I put this in the cooking help section because I don't know if I should use processed soy products in my recipes or not.  I was recently told that processed soy feeds cancer cells, and people with cancer or a family history of cancer should never eat it.  I was wondering if anyone else has heard this?  If so, are there any processed soy products that I should avoid?  I don't eat too many veggie burgers or veggie dogs but I do like veggie sausage and Field Roast products.  Any advice is greatly appreciated!

There are quite a few threads on the soy controversy here. I suggest you do a search as we've discussed this many times. Processed soy is not the best thing IMHO (processed ANYTHING should be avoided) but I wouldn't freak out about using it very occasionally.

Field Roast products are all made from gluten.

I'm a newbie with soy products so I do I know if something is processed soy?  Does it have a specific ingredient listed?  Thank you for your help!

You'are welcome! Anything that isn't pure tofu, tempeh, soybeans or edamame is processed. Alicia recommends a couple of servings of *unprocessed* soy a week. The processed stuff is soy sausage, milk, burgers, fake meat etc. and should only be eaten occasionally and ideally would be viewed as transition foods.

 Look for phrases like "soy protein isolate" in protein bars and other snack foods--soy is added to quite a few things you'd be better off not eating too often.

It's getting easier to find non-soy based veggie burgers and sausages. Many companies sell veg burgers made from seitan or legumes.

I'm a big believer in eating whole, unprocessed food and try to rely on nuts and legumes for protein but I'm also a realist. Sometimes you need a shortcut or just feel like indulging, and even processed soy is better eating meat or dairy.

Actually, I've read (and have been told by my nurse practitioner) there are only 4 kinds of soy that are "safe": miso, natto, tempeh & soy sauce.  The safe soy products are fermented.  I've read & been told that unfermented soy is linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and other health issues.  Unfermented ("unsafe") soy includes tofu, soybeans, and edamame.  Of course everyone must decide from him/herself what to believe & what the risks are.  I'm trying to stick to just the 4 fermented soy products.   

I have read that fermented soy is the safest form and I try to consume it in that form. I've read quite a bit on both sides of the soy controversy and really don't think that moderate amounts of unfermented but unprocessed soy are a problem. The countries where soy consumption are high (e.g. Japan) have low cancer rates; of course, they tend to consume the unprocessed stuff not soy milk, soy protein bars, etc.