September: Time to Try Cholesterol-Free Soyfoods

In a recent New York Times article on lowering cholesterol, Jane E. Brody wrote, “Americans tend to turn far too quickly to drugs to solve their health problems. Drugs should be the last resort, if there are reasonable measures people can take first to control a problem. And there are dozens of such measures that, individually or together, can help to lower LDLs.” The Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) reminds you that 25 grams of soy protein a day reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol about 3% - 6%. September is National Cholesterol Education Month and a great time to try cholesterol-free, heart-healthy soyfoods.

New research is consistent with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) soy protein heart disease 1999 health claim that states, “25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.” Cardiologist Cesare Sirtori, M.D., Ph.D. re-examined original research by Dr. James Anderson that helped form the FDA’s soy protein health claim and new research on soy protein and cholesterol. Sirtori’s research, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, grouped studies according to baseline levels of cholesterol and separately calculated the cholesterol-lowering effect of soy protein for each group. Sirtori found that Anderson’s original results, when examined by cholesterol level, almost perfectly predict results of later studies. This study also suggests that soy protein may have a ‘pharmacological effect’ on blood lipids. A Japanese National Institute of Health and Nutrition study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that people eating both soy protein with added isoflavones and soy protein alone experienced improved cholesterol levels.

Soyfoods have made a long-lasting impact on human health. City employees in Georgia enrolled in a nutrition education program that stressed soyfoods and a low-saturated fat diet. Participant’s cholesterol-levels dropped an average 18% from baseline levels starting at 240 mg/dl. Police, fire, parks and recreation, municipal management, and waste management city employees at high risk for cardiovascular disease received nutrition education that included information on the health benefits of soyfoods, suggestions on incorporating soyfoods into daily diets, and tips on cooking and grocery shopping for soyfoods. As a result the city saw increasing health care costs slow from 17% to 5%.

Soyfoods appear in a flavor and form to meet any preference. Adding three to four servings of soyfoods daily lowers LDL cholesterol. Learn more about the general healthiness of soyfoods at www.soyfoods.org.