Soy Serves Up Healthy Benefits

Soy foods are a source of high-quality protein. In addition, consumption of soy protein provides health benefits that may help prevent or treat certain chronic diseases. Currently, a great deal research is being conducted to investigate possible health benefits of soy.

Childhood Obesity. Childhood obesity continues to increase at alarming rates. One way to reverse this trend is to start early and by teaching good nutrition habits that will last a lifetime. Starting right also means offering soyfoods which provide critical vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein for growing children. Plus, many soyfoods contain fewer calories and fat grams, making weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight much easier. Many kid-friendly soyfoods are available today including chocolate soymilk, frozen pizza, taco-style meat and chicken-style nuggets.

Weight Loss & Dietary Fiber. Eating high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and soyfoods may help with weight loss efforts when substituted for higher calorie foods. Many soyfoods are filled with fiber; ongoing medical research is showing that fiber provides a feeling of satiety and fullness in between meals and reduces hunger cravings. Ultimately, this helps prevent unnecessary eating and excessive calories which can lead to weight gain. Aim for 25 grams of fiber every day. A serving of green sweet soybeans contains 3 grams of fiber. One soy veggie burger has four grams and roasted, salted soynuts have five grams. In addition, many soyfoods contain fewer calories and fat grams, making weight loss even easier.

Weight Loss & Breakfast. Losing weight may be a lot easier if breakfast becomes a priority every day. Eating breakfast provides a feeling of fullness, or satiety, which helps curb hunger and prevents overeating of high-calorie snacks and foods. In addition, research indicates fewer calories may be consumed at the next eating occasion or meal. Soyfoods are perfect for breakfast because they are filled with bone-building and heart-healthy soy protein, plus they reduce overall calories and fat grams. For example, traditional sausage links contain 160 calories and 14 grams of fat; soy breakfast links have only 70 calories and 3 grams of fat. Other soy breakfast foods include bagels made with soynuts and soy cereal with vanilla soymilk.

Fad Diets. Being on a low carb or the next fad diet when trying to lose weight should not come at the expense of having a healthy heart. Eating unlimited amounts of high-protein foods loaded with fat and saturated fat could prove detrimental over time. Soyfoods help promote healthier eating habits with low carb diets, because many soyfoods are naturally low in fat and saturated fat, while being high in heart-healthy protein. For example, the average soy veggie burger provides 12 grams of soy protein with only five grams of total fat, one gram of saturated fat and just three grams of net carbs.

Heart Health and Heart Disease. Soyfoods containing soy protein can be allies in the ongoing battle against heart disease, the number one killer of adult men and women. Over 40 scientific studies have proven the positive effect of soy protein on lowering cholesterol levels, including the harmful LDL cholesterol, which leads to the decreased risk of heart disease. In fact, the Food & Drug Administration recommends eating 25 grams of soy protein every day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. A serving of soy latte provides seven grams of soy protein, roasted salted soynuts contain 12 grams and a soy cheeseburger has nine grams of heart-healthy soy protein.

Omega-3’s. Certain fatty fish, like salmon and tuna, contain the best source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. But certain plant foods, like flaxseed and soybeans, also contain these fatty acids. Soybeans are one of the best non-fish sources of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Blood Pressure & Soy. Soy protein may provide positive results for people with high blood pressure. According to a recently published scientific study, researchers found both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were reduced in middle-aged and elderly women who ate at least 25 grams of soy protein daily. Since supermarkets today are filled with numerous soyfoods, eating 25 grams of soy protein is easy. Start the day with soy cereal for breakfast (eight grams soy protein). Add BBQ soy chips for lunch (seven grams soy protein). Grab a soy-protein-energy-bar for an afternoon snack (10 grams soy protein). Total soy protein equals 25 grams.

Menopause. While soy protein may or may not help reduce hot flashes for women going through menopause, soy protein has other proven benefits. Research has found that consuming soy protein before, as well as after, menopause may help protect bones from becoming weak and brittle. And since post-menopausal women face an increased risk for osteoporosis, keeping bones healthy with soy protein-rich foods is critical. In addition, soy may help reduce the risk of heart disease, another major concern after menopause.

Pregnancy & Omega-3’s. The link between omega-3 fatty acids and a healthy heart is well established. But there’s yet another reason—a newly released scientific study found mothers who eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy (and while breastfeeding), may help to significantly reduce their daughters’ risk of developing breast cancer later in life. In addition, this study found that including omega-3 rich foods throughout childhood and teenage years may continue to help provide protective benefits against breast cancer. 

Cancer & Soy Isoflavones. Medical research has determined foods rich in fiber, low in fat and high in phytochemicals may help reduce risk of developing certain cancers. Consuming soyfoods may prove beneficial when eating to reduce cancer risk because many soyfoods are not only high in fiber, they are low in total fat and high in soy protein and phytochemicals called isoflavones. Isoflavones are naturally-occurring plant compounds that have been attributed in numerous medical and scientific studies to reducing risk of colon, breast and prostate cancer.

Prostate and Colon Cancer. Some of the same foods that can lower risk of heart disease, like soyfoods, may also reduce the risk of the second most common cancer in men. Medical research has shown foods rich in soy protein may be protective against prostate cancer by helping to promote healthier prostate tissues.

Colon Cancer. The latest medical research has found that several natural components of soy may help protect against colon cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The components of soy that may be helping prevent colon cancer are isoflavones and saponins. Both are found in soymilk, soynuts, and green and yellow soybeans. Limiting high fat foods may also help reduce risk of developing colon cancer. Substituting soy veggie burgers or tofu for higher fat protein foods will help cut fat considerably.

Diabetes. Several benefits of soy protein exist for the management of diabetes. First, many soyfoods have a lower glycemic index. Foods with a low glycemic index help keep blood sugar levels more stable, making diabetes much easier to control. Soyfoods like canned yellow soybeans and frozen green sweet soybeans have a lower glycemic index than other soyfoods. Secondly, many soyfoods are high in dietary fiber, and fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Everyone should aim for at least 25 grams of fiber daily for healthy results.

Adapted from “Soy Health News” written for the Indiana Soybean Board by Kim Galeaz, RD, CD, Food & Nutrition Consultant. For comprehensive versions of this information, refer to www.indianasoybeanboard.com