Soy Genistein: Your Smart Choice For A Healthy Heart
02/13/2010
Soy Genistein: Your Smart Choice For A Healthy Heart
By Darrell Miller
By adding soy to your diet, you can simply and effectively
protect your heart. Soy foods, which are low in saturated fat,
provide protein, and are completely cholesterol-free. About 3
million Americans take prescription drugs to lower cholesterol.
Although these drugs can be effective, they come along with many
significant side effects. Additionally, many of us are unaware
that we have high cholesterol levels. Recent studies suggest
that over thirty-five million Americans have a cholesterol level
which puts them at risk for heart disease. Research published
in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1995 stated that the
consumption of soy protein rather than animal protein
significantly decreased LDL (bad) cholesterol levels without
affecting HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It is important to
remember that when cholesterol is artificially lowered, not only
do the bad cholesterol levels drop, but so do the good
cholesterol levels. However, soy protein only lowers LDL
cholesterol and does not affect HDL levels. Also, when adding
soy to your diet, you can also reduce the amount of bad
cholesterol that is oxidized, which is what causes damage to the
artery walls.
It is very important to read labels on soy foods because soy
products without isoflavones will not give the cardiovascular
benefits proven in clinical studies. Scientists have recently
determined that the cholesterol-lowering effect depends on the
amount of isoflavones that are present. The higher the amount,
the more beneficial the effect will be. But keep in find that
isolated isoflavones will not have the same effect, as resent
research has shown that those isoflavones extracted from soy do
not have cholesterol-lowering effects. Although most scientific
studies have been on genistein, a study in progress at Wake
Forest University is looking into daidzein, which may have even
greater cardiovascular value. This new study explores the role
of genistein and daidzein, rather than just genistein.
Studies have shown that soy protein, when it is consumed at a
level of twenty-five grams and combined with diet and exercise,
significantly lowers bad cholesterol. It is the protein
component found in soy that contains isoflavones which are
thought to be responsible for this effect. By getting more
knowledgeable about soy and looking for the protein content of
soy foods, you can lower your overall fat and animal protein
intake along with lowering your bad cholesterol levels. Health
experts recommend adding two servings of soy-based foods to your
daily diet.
Since the FDA has recently finalized the Soy Protein Health
Claim, which states that soy protein is associated with reducing
coronary heart disease, any company producing food or food
substances under the FDA’s jurisdiction can make a legitimate
health claim that the product follows this rule. In order to
meet the stipulations, the food must contain 6.25 grams of soy
protein per serving, 3 grams or less of fat, 1 gram or less of
saturated fat, and 20 milligrams or less of cholesterol. The
food must also meet specific restrictions on the amount of
sodium included. The only exceptions to this rule include
products that consist or are derived from whole soybeans and
contain no fat in addition to what is naturally found in
soybeans.
About the Author: More information on genistein products can be
found at http://vitanetonline.com/ where you can browse a large
selection of genistein supplements for heart health.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=189467&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
By Darrell Miller
By adding soy to your diet, you can simply and effectively
protect your heart. Soy foods, which are low in saturated fat,
provide protein, and are completely cholesterol-free. About 3
million Americans take prescription drugs to lower cholesterol.
Although these drugs can be effective, they come along with many
significant side effects. Additionally, many of us are unaware
that we have high cholesterol levels. Recent studies suggest
that over thirty-five million Americans have a cholesterol level
which puts them at risk for heart disease. Research published
in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1995 stated that the
consumption of soy protein rather than animal protein
significantly decreased LDL (bad) cholesterol levels without
affecting HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It is important to
remember that when cholesterol is artificially lowered, not only
do the bad cholesterol levels drop, but so do the good
cholesterol levels. However, soy protein only lowers LDL
cholesterol and does not affect HDL levels. Also, when adding
soy to your diet, you can also reduce the amount of bad
cholesterol that is oxidized, which is what causes damage to the
artery walls.
It is very important to read labels on soy foods because soy
products without isoflavones will not give the cardiovascular
benefits proven in clinical studies. Scientists have recently
determined that the cholesterol-lowering effect depends on the
amount of isoflavones that are present. The higher the amount,
the more beneficial the effect will be. But keep in find that
isolated isoflavones will not have the same effect, as resent
research has shown that those isoflavones extracted from soy do
not have cholesterol-lowering effects. Although most scientific
studies have been on genistein, a study in progress at Wake
Forest University is looking into daidzein, which may have even
greater cardiovascular value. This new study explores the role
of genistein and daidzein, rather than just genistein.
Studies have shown that soy protein, when it is consumed at a
level of twenty-five grams and combined with diet and exercise,
significantly lowers bad cholesterol. It is the protein
component found in soy that contains isoflavones which are
thought to be responsible for this effect. By getting more
knowledgeable about soy and looking for the protein content of
soy foods, you can lower your overall fat and animal protein
intake along with lowering your bad cholesterol levels. Health
experts recommend adding two servings of soy-based foods to your
daily diet.
Since the FDA has recently finalized the Soy Protein Health
Claim, which states that soy protein is associated with reducing
coronary heart disease, any company producing food or food
substances under the FDA’s jurisdiction can make a legitimate
health claim that the product follows this rule. In order to
meet the stipulations, the food must contain 6.25 grams of soy
protein per serving, 3 grams or less of fat, 1 gram or less of
saturated fat, and 20 milligrams or less of cholesterol. The
food must also meet specific restrictions on the amount of
sodium included. The only exceptions to this rule include
products that consist or are derived from whole soybeans and
contain no fat in addition to what is naturally found in
soybeans.
About the Author: More information on genistein products can be
found at http://vitanetonline.com/ where you can browse a large
selection of genistein supplements for heart health.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=189467&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
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