I am new to the vegan lifestyle, and I often see recipes specify soy free.
Is there a downside to using soy products in a vegan diet?

I don't know how vegans feel about it but I believe most here don't use it because of its possible side effects. I don't use it because I have a thyroid problem and soy can exacerbate it.

The soy foods in the U.S. Are mostly highly processed, GMO food products, not traditional fermented soy. I eliminated all soy, including anything with soybean oil, because of cancer risk, but here are some other reasons the Paleo and real foods followers do not use it. http://www.grassfedgirl.com/10-reas...-sour-on-soy-2/

Thank you JAnn, for sharing your knowledge, appreciate it.

Thank you JEY100, for sharing your knowledge, some great information, appreciate it.

I also avoid soy because my doctor told me to since I am hypothyroid. I just happened to notice on my box of herbal tea (Celestial Seasonings), that there is soy lecithin. I was shocked. I read labels, but never thought it would be in my tea. Now I really have to read labels carefully.

Below is a quote from the Celestial Seasonings webpage.

"Soy lecithin is a soy-based emulsifier (used to keep ingredients from separating) found in the natural flavors we use in some of our teas. We only use soy from non-GMO sources."

How detrimental is this to my thyroid you think?