THE SOY REVOLUTION II

by Stephen Holt ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2017

Holt (The Anti-Aging Triad, 2017, etc.) returns to double down on the benefits of soy in this work on nutrition.

Twenty years ago, America was undergoing a soy revolution, and medical doctor Holt explains why in a book of the same name. Now the revolution has become a full-blown renaissance, but questions about soy remain. “In this book, I enumerate the health benefits of soy for a variety of diseases,” writes Holt in his introduction, “but I describe shadows of continuing, sometimes biased criticism which comes with varying degrees of proof of claims.” The enthusiasm for soy as a superfood has been dulled in recent years by a subtle backlash in the health food community, but Holt argues that recent research has only strengthened soy’s position as “the food of this millennium.” The author explains how soy can lower a person’s risk for gastrointestinal disorders, osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer while also (mildly) lowering cholesterol and aiding in weight loss. He breaks down the chemical components of soy to see how the common elements—carbs, fat, protein, phytochemicals, and nutrients—interact with the body in a different way than those of meats, eggs, and dairy. The guide analyzes the relative benefits of various soy-derived products like soy oil and soy milk and addresses how soy might apply to specific lifestyles, like those of athletes or growing children. Soy may not be the solution to every problem facing modern man, but Holt is here to show you that it’s good for more than you think. The writing is sometime technical but always clear, ensuring readers follow along with his arguments. Some of Holt’s claims sound far-fetched—“I believe that soy may contribute to slowing the aging process”—but he is able to cite research for almost all of his claims and is critical of those on the “soy bandwagon” who overstate the food’s benefits. Readers might not feel convinced to eat soy every day, but Holt is persuasive enough that even soy skeptics will likely feel the need to get some soy into their rotation.

An informed, updated look at soy’s health benefits from a longtime soy advocate.

Pub Date: May 31, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-64045-207-7

Page Count: 254

Publisher: LitFire Publishing

Review Posted Online: June 7, 2018

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION