You might want to remind yourself of two compelling reasons to eat these nutrition packed beans (tofu). First, soy has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of heart disease, prevent certain kinds of cancer, and actually help cancerous cells to revert to normal cells. Second, the soybean is available in dozens of different forms, from tempeh and veggie burgers to soy milks and cheeses, that are the bases for a host of infinitely palatable meals. You are not stuck with plain old tofu - so no more excuses.
Soy protein has been shown to trim down both overall cholesterol levels and LDL (the bad cholesterol) levels, without upsetting the levels of HDL (the good cholesterol) - thereby helping to prevent heart disease. The overall drop was the most pronounced in those people with the highest cholesterol levels to begin with.
A component in soybeans called genistein - a type of isoflavone - appears not only to prevent cancer, but also to cause cancerous cells to differentiate, or revert to normal cells; genistein has been found to repress the growth of almost every kind of cancer cell, including breast, colon, lung, prostate, skin and leukemia, and to inhibit the progress of already-formed tumors-meaning that soy products could be useful in treating, as well as preventing, cancer. Numerous epidemiological studies have confirmed that countries with the highest consumption of soy have the lowest rates of cancer - including breast, stomach, colon, rectal, lung and prostate cancer - adjusting for all other factors.
Another compound in soybeans, phytate, has been found to inhibit colon and breast cancer, and is a potent free-radical blocker. Excess iron generates free-radical production, and phytate has been found to bind excess iron in the intestines. The free-radical inhibiting actions of phytate have also been linked to prevention or amelioration of a variety of other diseases, including breast and colon cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and numerous age-related illnesses. Protease inhibitors - substances that interfere with the digestion of protein - colon, lung, pancreas, mouth and esophagus. And so-called phytoestrogens - compounds in the isoflavone family- in soy products may also help relieve hot flashes in menopausal women.
So many different varieties of soy products exist - from hearty tempeh to mellow miso - that the excuses for avoiding soy aren't valid. The health benefits are just too great to ignore.
