A DIFFERENT POISON IVY

We are told that English Ivy
is 'known to be poisonous to humans'. There is no explanation.
   I don't know whether to laugh or cry as I interpret "Information for Families - Plant Safety" as published by Sick Kids' Hospital and promulgated by the Poison Information Centre.
   John M. Kingsbury was Professor of Botany at N.Y.State College of Agriculture and author of Poisonous Plants of the United States and Canada.
In his treatment of English Ivy he notes that suggestions of toxicity go as far back as Pliny and are often cited in the older European literature: but, and I quote,
"No cases of poisoning are known to have occured in the United States." (1964) Also that any toxicity would relate to the presence of a saponic glycoside. He includes a mention of an incident where cattle were harmed after ingesting a "very considerable" quantity of ivy vine with their uneventful recovery after three days.
   It was only with this and other reading that I came to realize that the toxin in English Ivy that we are warned about were 'saponins' and then surprised to learn that soybeans were a much richer source and vegetable pea best of all.
   In my enviable agri-rural community I see very few faces of Asian appearance and the only skin tint is pink. So, at Foodland it is the cherry-cheeked Caucasians that are buying the tofu and soy milk in all its guises. Even if you do not directly choose to purchase 'edemame' or soy yoghurt you will still unwittingly be consuming a great deal of soy. It's in almost everything. On checking the pantry shelf just now I found soy in the ingredients list of Hamburger Helper, chicken soup, pancake mix and oatmeal cookies. Of course, it is in many more prepared food items than these few.
   I will not burden you here with a ton of information considering that you are a mouse click away from finding many more facts for yourself.
When you do a search for saponins, saponins in soy and saponins in vegetable pea, you will discover many claims of major health benefits that saponins are said to provide. I will not venture an opinion on their medical benefits but if you were to believe all that it said. then soybeans and peas are a universal panacea. There are claims that saponins reduce cholesterol, prevent stomach and colon cancers and more. For all I know it solves all bedroom problems and banishes death as we know it today.
   I will add this cautionary note: 'Edemame' is soybeans in their pods that have been boiled in salted water and is an Asian treat. They must be boiled or cooked, as the raw unprepared vegetable could be considered to be 'poisonous'.
    Perhaps that's where we went wrong. We did not realize that English Ivy should be boiled first.