Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Benefits of Soya

Top 10 Benefits of Soya

Mark Messina, a former program director with the National Cancer Institute is quoted as saying, "I would bet good money soya protein will become a widely accepted alternative to estrogen replacement therapy." But, we are not talking about soya protein concentrates (lack a quality amino acid profile and can range anywhere from 34% to 90% protein).

Antioxidant: soya food contains antioxidants - compounds which protect cells from damage caused by unstable oxygen molecules called "free radicals." Free radicals are believed to be responsible for initiating many forms of cancer as well as premature ageing.

Breast Cancer: A major study in Singapore revealed that women who eat soya foods are at lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who don't. Asian women, who typically eat a soya-based diet, have much lower levels of breast cancer than Western women. Test tube studies and those involving laboratory animals have shown that "compounds in soya can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells." The studies presented at a Medical Conference in Brussels in September 1996 indicate that the isoflavones in soya may be the reason for these lower cancer rates.

Cholesterol: Scores of studies from around the world attest to soya's cholesterol-lowering properties, especially for people with high cholesterol. soya strongly inhibits LDL oxidation and neutralizes free radicals in blood platelets.

Colon Cancer: A recent US study showed that American soya eaters who make soybeans and tofu a regular part of their diet had significantly lower rates of colon cancer than those who didn't eat soya.

Osteoporosis: Hip fractures owing to osteoporosis are a major problem among elderly women in the United States. Japanese women have half the rate of hip fractures as US women. Preliminary studies suggest that soya may help retain bone mass. Also, it appears that soya protein doesn't increase the excretion of calcium in the urine as is the case with high protein diets.

Hot Flashes: Half of all menopausal women in the United States complain of hot flashes, a problem that is so rare in Japan that there's not even a word for it. Some researchers believe that special compounds in soya called phytoestrogens may help Japanese women stay cooler.

Immunity: Studies show that soybean peptides can boost the immune system, helping the body fight disease.

Kidney Disease: soya protein is easier on the kidneys, the main filtering organ of the body, than is animal protein and may slow down or prevent kidney damage in people with impaired kidney function.

Lung Cancer: Several studies have linked soya consumption to lower rates of lung cancer.

Prostate Cancer: A major study of Japanese men in Hawaii found a direct correlation between consumption of tofu and lower rates of prostate cancer. Studies of soya compounds have shown that they can inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in laboratory cultures. Contrary to some beliefs, the phytoestrogens in soya are not detrimental to anabolic hormones or muscle

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