Soy-Rich Foods May Reduce Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds


Soy improves the functioning of the arteries.

Eating soy products once a week is not enough if we want to obtain the desired benefits.

Doctors say that eating soy foods is healthy for the body and helps protect the heart. Recently, a study has shown that eating soy products once a week reduces the risk of heart attack by 17% and the risk of stroke by 18%. Famous nutritionist Subha Ramesh explains that the phytoestrogens present in soybeans have heart-healthy properties. Improves the functioning of the arteries and reduces blood pressure. A daily intake of 25 grams of soy protein is said to help reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Studies suggest it may be helpful to some extent.

How much soy should you eat?

  1. Eating soy products once a week is not enough if we want to obtain the desired benefits. Studies show that consuming at least 25 grams of soy protein per day can provide the expected benefits. To do this, we need to consume two servings of soy foods.

  2. A cup of soy milk and tofu or tempeh will provide us with the desired benefits. The benefits of soy protein depend on diet and lifestyle.

  3. Depending on a person's genetic factors, you cannot be sure that everyone will get the same benefits.

  4. Soluble fiber like oats and barley, and healthy fats like nuts and olive oil, on the other hand, are very beneficial for lowering cholesterol and improving heart health. In fact, these foods have more benefits than soy.

Everyone should be aware of the dangers of consuming too much soy in the diet. Some people are allergic to soy foods, as they can also affect the hormone levels of people with thyroid problems or hormone-sensitive cancers. In moderation, it is safe for most people.

Heavily processed soy products, such as soy protein isolate, are found in some protein bars and juices. They do not have the same benefits as whole soy foods. It is not safe to eat because it is made with additives and chemicals to prevent it from spoiling.

“Other human and animal studies on isoflavones, tofu, and cardiovascular risk markers have also shown beneficial effects, so people at higher risk of heart disease should review their diet,” said the study's lead author, Dr. Qi. Sun, in a press release. Sun is a research scientist at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

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