Friday, March 2, 2012

Is Soy a Good Source of Protein? | HealthiNation

Is Soy a Good Source of Protein? | HealthiNation

Related Videos: The Benefits of Drinking Water | HealthiNation www.youtube.com Omega-3s, Fish, and Fish Oils | HealthiNation www.youtube.com Soy has been getting "soy" much attention lately. However, there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Let's start with "What is soy?" Soy is in the legume or bean family that is native to southeastern Asia. Although it has been part of the Asian diet for thousands of years, soybeans were only introduced to America about 200 years ago. Now, the United States produces about half of the world's supply of soybeans. Soybeans contain 35 to 40 percent protein. These soybean proteins are "complete," which means they contain significant amounts of all the essential amino acids our bodies need but cannot make on our own. That is why soy protein can be a great substitute for animal-based protein, which also has complete proteins but contains more fat. The fat in animal protein is especially unhealthy because it is saturated fat (the "bad! " kind of fat), combined with cholesterol. For such a tiny package, soy is a dietary powerhouse when it comes to biological action. That is because soybeans are uniquely rich in certain bioactive molecules called isoflavones. An isoflavone can function as both an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant (counteracting the damaging effects of free radicals in our cells). Isoflavones can even kill parasites. There are different forms of isoflavones. Some forms are more bioavailable, which means our bodies ...





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