Are fermented soya products ok?

[NatChap]

Hi, I can't remember whether it is all soya products we should avoid or whether fermented soya foods such as 'Alpro' yoghurts are ok?

Thanks in advance x

[greygoose]

Fermented soy is ok. However, I'm not convinced that Alpro yoghurts are fermented. I can't find any information on it. I can't really see how it can be fermented...

[helvella Administrator in reply to greygoose]

I agree, greygoose.

As you say, the usual meaning of fermented soy is soy sauce (made in the traditional fermented way), miso, natto and such like.

Whether the bacteria used to make Alpro yogurt have the same effect is unclear. I have a nasty feeling they are there to give a yogurt-like flavour rather than to breakdown the substances which can cause problems.

Water, Hulled soya beans (7.9%), Sugar, Calcium (tri-calciumcitrate), Stabiliser (Pectin), Acidity regulators (Sodium citrate, Citric acid), (Flavouring), Sea salt, Antioxidants (Tocopherol-rich extract, Ascorbyl palmitate), Yogurt cultures (S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus), Vitamins (B12, D2)

[NatChap in reply to greygoose]

Thanks..I have emailed them to clarify. On the product description on the Sainsburys website it clearly states it's fermented but no mention on Alpro site. Will see what they say!

[greygoose in reply to NatChap]

What I found, can't remember where, was that it was made from 'fermented soy milk'. Well, that seems to me a contradiction in terms.

However, in the list of ingredients that halvella cites above, it says 'hulled soya beans', which really doesn't sound fermented at all.

[BadHare]

Hi

Soya milk's not fermented. It's foods such as tempeh, miso, shoyu, & soy sauce. that are. I haven't seen tempeh outside of London for years. Natto is supposed to be very healthy, if you can get it, but I've never seen it on sale in the UK.

I made myself a hypo s***storm by swapping dairy to organic soya milk every day, & eating tofu most days with lots of raw greens. I occasionally have a handful of edemame, but otherwise avoid it.

Mel

[alchemilla12 in reply to BadHare]

you can get tempeh from Wholefoofdsonline -it comes in a jar, but I used to buy it vacuum packed from a wholefood shop when I lived in cambridge

[BadHare in reply to alchemilla12]

Thanks!

Is it as nice as the vacuum packed?

[Glynisrose]

I would avoid all soy products as much as possible.

[BadHare in reply to Glynisrose]

I like miso soup & tamari, both are good for nutrients.