Ask Dr. Pam

Dear Dr. Pam: Is it safe to consume isolated soy protein?

In my opinion, the problem with soy protein is the foods in which it is found, not the soy protein itself. Tofu hot dogs, fake pepperoni, and snack bars, for example, often contain soy protein and these are junk foods. We promote a whole foods diet, and prefer for people to stay away from these types of foods because they are just empty calories. But it is difficult to substantiate a claim that soy protein is a cancer promoter or that it alone is responsible for poor health outcomes.

Dr. Campbell's studies at Cornell seemed to disprove the theory that soy protein is a cancer promoter. His experiments involved feeding rats diets that contained either 5% or 20% animal protein. At 5% of calories from animal protein, none of the rats developed cancer; at 20% of calories from animal protein, all of the rats developed cancer. When wheat and soy protein were used, there was no cancer development at 20% of calories from either source.

It is important to remember that an individual's dietary pattern is the determinant of health; not individual nutrients. But many people are still making health claims about some nutrients and attempting to make villains of others instead of focusing on overall dietary pattern. Since there is scant evidence that a single ingredient or nutrient leads to worsening health, the promoter of an unhealthy food can justifiably say that it alone should not shoulder the blame for our health issues. In the case of soy protein, take it out of fake pepperoni and candy bars and they are still not health promoting foods.

Let's place the focus on what is important, which is helping people to see the wisdom in adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet.

Dear Dr. Pam: What do you think of health care professionals who sell products in their offices or centers? I've heard some negative feedback lately about this and was wondering if you think this is a conflict of interest.

I do not have a problem with health care practitioners selling foods or other products in their offices or practices, and the idea that offering products for sale by itself is the reason that patients get bad advice is ridiculous. Patients are getting plenty of bad advice from dietitians who sell nothing but their time, doctors who do not profit directly from the drugs they prescribe, and recommendations to get expensive but useless tests on which the referring physician makes no profit at all.

The skill, education, and integrity of the practitioner determine the quality of the advice given to patients, and skilled practitioners with integrity often sell foods, books and other products. The ability of a diet-centered practice to survive financially can be dependent on offering products for sale, and profits from these products often are used to keep the cost of professional services and education, which are often not reimbursable, low. It is not the offering of the products, but rather the selection of products that is more important.

Additionally, the sale of products in a practice or health center is an overt arrangement about which the patient or client is well aware. This is superior to the often hidden relationships many health care practitioners have which are directly or indirectly financially beneficial. For example, doctors are given free samples and office supplies from drug reps; are treated to lunches and dinners by those reps; are paid to enroll patients in clinical trials; and high prescribers are asked to speak at conferences at luxurious resorts. The American Dietetic Association, which claims over 70,000 dietitians as members, takes millions of dollars from agriculture groups and manufacturing companies in return for favorable comments about their products. The average patient or client is not aware of these relationships and how they might affect the information they are given, and there is no requirement for disclosure.

The criticism of practitioners who sell products is misplaced and distracts from the real issue, which is the competence and track record of the health professional. The evaluation of a practitioner or health center should be based on the philosophy of the practice and the results being produced, not how much money is made and if a portion of the profit is made by selling products.

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