Soy provides many health benefits

Soyfoods 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 of research is being conducted to investigate possible health benefits of soy.

Childhood obesity continues to increase at alarming rates. One way to reverse this trend is to start early and start right by teaching your child good nutrition habits that will last a lifetime. Starting right also means offering soyfoods. Soyfoods 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 kidfriendly soyfoods are available today including chocolate soymilk, frozen pizza, taco-style meat and chicken-style nuggets.

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 and 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.

Soy protein may provide positive results for people with high blood pressure. According to a recently published scientific study, researchers found that 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.

While soy protein may or may not help reduce hot flashes for women going through menopause, soy protein has other proven benefits extending well into post-menopausal years. 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.

Including soyfoods during a teenage girlís adolescence years may provide increased protective benefits and reduce the risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Although there is a lack of evidence that consuming soy as an adult may reduce the risk of breast cancer, ongoing scientific research is showing that consuming soy protein as a teenager may help reduce breast cancer risk as an adult by nearly 50 percent. These impressive results were obtained by eating just 11 grams of soy protein daily. Eleven grams of soy protein is found in one serving of honeyroasted soynuts or two servings of barbecued soy chips.

First, many soyfoods have a lower glycemic index. Foods with 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-including people with diabetesshould aim for at least 25 grams of fiber daily. Roasted soynuts contain six grams of fiber and a soy veggie burger has four grams.

"Talk to your doctor if you consume large amounts of soy products if you have hypothyroidism."