Arsenic in chicken, phytoestrogens in food

[Guest guest]

I was googling on the internet today to research whether there might

be substantial phytoestrogens in soy fed chicken and eggs. So far, I

haven't found any articles that report on any such measurements.

(but I haven't read all of the " about 57,900 " search results

However, I did run across a couple of interesting articles:

Arsenic in Chicken

by Greger, M.D.

http://www.drgreger.org/february2004.html

" After reviewing 5000 chicken samples, researchers from the National

Institutes of Health and the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service

recently reported alarmingly high levels of arsenic contamination in

the flesh of broiler chickens.[1] These government researchers found

that the amount of arsenic in chicken greatly exceeded the

Environmental Protection Agency's new upper safety limit of arsenic

allowed in drinking water. In fact, the amount of arsenic found in

chicken was 6 to 9 times that allowed by the EPA. A " bucket " of

Kentucky Fried Chicken would be expected to have up to almost fifty

times the amount of arsenic allowed in a glass of water.[2] How did

the arsenic get into the chickens? The poultry industry fed it to

them. Most broiler chickens (which constitute 99% of the chicken meat

that people eat) are fed arsenic in the United States[3,4] Although

fish and shellfish also present significant dietary sources of

arsenic,[6] according to the Food and Drug Administration arsenic

compounds are extensively added to the feed of animals--particularly

chickens and pigs--to make them grow faster.[5] The animals Americans

eat are so heavily infested with internal parasites that adding

arsenic to the feed can result in a " stunning " increase in growth

rates.[7] " (see link above for more, including PCB's in farmed fish)

And:

Arsenic In Poultry Meat And Eggs

by dr. aajonus vonderplanitz, ph.d. nutrition

http://www.wewant2live.com/site/811618/page/822785

" Arsenic contaminates many of your favorite foods, including rice and

chicken, intentionally. In this article, we focus on chicken meat and

eggs. For many decades, chicken farmers have been feeding chickens

arsenic to hasten and increase growth and conceal symptoms of disease

at youthful stages of chicken development. Of the 8.7 billion American

broiler chickens produced each year, at least 70 percent have been fed

arsenic. Some of that arsenic remains in chicken meat; the following

chart shows how much by brand and cut. "

(see link above for chart and remainder of article - the chart appears

to be USDA data but is not credited)

I guess the moral is - raise your own chicken or find out more about

the source of the chicken you buy. (easier said than done

Also:

Chemicals, Food, Herbs that are Estrogenic

http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/chemfoodhert.html

" Phytoestrogens, Naturally Occurring Plant Estrogens Plants produce

chemicals that mimic estrogen, and block progesterone. In general, it

is thought that they tend to wash out of the body within several days

in contrast to months or decades that the xenoestrogens take to be

excreted. Whole grains, fruits, seeds, beans and herbs all are know to

have estrogen and/or progesterone activity. In general, any food that

has been eaten by a culture or people group for centuries is probably

all right to eat if the people group in question is relatively free

from these estrogen related diseases. When referring to

phytoestrogens, it is generally thought that a " weak " estrogen may

actually be protective against cancer causing xenoestrogens. The best

example, is Lilian PhD's work that showed that oral ground

flax seed reduced breast cancer size to one half between the time of

diagnosis and surgery. A strong phytoestrogen may actually make the

disease worse. Again the list that follows is incomplete because of

the lack of research money and interest:

Coffee is a known phytoestrogen. Coffee is commonly known to make

fibrocystic breast disease worse. It is not thought to be the

caffeine, but coffee itself mimics estrogen strongly. Thus,

decaffinated coffee still may be estrogenic. "

(see link above for remainder of list and article, including Clover,

Red Clover tea, Alfalfa Sprouts, Sunflower Seeds, Queen Anne's lace,

Pomegranate, Fennel, Licorice, Red Clover, Yucca, Hops (Beer),

Motherwort, Bloodroot, Ocotillo, Mandrake, Oregano, Damiana,

Pennyroyal, Verbenna, Nutmeg, Tumeric, Yucca, Thyme, Calamus rt., Red

Clover, Goldenseal, Licorice, Mistletoe, Cumin, Fennel, Camomille, and

Cloves)

This is the first time I have heard anyone refer to coffee as a

phytoestrogen - so I'm not sure I believe it. But since I quit

routine coffee back in February I should be good to go

If anyone has found any articles on whether phytoestrogens from soy

feed get into chicken meat and eggs please post. I searched the NN

archives and <slethnobotanist@...> said:

/message/68318

" If soy fed chicken is to be avoided, it is most likely because the

soy is gmo. I read an article a couple years back where Enig

seemed to be saying that chickens are one animal that can be fed soy

and its still okay for humans. "

But I found no references to any actual measurements.