Soybeans were never as popular and widely used as they are today.  Soybeans were originally grown in the United States as a crop rotation plant, grown in the fallow field to rejuvenate it.  The Soybeans were never eaten or used, once the field was rejuvenated the entire plant was tilled back into the field.  In Asia, Soy's primary use was as a paint thinner and caustic solution. 

At some point, farmers began realizing that they could recover some revenue if they could develop and capitalize on a use for this wasted crop of garbage, Soybeans. At first the soy farmers convinced the cattle farmers that Soy could be refined into a cheap feed alternative. This grand marketing decision has now blossomed into a $100 billion-dollar cash crop industry with all types of supporters including government and private party interests.

Today, everyone extols the great, healthy virtues of Soy, citing the superior health of the Chinese.  Well I spent a month in China and traveled everywhere except for Tibet.  I can tell you that soy and tofu are not widely available or eaten in any great quantity.  If tofu is offered, it is the fermented form which is healthier according to researchers.

Here are some very informative articles:

Component in Soy Products Causes Reproductive Problems in Laboratory Mice          Jan 2006 US Department of Health & Human Services

Genistein, a major component of soy, was found to disrupt the development of the ovaries in newborn female mice that were given the product. This study demonstrates the potentially adverse consequences of genistein on the reproductive system."We knew genistein was linked to reproductive problems later in life, but we wanted to find out when the damage occurs," said Retha R. Newbold, MS, a developmental endocrinologist at NIEHS and an author on the study. "The study showed that genistein caused alterations to the ovaries during early development, which is partly responsible for the reproductive problems found in adult mice." http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2006/niehs-10a.htm  http://www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/news/genistein.htm

Soy not as good for the heart as thought   Reuters Health --Monday, January 23, 2006

According to the article written by Amy Norton of Reuters Health : "Tofu and other soy products may not do much for a person's cholesterol levels after all, an American Heart Association panel has concluded"

In clinical trials, researchers found that only 3 % of participants lowered their "bad" cholesterol numbers even though they consumed large amounts of isolated soy protein. Soy isoflavones supplements (compounds similar to estrogen found in soybeans) fared even worse in effectiveness. As for hot flashes, menopause symptoms, osteoporosis and breast, and other cancers, Reuters reports the evidence is "not impressive."   The evidence is also "meager" as to what effect, if any, soy isoflavones have on tumors of the breast, prostate and uterine lining, according to the AHA committee."  Basically we have all been bombarded with faulty information, telling us that Soy is good for the heart, can cure cancers, is a great substitute for protein and will help women ease into menopause.  This is all apparenly UNTRUE!

Additionally there is evidence of serious adverse effects by ingesting Soy.  According to the study, a few women in one trial showed abnormal cell growth in the uterine lining -- a potential precursor to cancer.   Info: Journal of the American Heart Association, January 23, 2006. Soy Not as good as thought from Reuters.