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Soy Protein Soy Protein
Amino Acid Complete!

"DID You Know"
Soy protein is the only plant based protein that is amino acid complete for sustaining human health and vigor!

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What is Soy Protein?

Soy BeansSoy protein is the only plant protein that is "complete" because it contains all 9 essential amino acids in the right balance for your body's needs. This makes soy a great substitute for meats high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Soybeans are rich in many naturally-occurring phytonutrients including isoflavones and saponins. In combination with soy protein, these phytonutrients are thought to play a critical role in the health benefits of consuming soy.

Isoflavones can be found in varying amounts in legumes, such as chick peas and lentil, but soybeans contain the highest natural concentration of isoflavones. Soy contains three types of isoflavones: Daidzein, Genistein and Glycitein. Each is found in different amounts in the soybean and each has different properties.

  • Daidzein: Thought to contribute more significantly to the promotion of menopause relief & bone health.
  • Genistein: Has been shown in laboratories to reduce the growth of cancer cells no matter if these were androgen-dependent or -independent cells.
  • Glycitein: Though not as studied as genistein and daidzein, two other soy isoflavones, glycitein presumably has some of the same anticancer effects. It may also have some of the benefits observed in the use of soy isoflavones, with respect to atherogenesis and problems associated with menopause, including "hot flashes" and osteoporosis.

Where does Soy Protein come from?

Textured soy protein is made from defatted soy flour that is compressed and processed into granules or chunks. It is sold in health-food stores as a dried, granular product, but most often shows up in veggie burgers, veggie sausage, veggie coldcuts and other vegetarian version of meat products.

Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?

Sense Soy Protein is not a necessity there are no deficiencies. Women tend to benefit most from soy protein but men will benefit as well. New research is being conducted in the field of male health and the use of soy protein and researchers are very optimistic that a lot of positive things will come of it.

How much should be taken? Are there side effects?

Practical implications. Emerging research indicates that soy protein intake has a significant favorable effect on serum lipid levels(cholesterol) and may reduce risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(Heart Disease).{1,3,8,11,15,16}. The role of soy protein as a protective factor versus breast and prostate cancer is under intense investigation.{10,15} Substituting soy protein for animal protein appears to have protective effects for the kidney, especially for individuals with diabetes.{2} The role of soy protein in reducing menopausal symptoms is also under investigation.{10} Finally isoflavone analogues appear to reduce risk for and have therapeutic value for persons at risk for osteoporosis.{3,10}. Based on this scientific evidence {3} we suggest these guidelines for soy protein intake.

For persons in good general health a suggestions is to have 7 servings of soy protein per week. (1) This would provide an average of approximately 8 to 10 grams of soy protein daily with 16-20 mg of soy isoflavones daily. This could be obtained from 8 oz. of soy beverage daily, or two soy muffins daily, or two servings of tofu four times weekly, or four soy burgers weekly, or 1 tablespoon (14 g.) of isolated soy protein stirred into beverage daily.

Recent Studies

The Japanese, who have low rates of breast and prostate cancer, consume daily 20-80 mg of genistein, a phytochemical almost entirely derived from soybeans. But in the United States, the daily dietary intake of genistein is only 1 to 5 mg.

When Japanese Women move to the United States and consume the standard American diet, their risk of breast cancer increases dramatically. Previously, doctors thought that this was because of the high fat content of the western diet, but new studies fail to show a significant link between dietary fat and breast cancer risk. Some researchers now think that the increase in breast cancer results from a diet that is deficient in soy isoflavones.

Genistein and other soy components provide anticancer protection by the following mechanisms: - Blocking the cell mutating actions of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other pollutants by preventing their binding to estrogen-testosterone cell receptor sites in the breast and prostate.

  • Inhibition of the activity of L-Tyrosine kinase, an enzyme required for most tumor cell proliferation.
  • Inhibition of new blood vessel growth required to feed tumors.
  • Inhibition of cancer cell protein synthesis.
  • Induction of cancer cells to differentiate into normal cells.

The following forms of cancer have been shown to respond favorably to soy adjuvant therapy:

  • Prostate cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Glioblastoma multiforme
  • Bladder cancer

Other Medical Benefits of Soy
According to published studies, the daily intake of sufficient soy isoflavones may:

  • Alleviate post-menopausal symptoms
  • Stimulate bone formation
  • Inhibit LDL cholesterol oxidation
  • Reduce total and LDL cholesterol levels
  • Inhibit the development or progression of atherosclerosis
  • Prevent gallstones
  • Reduce the risk of cancer at multiple sites
  • Protect kidney function

Bibliography

  1. Anderson JW, Johnstone BM, Cook-Newell ME. Meta-analysis of effects of soy protein intake on serum lipids in humans. N Engl J Med 1995; 333:276-282.
  2. Anderson JW, Blake JE, Turner J, Smith BM. Soy protein effects on renal function and proteinuria for individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; In press.
  3. Anderson JW, Breecher MM. Dr. Anderson's Antioxidant, Antiaging Health Program.
  4. (Chapter 7. The Joys of Soy). New York: Carroll & Graf. 1996.
  5. Anthony MS, Clarkson TB, Hughes CL, Morgan TM, Burke GL. Soybean isoflavones improve cardiovascular risk factors without affecting the reproductive system of peripubertal rhesus monkeys. J Nutr 1996;126:43-50.
  6. Dwyer J. Overview: Dietary approaches for reducing cardiovascular disease risks. J Nutr 1995; 125:656S-665S.
  7. Dwyer JT, Goldin RB, Saul N, Gaultieri L, Barakat S, Adkercreutz H. Tofu and soy drinks contain phytoestrogens. J Am Diet Assoc 1994; 94:739-743.
  8. Hutchins AM, Lampe JW, Martini MC, Campbell DR, Slavin JL. Vegetables, fruits, and legumes: Effect on urinary isoflavonoid phytoestrogen and lignan excretion. J Am Diet Assoc 1995; 95:769-774.
  9. Kanazawa T, Osanai T, Zhang XS, Uemura T, Yin XZ, Onedera K, et al. Protective effects of soy protein on the peroxidizability of lipoproteins in cerebral vascular diseases. J Nutr 1995; 125:639S-646S.
  10. Lovati MR, Manzoni C, Canavesi A, Sirtori M, Vaccarino V, Marchi M, et al. Soybean protein diet increases low density lipoprotein receptor activity in mononuclear cells from hypercholesterolemic patients. J Clin Invest 1987; 80:1498-1502.
  11. Messina M. Modern applications for an ancient bean: soybeans and the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. J Nutr 1995; 125:567S-569S.
  12. Raines EW, Ross R. Biology of atherosclerotic plaque formation: possible role of growth factors in lesion development and the potential impact of soy. J Nutr 1995; 125:624S-630S.
  13. Rose DP. Dietary fiber, phytoestrogens, and breast cancer. Nutrition 1992; 8:47-51.
  14. Sirtori C, Lovati M, Manzoni C, Monetti M, Pazzuccone F, Gatti E. Soy and cholesterol reduction:clinical experience. J Nutr 1995; 125:598S-605S.
  15. Wang H, Murphy PA. Isoflavone content in commercial soybean foods. J Agric Food Chem 1994; 42:1666-1673.
  16. Wei H, Bowen R, Cai Q, Barnes S, Wang Y. Antioxidant and antipromotional effects of the soybean isoflavone genistein. Proc Soc Exper Biol Med 1995; 208:124-130.
  17. Wilcox JN, Blumenthal BF. Thrombotic mechanisms in atherosclerosis: potential impact of soy proteins. J Nutr 1995; 125:631S-638S
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