2. Soy is equivalent in protein quality to meat, milk or eggs. In fact, soy protein contains enough of all the essential
amino acids to meet a person's nutritional needs when consumed at recommended levels. That is why soy is considered a complete protein.
3. Soy is an excellent source of fiber: One cup of boiled
soy beans provides six grams of dietary fiber, including both soluble and insoluble fiber.
4.
Soy beans are rich in isoflavones, which along with soy protein, have been shown in
clinical trials to reduce serum cholesterol and promote heart health. The
FDA in 1999 gave soy its stamp of approval to the claim that "25 grams of soy protein per day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of
heart disease."
6. Research studies have shown that soy like other protein-based diets are beneficial for effective
weight loss and help combat problems stemming from being overweight, such as diabetes and
high-cholesterol. Studies also indicate that soy protein helps increase
lean muscle mass developments and muscle strength.
7. The soybean is both good for the body and for the planet. About 25 times more protein is produced by an acre of land devoted to a soy bean crop than to beef production - a notable figure given the critical need to find efficient use of land and water globally.
8. Today those nations where people consume large amounts of soy in their diet, report much lower incidence of many of the chronic diseases that are targets of public health policy in the US.
9. Feed the hungry: The soy bean is an inexpensive, high-quality complete protein, which could be useful in feeding underprivileged people around the world and undernourished children in America.
10. Soy is big business. The U.S. is the world's largest soy bean producer and exports a large percentage. Soy foods are fast becoming mainstream: in the year 2000 over 2,000 soy-based products were on the market and the number is growing by 10% each year. Soy food sales have doubled from $1.5 billion in 1997 to $3.2 billion in 2001.
