Six Ways to Improve Your Health Using Soy Products

Soy and most soy-based products are nutritional dynamos. Soybeans are the only plant food that has all of the essential amino acids our body requires, making it a complete protein. Soy based foods do not have any cholesterol, and most are high in fiber. In addition, soy has many vitamins, minerals, and phytochemical compounds, like isoflavones that work together to create numerous health benefits for your bodies.

Research in several areas of healthcare has shown that consumption of isoflavones may play a role in lowering risk for disease. Isoflavones can fight disease on several fronts. The isoflavones atom are found in soy nuts and tempeh.

Numerous Research studies have shown that a daily intake of at least 25 grams of soy protein and 30-50 milligrams of isoflavones can improve and safeguard your health. This is the equivalent of 1-2 servings of soy foods a day. Here is a list of soy's properties and how they can positively affect your body.

(1). Soy's protein and isoflavones lower LDL (the bad) cholesterol and decrease blood clotting (thrombosis), which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

(2). Soy's protein and soluble fiber help regulate glucose levels and kidney filtration, which helps control diabetic conditions and kidney disease.

(3). Soy's isoflavones help the body regulate estrogen when this hormone is declining or fluctuating, which helps alleviate many menopausal and PMS symptoms.

(4). Soy's protein enhances the body's ability to retain and better absorb calcium in the bones, while its isoflavones slow bone loss and inhibit bone breakdown, which helps prevent osteoporosis.

(5). Soy's soluble fiber protects the body from many digestive related cancers, such as colon and rectal cancer. While its isoflavones may protect the body from many hormone related cancers, like breast, endometrial (uterine) and prostate cancer.

(6). Soy's protein and isoflavones provide antioxidants, reduce artery clogging plaque, improve blood pressure, and promote healthy blood vessels. This protects the body from free radical damage, boosts the immune system, and lowers the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart disease, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

The fact is that Soy protein products can be good substitutes for animal products because, unlike some other beans, soy offers a "complete" protein profile. Soybeans contain all the amino acids essential to human nutrition, which must be supplied in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. Soy protein products can replace animal-based foods which also have complete proteins but tend to contain more fat, especially saturated fat without requiring major adjustments elsewhere in the diet.

The conclusion is that Soy is here to stay and provides many health benefits to those who want to live healthier lives and be free of disease for the most part.