Soy health benefits

Soybeans and soyfoods are healthy. While soybeans are part of a smart diet because they're high in protein, new research points to other significant benefits from soy - most importantly, its apparent role in reducing the risk of certain chronic diseases.

Soy and Heart Disease

Soy in a Risk-Reducing Diet

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in United States, killing more than 100 people every hour. But soyfoods may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Soyfoods are not only low in saturated fat and free of cholesterol, but contain proteins which have been shown to directly lower blood cholesterol, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.

In addition, only soyfoods are rich in a group of phytochemical compounds called isoflavones which may work to reduce the risk of heart disease. Isoflavones are found in significant amounts only in soybeans and soyfoods, such as tofu, soymilk, tempeh and textured soy protein.

Soy and Cholesterol Reduction

High blood cholesterol levels are a primary contributor to heart disease. Approximately 40 million Americans have blood cholesterol levels that are too high. But many studies have shown that among such people, soy protein can reduce high blood cholesterol levels by 10 to 15% – enough to cut the chances of a heart attack by up to 30%.

As little as 25 grams of soy protein per day may be enough to lower cholesterol levels, and greater amounts – 25 to 50 grams per day – are likely to lead to greater cholesterol decreases. This amount of soy protein can be found in one cup of cooked soybeans, one cup of tempeh or one cup of roasted soy nuts.

Inhibiting Cholesterol Oxidation

Soy protein inhibits cholesterol oxidation. Oxidized cholesterol is cholesterol that has undergone structural changes because of exposure to oxygen. Only oxidized cholesterol can damage arteries. In test tubes, a compound in soybeans called genistein has been found to inhibit the growth of cells that form artery-clogging plaque.

For more information on heart disease, click here to go to the American Heart Association Internet site.

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Marlon Wade
Editor
Café Soy, LLC
info@cafesoy.com
http://www.cafesoy.com
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