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It is healthier to make your own tofu from homemade soymilk and it costs less then store bought tofu. Many tofu products are made from isolated soy protein which does come from soy beans, but it has been processed in a way that everything has been removed except the soy protein. This over processing of the soy bean causes the tofu to possibly increase your risk for cancer, impair your thyroid, immune, and brain function, and cause you bone loss and reproductive problems when eaten in large quantities. Store bought tofu and tofu products such as soy base meats should be eaten in very small quantities. To avoid isolated soy protein you are better off making your own tofu.
Homemade tofu is an excellent substitute for animal meat products such as beef or chicken. Animal products contain the hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) which increases the rate of growth of normal tissue like bone and diseased tissue like cancer cells. People who have cancer should avoid all animal food products to prevent the growth of cancer cells. The growth hormone in cow�s milk is balanced for the growth of a baby cow which will grow from 60 pounds to 600 pounds in about 6 month. Humans do not need that quantity of growth power.
The easy way to make your own homemade soymilk before making tofu, is to use the Soyquick Automatic Soymilk Maker model SDZ-4 or the Soyquick model SDZ-5 or the Tribest Soyabella Soymilk Maker SB130. These machines heat and blend the soy beans and water for you to make perfect soy milk in 15 minutes. The Soyquick model SDZ-5 comes with a tofu making kit. To make tofu you need soy milk, a coagulant, some kind of fine mesh fabric like cheese cloth, I use the Pure Joy Nut Milk Bag and a container with holes in it to mold the tofu while it is draining. Coagulants you can use are Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate), which is easily available and cheap, Nigari (magnesium chloride) or gypsum (calcium sulfate), both of which are sold specifically for making tofu. Gypsum is a great source of calcium. Sometimes you can purchase calcium sulfate from your local pharmacy. If you can not find it, ask if they can get it in for you. Recipes for making soymilk come with your soymilk makers or see our recipe to make homemade soymilksoymilk in our Drinks & Smoothies recipe page. You will find a recipe for making Homemade Tofu in our Main Dishes recipe page.
Reference: Dr. McDougall Newsletter January 2006
