In the presence of high levels of phytic acid, minerals like zinc, iodine, copper, calcium, iron, and other
trace minerals cannot be absorbed from your digestive tract into the bloodstream. When soy is fermented, (very common in the Orient), the phytic acid is greatly reduced and there are no health risk. Fermented soy, like tempeh, natto, and miso are actually healthy. But the soy found in tofu, soy hot dogs, soy flour and all the other soy products out there, is NOT fermented.