Soy is More Than Tofu (II).
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In addition, high blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, and there have been a number of studies that have shown that soy protein helps lower blood cholesterol levels. One study showed that replacing animal protein with soy protein lowered total and LDL cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol.
Another study found that adding 25 grams per day of soy fiber to the diet resulted in a significantly greater decrease in LDL cholesterol than what occurred by just eating a low fat diet. Other studies have shown that other components of soy, like isoflavones and a-linolenic acid, also show promise for reducing the risk of developing heart disease.
The FDA recently released a statement that said that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Cancer Prevention Connection
Isoflavones are also known as phytoestrogens -- naturally occurring compounds in plants that have weak estrogenic effects in humans. Soy contains two isoflavones of particular importance -- genistein and daidzein. Epidemiological (population) studies show that groups of people who regularly consume soyfoods, like the Japanese, have lower incidences of breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
