Soya Foods

Soya comes in many forms, the soya beans themselves and the products made from them, i.e. soya flour, tofu,miso,tempeh,soya milk, soya cheese, margarine, oil and soy sauces.

Soya is an excellent source of  protein. It contains as much as meat but its advantage is that it does not contain any saturated fat or cholesterol.

Protein is broken down by the body into amino acids which are necessary for the body to grow, maintain and develop  healthy cells.

Of the 22 amino acids, our body produces only 14.The remaining 8 must come from the food that we eat. soya protein apparently contains all eight of these essential; amino acids.

Vegetarians and Asian populations who have a higher intake of soya produce have a much lower incidence of chronic disease.

Soya contains isoflavones, also known as phytoestrogens, which are a family of molecules made by the soya plant which mimic human oestrogen; although their activity is much lower than the human form.  They are said to lower the oestrogen levels of women whose oestrogen levels are abnormally high.

Women with high fat diets have higher levels of oestrogens which seems to increase their risk of breast cancer.  

In Japan where they eat far more soya products than in the west,  women have one of the lowest incidences of breast cancer in the world and Japanese men also have a lower incidence of prostate cancer than Western men.

There is growing evidence isoflavones may reduce the risk of many cancers especially those which are hormone dependent such as breast and prostate cancers.

Isoflavones can be used to balance the oestrogen that menopausal women are losing and are said to reduce hot flushes and night sweats. In the Far East  women, who have a high consumption of soya products , do not understand the meaning of our expression 'hot flush' and hardly any women are prescribed H.R.T compared to a third in the West.

Soya beans are a good source of calcium which is important for osteoporosis prevention.  

Japanese women eat soya regularly and have half the rate of hip fractures that British women have.

The phytoestrogens in soya are powerful antioxidants which protect the heart.

N.B. Some soya products are G.M. modified, check the packaging carefully.     

Home  |  About this site  |  Helpful hints  |  Store cupboard  |  Menu plan week 1  
Menu plan week 2  |  Quick & easy meals  |  Recipes  |  Nutrition  |  Contact us  
  Links