Its Soy Healthy - Health and Nutritional Benefits of Soy
The soybean is an exceptionally rich source of nutrients essential to the human diet. Food & beverage manufacturers are expanding their lines of products now available to all consumers.
The United States FDA authorizes the use of a health claim on food labels that associates the consumption of soy protein with reduced
risk of coronary heart disease. In order to qualify for this health claim, a food must contain at least 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving, the amount that is one-fourth of the effective level of 25 grams per day in low fat diets.
The UK Joint Health Claims Initiative [JHCI] approved a more generic health claim stating that the inclusion of at least 25g soy protein
per day as part of a diet low in saturated fat can help reduce blood cholesterol. A food should contain a minimum of 5 grams of soy protein per serving the amount that is one-fifth of the effective level of 25 grams per day in low fat diets.
Soy protein concentrates, isolates and isoflavones are abundantly used for a number of health specific treatments such as:
- Lactose intolerance - Soy protein formulas are recommended for infants and adults.
- Diabetes - Soy proteins and isoflavones in diabetes products are known to help normalize blood glucose levels, and reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- Osteoporosis - Soy proteins have been demonstrated to increase bone-formation and bone mineral density together with calcium, while isoflavones have been shown to reduce bone loss among post-menopausal women.
- Heart disease - Soy proteins, especially designed for low-calorie/high nutrient meal supplements, can contribute to weight reduction.
- Alzheimer´s and memory loss - Recent research reveals that soy protein preserves memory function and health brain tissues, with a positive impact upon reducing the incidence of Alzheimer´s.
Because soybeans contain isoflavones, which are classified as phytoestrogens, there has been considerable interest in the potential effects of soy consumption on hormone and hormone-dependent cancers. Among athletes, consumption of soy protein rich foods may help improve physical strength and performance, and provide antioxidant effects to aid recovery and reduce fatigue after exercise.
Solbar soy proteins are cholesterol-free and low in fat. They contain amino acids essential to human nutritional requirements for growth, body maintenance, and physical stress, and are a particular good source of lysine. Solbar´s health experts maintain extensive data on the health and nutritional benefits of soy, and are available to assist you in product labeling and consumer promotion.
Health Effects of Soy Isoflavones
- Menopause: Ease symptoms as hormone replacement therapy [HRT], the foremost preventive treatment for menopausal symptoms. (Levis S, Strickman-Stein N, Doerge DR, Krischer J. Contemp Clin Trials. 2010 Mar 15).
- Cardiovascular: risk reduction of disease. (Atteritano M, Marini H, Minutoli L, Polito F, Bitto A, Altavilla D, Mazzaferro S, D'Anna R, Cannata ML, Gaudio A, Frisina A, Frisina N, Corrado F, Cancellieri F, Lubrano C, Bonaiuto M, Adamo EB, Squadrito F. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Aug; 92(8):3068-75).
- Prostate cancer: (Swami S, Krishnan AV, Moreno J, Bhattacharyya RS, Gardner C, Brooks JD, Peehl DM, Feldman D. Int J Cancer. 2009 May 1;124(9):2050-9).
- Osteoporosis: Helps preservation of the bone substance. (Brink E, Coxam V, Robins S, Wahala K, Cassidy A, Branca F; PHYTOS Investigators. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Mar; 87(3):761-70).
- Antioxidant properties: reduce the long-term risk of cancer by preventing free radical damage to DNA (Tepavcevi´c V, Atanackovi´c M, Miladinovi´c J, Malenci´c D, Popovi´c J, Cveji´c J. J Med Food. 2010 Apr 21).
