How healthy is soy? - AmericaNowNews.com

How healthy is soy?

Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see soy products on our supermarket shelves -- everything from soy milk to soy nut butter to soy cheese.

Soybeans have become a wide spread alternative to meat, dairy, and egg proteins. The FDA says 25 grams of soy protein a day may decrease your risk of heart disease. So should you be adding soy to your diet, and what exactly is soy?

Cleveland Clinic Registered Dietitian Tara Harwood says, "Soy is a plant-based protein and it includes all of the essential amino acids. It's very high in calcium, zinc, and magnesium."

Because of its high calcium content, many soy products benefit our bones. And soybeans contain antioxidants that can help prevent chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes.

It may also help alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women. Some popular soy products include miso, a seasoning, and tofu and tempeh, both used as meat alternatives.

Harwood says it's easier to work soy into your diet than you might think.

"In the morning, try replacing your cow milk with soy milk or for lunch, add a soy yogurt," says Harwood. "And with your snacks, you can try having edamame as a snack or maybe some soy cheese, or for dinner, including soy protein in the form of tofu."

Tofu is relatively easy to prepare. You can try sauteing it in a pan with some olive oil, veggies, and spices. You can use soy to replace any kind of protein to enrich all your favorite recipes.

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