Soy contains a number of healthy nutrients for your body, from omega-3 fatty acids to high-quality protein. Most of soy's benefits can be contributed to its isoflavones, plant compounds that have similar properties to the hormone estrogen. Increasing your intake of soy products, such as tofu, soy protein powder, soybeans and soy milk, might help lower your high cholesterol levels.
Hypercholesterolemia
When you have high cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, you increase your risk of developing plaque inside artery walls. Over time, plaque leads to narrowing of arteries, disrupting blood flow to the heart and causing heart disease. Risk factors for high cholesterol include smoking, obesity, family history and lack of exercise. High cholesterol is defined as 240 mg/dL and above, according to MayoClinic.com.
Soy Isoflavones
Another risk factor for high cholesterol is poor diet, particularly one loaded with saturated fat. Replacing soy protein with animal products in your diet might have a positive effect on your cholesterol levels. Scientists from the National Public Health Institute in Finland observed that hypercholesterolaemia patients consuming Abacor, a product containing soy protein with isoflavones, twice daily for six weeks experienced significant decreases in cholesterol compared with those ingesting a placebo. The findings were reported in the April 2002 issue of the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
Review of Literature
Scientists from the Chinese University of Hong Kong performed a review of the scientific studies regarding the effects of soy protein containing isoflavones on cholesterol levels. They concluded that soy protein with isoflavones were associated with a significant decrease in cholesterol levels. Researchers reported their findings in the February 2005 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
Side Effects
If you are allergic to soy, you should avoid its use. In addition, soy consumption might also lower iodine levels in your body, which can disrupt normal thyroid function, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consult your health care provider before consuming soy products.
References
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol; June 2011
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Soy in Hypercholesterolaemia: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial; P. Puska et al.; April 2002
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Soy protein Containing Isoflavones on the Lipid Profile; S. Zhan and S.C. Ho; February 2005
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Soy; 2011
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