Soy

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The soybean has been a part of the human diet for almost 5,000 years. Unlike most plant foods, the soybean is high in protein and is considered equivalent to animal foods in terms of the quality of the protein it contains.

Soy in your diet can lower cholesterol. There are many scientific studies that support this conclusion. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed that 25 grams per day of soy protein, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Other potential benefits include:

• fewer menopausal symptoms
• reduced risk of osteoporosis
• possible prevention of hormone-dependent diseases, including breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and prostate cancer

Review Date: 02/09/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Pho, M.D., Attending, Internal Medicine, Boston VA Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.