What you should know about soy nutrition

Soy is the only plant protein source that contains all the essential amino acids that are necessary to maintain good health. Soy also provides fiber, photochemical, vitamins, and minerals. However, soy has become a major lightening point in the world of nutrition.For many people, soy has become an alternative source of proteins.This is especially true for vegetarians, and for others, who only wish to decrease their intake of meat. There has been some speculation that soy nutrition is not as nutritionally valuable as it was first thought. So it becomes crucial that if you are going to integrate soy into your diet, that you understand what soy really is, and what it can do for you.Here is what you should know about soy nutrition-

• Soy as a source of protein-Soy is considered to be a far superior source of protein than meat.Soy is used for maintaining good cardiovascular health because it does not contain saturated fat. In studies conducted with soy, and its effect on osteoporosis, it has also been proven to be beneficial. There are many companies that have capitalized on the popularity of soy by manufacturing a variety of soy based products, such as such as soymilk, tofu, soy protein, and soy flour. Many allergists also believe a diet high in soy can be beneficial for patients suffering from a variety of food-related allergies.
• Soy and the link to problems-It is important to realize, that despite its recognized benefits there is research that suggests that soy could be responsible for a number of undesirable health conditions. Numerous studies have been conducted to examine whether certain components of soy can contribute to the growth of cancer cells, especially breast cancer cells.The basis of this research is that Isoflavones, (which are found in soy), have been shown by some studies to stimulate cancer growth. Yet the debate goes on as soy has been indicated by other studies to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. While the argument continues and despite the lack of any conclusive evidence, the medical community has concerns about consuming soy products, especially for those women with breast cancer.
• Soy and processing-There are many nutritional experts that believe that the real problem with soy is the result of genetically modified crops, and the accompanying processing. There are a number of health concerns that have been associated with genetically modified foods. The only way to totally avoid them is to buy organic soy, which is guaranteed to not be genetically altered. Whether a soy product is organic, or non-organic, if it has been processed there are still health concerns. As general rule nutritional experts believe that the less a food is processed, the healthier it is for you. This was shown clearly in a study that was done analyzing the effects of soy isoflavones ability to inhibit tumor growth. The study that highly processed soy products had none.
• Soy and shopping-Because the major concern of using soy, lies in the amount of processing it has received, nutritional experts agree that purchasing products with the least amount of processing, helps insure the highest amount of benefit from the soy. Today, grocery stores carry a much wider variety of soy products.If you cannot find what you need in your local store, trying an organic grocery store, or shopping online can often give you more choices to integrate soy into your diet. For the ultimate soy product with little to no processing you may want to consider purchasing organic soybeans.These soybeans can provide you with the best way to enjoy the health benefits of soy, and avoid altered, and nutritionally, depleted soy products. Best of all, steamed soy beans are a great addition to meals. These nutritionally packed gems can also be used to make homemade soy milk, tofu, and yogurt.