Can You Improve Your Heart Health With Soy Protein?

February 27, 2019

Our heart is the busiest organ of the body, every second pumping millions of gallons of blood to every cell, ensuring a steady flow of oxygen, fuel, hormones and other vital compounds that are essential for our overall wellbeing. With the immense work-load that it endures for such a consistently long time, there are chances that it may suffer greatly, in case of instances of a poor diet, absence of exercise, substance abuse, other underlying conditions and sometimes even genes. So to ensure that the heart is in a happy healthy status, one must make healthy changes in the lifestyle which essentially involves - an eating plan that is based on natural whole foods and daily exercise that comprises of cardiovascular conditioning.



Research shows that foods rich in fatty acids and protein, especially the ones that are plant-based; are most likely to help reduce the risk of heart diseases due to their low saturated fat content and high fibre content. One of the most prominent plant-based protein that I know of, is Soy Protein. As per the Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score, soy protein is pegged to be a complete source of protein — rich in omega-3 fatty acids, rich in minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and selenium and low in saturated fat content.

As per the American Heart Association food containing soy protein help reduce the level of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol while help raise the level of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. Scientific history shows a low LDL and high HDL improves blood pressure and arterial health which in turn aids heart health. Additionally, soy protein is rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals that provides cardiovascular benefits, which is invaluable for heart health. 

Soy from both a culinary and a nutritional standpoint is critical to those consuming plant-based diets. Soybeans and food items made from it — soy milk, tofu, edamame, tempeh, etc have been important and continue to play an essential role in not only traditional food but also modern cuisine. A cup of soy-rich food provides approximately 15 grams of protein, which is twice the content found in other legumes and much higher compared to other plant protein. Many people are still very new to incorporating soy in their diets, so we chalked out a few ways of consuming soy that you could check in our article here and we also cooked up a range of delectable dishes that you could check in our article here to see how you can bring soy home. 

Even though the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that 25 grams of soy protein a day, may reduce the risk of heart disease and numerous research finding of soy and heart health by brands like DuPont are encouraging,  I believe that only soy in itself is not the answer. A healthy heart requires a more comprehensive approach which includes a balanced diet, exercise, and cessation of substances like smoking, alcohol and drugs. 

Until next time, 
~ Heena

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