Health

The joy of soy

Delta loves soy milk, Posh snacks on soya beans- so what are the benefits?

The soybean is a little protein powerhouse. It contains more protein than other plants, plus all the essential amino acids your body needs. Most soy foods are also low in saturated and trans fats, which is why the American Heart Association recommends them as part of an overall heart- healthy diet.

Heart disease is the leading killer of Australian women, but a Japanese study published in the heart journal, Circulation, found that those who ate soy products more than five times a week were significantly less likely to have a heart attack. Another study, reported in the New York English Journal Of Medicine, found that soy can significantly reduce cholesterol and heart-clogging blood fats.

Apart from the health benefits, soy products are ideal to replace dairy foods for those with lactose intolerance or allergies to milk products.

Not Just Tofu

Soy is in a wide range of foods, such as drinks and shake mixes, edamame, protein bars, soy cheese and yoghurt, and “mock meats” such as bacon and sausages. Soynut butter can be used for sandwiches and cooking, and soy nuts are a good substitute for peanuts.

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