Weight Loss Spotlight

Soy Protein

Depending on the source from where a protein is derived, the protein has a different structure and combination of amino acids in its chemical make up. A protein like a whey protein, derived from an animal source, contains the essential amino acids and is called a complete protein.

There are different opinions on whether a soy protein should be considered a complete protein or not. Soy protein has a lot of other health benefits though besides providing a good protein value in your diet. Soy bean products and especially soy protein has been proven to lower cholesterol levels, help in the fight against osteoporosis and heart diseases.

Women in particular benefit from mixing soy protein and other soy bean products into their diets while going through menopause. The soy protein has shown to contain a compound called isoflavones. There are two different isoflavones in soy, genistein and daidzein. These two isoflavones are converted with the help of bacteria in our digestive tract when we eat soy protein into phytoestrogens that are very similar to our bodies own estrogen.

Isoflavones are found in plants and are weaker then our body's compounds but can sometimes mimic the makeup of them. During menopause when the bodies own estrogen levels are lower our hormonal system is open to absorb a replacement of similar looking compounds like the phyotestrogens, which helps to eliminate the symptoms of menopause for some women like night sweats, hot flashes and osteoporosis. Soy (in whole food or soy protein powder form) as an antioxidant also helps fighting breast cancer and other immune system diseases.

Soy Protein Advice & Info Continued