| The Relationship Between Soy And Cholesterol |
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Soy and cholesterol There are two prime components of soy namely, the soy protein itself and isoflavones. Both of these have some LDL lowering ability. In a recent study, certain individuals were given 25 to 135 grams a day of soy protein and 40 to 300 mg a day of isoflavones. The result was a marginal decrease of 3 % in LDL levels. Another problem with using soy to control cholesterol levels is that a high amount of soy needs to be consumed to bring down the cholesterol levels. In the above mentioned study, the average amount of Soy used was 50 grams. This is more than half of the recommended protein intake for one day. Sources of soy Typically, all the foods that contain soy are derived from the soybean plant. If you wish to include soy in your daily diet, then you have several food items to choose from. Amidst various other food items that contain soy, tofu and soy nuts are the most commonly used. To add on, you can also eat soybean burgers. Using soy for cholesterol reduction It is quite clear that soy does very little to bring down your cholesterol levels. But nevertheless, experts still recommend including soy in your daily diet. The reason for the same being that soy has been described as a heart healthy food. They contain high amount of protein and fiber along with negligible saturated fat, which makes it apt for your heart. To add on, soy makes for an excellent substitute to animal fat. Animal fats are known to raise your blood cholesterol levels and even increase the risk of heart diseases. So, consume soy in the right proportion and you could be doing good to your heart even if you are unable to bring down your cholesterol levels. Related Articles
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