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Hi everyone and welcome back. Today we are going to talk about the benefits of soy.
By the end of the twentieth century, researchers had an astonishing array of health benefits from soy products. Soy now heads a list of “nutraceuticals’” foods known to have beneficial pharmacological effects.
This would not surprise the ancient Chinese in the least. The Chinese have long used food as medicine. Chinese medicine considers soy a yin or cooling food. It has been used to treat fevers, headaches, chest distension, hyperactivity and as a tonic for the lungs and stomach. Here are some of soy’s benefits recognized in the West.
- Reduces Cancer Risk
Soy foods reduce the risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Rates of prostate cancer mortality are much lower in Asian countries where large amount of soy are consumed. Soybeans contain several naturally occurring compounds, such as photochemical like isoflavons, protease inhibitors and saponins, which seem to protect against the development of cancer, Isoflavons may inhibit enzymes necessary for the growth and spread of many types of cancers. - Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Soybeans are extremely low in saturated fat and free of cholesterol. Research indicates that daily use of soy-based foods may help protect against heart disease by significantly lowering the LDL (bad) cholesterol without reducing the HDL (good) cholesterol levels, even among people with average cholesterol levels. - Prevents Heart Disease
Compounds in soy, such as lecithin, saponins, phytosterols and isoflavones may favorably affect other risk factors for heart disease beyond cholesterol.
Isoflavones are phytoestrogens, a weak form of estrogen found in soy protein. The two primary isoflavones in soybeans are daidzein and genistein. The potential health benefits of isoflavones are generating interest in the health community. Isoflavones may help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, which in turn promote overall good health; diadzein has shown promise in this area of study. Given the early stage of research on isoflavones, recommended levels to achieve any beneficial health effects are still under review. - Controls Diabetes
By slowing the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, soy protects against the damaging effects of high blood glucose levels, common in people with uncontrolled diabetes. - Prevents Osteoporosis
Isoflavones simultaneously increase bone formation while decreasing bone breakdown. Soy protein lead
s to a lower rate of calcium excretion than protein from animals. - Decreases Menopausal Symptoms
Soy provides a natural source of estrogenlike compounds. Asian women, regular consumers of soy, experience the unpleasant symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats less often than do western women. Soy may be the reason.
So I hope you all understand the benefits from soy. Don’t be afraid to try soy products. I know a lot of people won’t even give tofu a try. There are so many different varieties that one of the many soy products, you are sure to like.
So see you all tomorrow with some soy recipes. Take care and stay healthy