FDA Health Claim Approval.
As of October 26th, 1999, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows certain food products containing soy protein and marketed in that country, to carry a label promoting the heart benefits of soy ²⁵. Foods containing at least 6,25g of soy protein per serving, a quarter of the effective amount of 25g a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol are permitted to include information on soy’s role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD)²⁵. Various soy products have since then been launched in the USA carrying the FDA-approved generic heart-health claim.

 

Phytochemicals and soy isoflavones

Phytochemicals – biologically active, naturally occurring plant substances – include a subclass of non-steroidal oestrogens called phyto-oestrogens. The major classes of phyto-oestrogens, of current interest from a nutritional and health perspective, are lignans and isoflavones. Soybeans contain significant amounts of the isoflavones daidzein and genistein.

 

Cancer

Common cancers are strongly associated with environmental factors including diet. For example, high fat intake is associated with increased risk of colon, breast and womb cancer²².

Isoflavones and other compounds in soybeans may act as anti-carcinogens and therefore it has been suggested that the consumption of soyfoods may be associated with reduced rates of certain types of cancer.

 

Menopausal symptoms

Questions remain around the risk/ benefit ratio of traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the possible increase in the risk of breast cancer. During menopause the oestrogen levels fall, resulting in hot flushes as the most common symptom. It has been found that Asian women, whose soy intake is high, experience these symptoms less often than Western women. This could be due to the phyto-oestrogen content of soy.

 

Bone health

Osteoporosis is a condition of low bone density which may be due to the loss of calcium from bone tissue via the urine. Soy protein may help preserve the structure of bones as replacing animal protein with vegetable protein may reduce the level of urinary calcium excretion and therefore reduce the risk of the development of osteoporosis. Also, soy phyto-oestrogen may increase bone strength.

 

Diabetes

Soybeans may be useful in diabetes control. The complex carbohydrates found in soy are slowly digested and produce low glycaemic and insulin responses. This means that the glucose is released gradually into the blood, assisting in keeping the blood sugar level within normal range.

 

Infant health

The nutrient composition of soy-based infant formulas (SBF) is similar to that of cow’s milk formulas and has been fed to babies with cow’s milk allergy for many years. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that SBF may be harmful to infants.

 

Ways to incorporate soy protein in the diet

The amount of soy protein in the diet can be increased as follows (See Table 1 for soy protein sources):

• Seek out the word ‘soy’ in the ingredients listed on the packaging of retail products. Soy is used in a wide variety of dairy-like products including frozen dessert, cultured products like ‘yoghurt’ and a range of cheese-like spreads and dips (so-called New-Generation Soyfoods, which are traditional soyfoods modified to suit Western tastes. These also include soy burgers).
• Create delicious shakes with soy protein powder and fruit or stir isolated soy protein powder into a cup of hot cocoa.
• Use soymilk or unflavoured isolated soy protein beverages with breakfast cereals, coffee and to make cream sauces that are cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat.
• Use tofu (soybean curd) in stir-fries, soups, casseroles, salads, dips and salad dressings.
• Top breakfast cereals with isolated soy protein powder as an easy way of getting a serving of soy every day.
• Substitute soy flour for some of the wheat flour in muffin or pancake recipes. As a general rule, for each cup of wheat flour in the recipe, use a quarter of a cup of soy flour and three-quarters of a cup of wheat flour.
• Grill soy burgers or tofu hot dogs and serve them on buns with fat-free additions, such as mustard, tomato sauce and relish.

 

Composition of the soybean

		The soybean is an excellent source of good quality protein and compares well with other protein foods. It is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and contains no cholesterol. The seed coat makes up about 8% of the bean’s total weight. The raw, dehulled bean contains approximately 38% protein, a further 15% soluble carbohydrate, another 15% insoluble carbohydrate, 18% oil and 14% moisture and ash. Lecithin constitutes about 3% of the oil or 0,5% of the dehulled soybean weight. The protein content of the soybean is one of the highest among all legumes. See 'Profile on Soy' section for more details.
Charles Worral, Central Soya Company, Inc. Ft Wayne, Indiana, USA

 

How to get 25g soy protein in a day *