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Soy Protein - A Women's Best Friend?

Most women have been told, at one time or another, to drink plenty of milk and eat foods rich in calcium to stay healthy and build strong bones. Another food that should be included in every woman’s diet is soy protein. Here we will examine the ways that adding some soy to your diet can keep you healthy, strong, and hopefully become your long time best friend.

Hot Flashes
These are a common symptom in women going through perimenopause. They can drive a woman crazy! Women who suffer from mild to moderate hot flashes are generally able to decrease their symptoms by incorporating soy protein in their diet. Soy contains phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, that can imitate human estrogen, reliving these pesky symptoms. Many women have experienced encouraging results using soy protein instead of estrogen replacement therapy. In addition, soy protein is less controversial.

Bone Health
Loss of bone mass is a serious issue for woman in menopause and perimenopause. If your optimal bone mass is not properly maintained, you’re more likely to develop osteoporosis later in life. You’re also most likely to suffer fractured and broken bones, which can be devastating to older women. Not only is it annoying to have to recover from a broken bone, as we age we might not heal as quickly or as well as when we are younger. Soy protein contains calcium, along with magnesium and boron; all of these are essential in keeping your bones strong and healthy. In addition to providing these building blocks for your bones, certain chemicals in soy, called isoflavones, may help prevent your bones from breaking down and becoming fragile and brittle. Getting enough soy everyday is a great way to keep you strong and prevent future problems.

Heart Health
We have heard time and time again that high cholesterol is a huge risk factor in developing heart disease. And while heart disease used to be considered a man’s disease, we now know that it’s a killer in women as well. If you want to keep your heart healthy, you can count on soy protein to help. It has been shown to lower “bad” cholesterol levels. Getting an adequate amount soy protein will not only help you if you have a heart problem, but adding it into your diet before there’s a problem can help prevent one later down the road.

Cancer Prevention
While the previously mentioned benefits mainly deal with older women, soy can benefit younger women as well. It is suggested that the phytoestrogens in soy can help prevent breast cancer in younger women by preventing high levels of estrogen from reaching hormone receptors. While current studies are inconclusive, they are still promising.

Immune System
In addition to the above-mentioned benefits for women, it has been determined that soy can improve immune system functions for men and women. The end result is that it makes you less likely to get sick and improves recovery times. Who wouldn't want to avoid sickness, especially when it’s easily accomplished by adding a little soy to your menu.

We've highlighted the importance of soy protein for women of all ages. Next we need to consider how much soy we should incorporate into our diets. You know the saying "everything in moderation". Well that applies to your soy consumption as well. Having too much soy in your diet can actually lead to problems rather than fix or prevent them. You should aim for about 50mg of soy protein a day. While there are supplements available, the best way to get this and any nutrient is through a proper diet. However, some studies suggest that sources such as tofu are better for you than products like soy milk. Do some experimenting and find soy products and recipes that you like. The sooner you add soy to your diet, the sooner you will start to notice the benefits working for you.