Importantly, isolated soy proteins are used to emulsify fat and bind water, which keeps many products’ moistness without affecting other ingredients. Soy lecithin is often used in chocolate, margarine and cheeses to keep their ingredients from separating and clumping.
One inquiry we ran across in our research was “What foods are high in soy?”.
Some additional soy tips: Toss firm or extra firm tofu into your favorite stir-fry. Try soy yogurt or soy puddings for a healthy snack. Mix together ice cubes, soy milk and fresh fruit for a tasty smoothie treat. Make a healthy trail mix with roasted soybeans (soy “nuts”) and dried fruit. Spread some soy nut butter on whole grain toast instead of peanut butter, and more items.
Why soy is not a health food?
While many problems exist from such a high intake of soy, there are eight main reasons why soy is not a health food . Soy is not heart healthy An influential meta-analysis in 1995 of 38 controlled clinical trials showed that eating approximately 50 grams of soy protein a day in place of animal protein reduced LDL cholesterol by almost 13 percent.
What are the dangers of soy?
Soy Protein Isolates, which are shown to enlarge the pancreas and thyroid and increase fatty acid deposits in the liver. Soy contains toxic isoflavones. Soy foods have a high concentration of goitrogens which block production of thyroid hormones. For a full comprehensive piece on the dangers of soy check out this article by Sally Fallon & Mary.
There is evidence that soy lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol slightly, and soy’s fiber and antioxidants are heart-healthy. Consider a soy-based meal once a week in place of meat, but use caution with meat alternatives such as soy crumbles, burgers, or sausage, as these often have a lot of added salt.