Soy Protein

Soy protein is known and used for a long time in a lot of foods. Examples can be given in vegetarian foods, meat imitations, soups and salad dressings. We have noticed an increase in the popularity of soy protein in the past years. This is mainly because of the many benefits that are brought to the table. Now we have a lot of research that has proven the fact that soy protein will aid you in preventing some heart problems. Different other benefits can also be highlighted.

Let us take a look at some facts. Soy protein is basically low in fat content and does not come with any cholesterol. It also includes phytochemicals (saponins, phytc acid and isoflavones), which are very good antioxidants. To make everything even better, there is a direct link between phytochemicals and a decrease in the risk of developing osteoporosis, cancer and heart diseases.

Soy protein has been proven to reduce cholesterol levels. This immediately reduces heart disease risk. Thanks to a study performed in 1995 we now know that consuming soy protein instead of animal protein will decrease concentrations of bad cholesterol. The good news is that there are no attached negative side effects when linking to one’s heart. If we eat more than 25 grams of soy protein daily we do gain a lot of benefits. We recommend that you purchase supplements that contain soy protein with added isoflavones in order to get the best possible results from this point of view.

There is also an interesting link between osteoporosis and soy protein. It has been proven that by replacing animal protein with soy protein we actually gain extra protection against this disease. A good example in the truth of this claim stands in Japanese women. They do eat less Calcium when compared with Western women but they do have fewer fractures. The explanation stands in consuming foods that include high quantities of soy protein.

As all protein types, soy protein also comes with calories. If we eat more soy protein we will take in more calories and this can lead to weight gain. On the other hand, if we compare soy protein with dairy protein we will learn something very interesting. A study showed us that if we compare the two, the ones that eat soy protein instead of dairy protein might even lose weight. We are especially talking about abdominal fat, which is that fat that most people want to get rid of. At the end of the study there were not a lot of differences between dairy protein and soy protein except this abdominal fat level.

When talking about cancer, you should know that soy protein is known to reduce the risk of developing this disease. Although not all types of cancer will be affected, prostate cancer and breast cancer are. Phytochemicals seem to be responsible for reducing cancer risk through soy protein intake. They include different isoflavones that are very strong antioxidants. It has been proven that consuming soy protein while a teenager can lead to less risk of developing breast cancer in the future.

Although the possible benefits of soy protein intake in our regular diet should not be taken lightly, we must not neglect the other types of protein available. Unfortunately the best way to protect ourselves and gain as many benefits as possible from consuming protein is to combine all the main types of protein: egg protein, whey protein, soy protein and casein protein. Although this might seem difficult, the truth is that it is easily achievable is we are serious about our daily nutrition plan.