feed store the other day and bought a 50 lb bag of sunflower seeds—we feed them to goats and chickens—and we’ll fill the feeders today.

Ahhh—the sun is finally coming through the front windows—what a difference that makes!

ED came with me to work this morning, and she was a huge help. We had 24 people for breakfast (which is annoying this time of year since they can’t sit outside on the porch, and we don’t have seating for 24 inside!); ED set up the dining room, made coffee (lots and lots of coffee), and washed dishes. She was extremely organized in the kitchen—why here and not at home? I must ask her that. And then she went to A*’s to babysit the elfin one. (That’s why she came with me.) Good grief, she’s getting grown up! She is so helpful! And so tall! And after today, so wealthy!

It was hard for both of us to leave the house this morning—Bernard and DH were curled up on the couch so cozily; DH had a steaming cup of coffee; the roosters were crowing, and it was just barely starting to get light. A hard scene to walk away from, especially out into the cold and drizzly morning. I’m really glad I’m off tomorrow!

The sky this morning started out pink, turning red and then orange. The house was lit up inside with this amazing light; I had to go outside to see what it looked like. Outside the kitchen door, on the hill behind the house, were Fionn and the goats, and the hill was glowing, and they were glowing; they didn’t look real—their colors were so vivid; Fionn was brilliant orange. The girls and I were headed to town, and as we turned onto 209 from our driveway we were greeted by an intense triple rainbow, which lasted about halfway to town. Everything looked lit from within; the grass was the oddest shade of emerald green. Then, halfway to town, everything went suddenly a flat grey, and it started raining.

I had a really strange dream last night—this morning, actually—kind of scary, and full of intruders and creepy men with knives, and a grey house full of ashtrays and cigarette butts that left me with a strong sense of foreboding. But the part that stands out the most in my mind is being in that house and hearing a huge explosion, and glass and debris raining down around me, and when I ran to the window to see what was going on, I realized that someone was bombing all the ice cream shops—-you know, like where you would go to buy and ice cream cone. They were all exploding. Could this be diet related, do you think?

It was 29° this morning; the bird feeders are seeing a lot of action. Primarily goldfinches, but also plenty of titmice and chickadees.

I’m procrastinating putting plastic on the windows, both because I dislike the chore of doing it, but also because it changes the view a little—makes it hazy. I’m going to try a new brand of plastic this year, one that A* used last year on her windows; it seemed a lot clearer.

The landlord has changed addresses again; our rent check and letter came back. I think that in the five years we’ve been dealing with this man, we’ve never used the same address for him twice. No exaggeration. So, anyway, now we’re trying to track down his new address, so we can send it again.