As plant-based eating gains popularity, more and more questions arise. One ingredient that repeatedly gets a bad rap is soy. Soy contains phytoestrogens, and this leads to much skepticism and debate regarding its safety. Actually, soy is the subject of some of the worst misinformation on the internet. It’s time we tune out this misinformation and follow the science. Let’s evaluate some common myths about phytoestrogens and see how they stand up to science.
Myth: All Soy is Genetically Modified (GMO)
Soybean is the number one genetically modified crop in the world. In fact, up to 93% of all commercially grown soy is genetically modified. The purpose is to make the crops more resistant to herbicides, thereby allowing farmers to use large doses of herbicides to kill weeds without damaging crops.
Having said that, it is possible (and of utmost importance) to find soy that is not genetically modified. Look for soy products specifically labeled as non-GMO or organic. You can also use this handy search tool from the Non-GMO Project to search for specific products.
