Soy At Every Stage of Life
Soy foods deliver health benefits regardless of age. The essential nutrients in soy foods boost growth and development and provide a tasty way to help maintain a healthy weight and promote heart health. For those young at heart, soy foods offer a natural way to help your body and skin stay vibrant!
Soy in Childhood
Recent studies have indicated that eating soy at an early age may help protect against some diseases later in life. For example, studies show that soy consumed during adolescence may help protect against breast cancer in adulthood. Soy foods can help with constipation, healthy weight, and maintain athletic performance.
Great tasting soy foods provide essential iron, calcium, potassium, and high-quality complete protein for growing kids and adolescents. A wide variety of soy products can help parents easily incorporate soy foods into their child’s daily routine. For ideas on how to incorporate soy into your family’s favorite recipes and get your kid to try soy foods, visit the Soy and Children section on www.soyfoods.org.
20 to 40 Something and Love’n Soy
For young adults, studies indicate that soy foods may improve cognitive function, or mental ability. Soy foods can replace other foods in your diet that may be higher in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories, making them smart choices for healthy weight loss programs and for an overall healthy lifestyle.
Explore the cosmopolitan delights of an edemame appetizer at your next sushi outing, or spice up your dinner routine with tofu and miso soup. Terrific as a low-fat, low-calorie alternative to dairy, you can substitute soymilk (soy milk) and tofu for dairy in any recipe you want. Pour soymilk (soy milk) on cereal, scoop soy yogurt on fruit, top whole wheat bread with soy cheese, or enjoy a soy dairy free frozen dessert. Best of all, soy foods are reasonably priced, so you can gain health benefits and high value. To make soy foods part of your everyday routine, visit 25 Ways to Enjoy Soy Foods.
Mid-Life, Mid-Soy
Soy foods are packed with health benefits for adults middle-aged in years, and young at heart. At a time when nutrition is essential to your body’s health, soy foods are a nutritious option that is low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol. Soy foods are also chock-full of essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, dietary fiber, and essential amino acids. These nutrients are important regardless of your age; however, studies suggest that during mid-life, soy foods may make important contributions to your health in later years.
The FDA has states that incorporating 25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce (bad) LDL cholesterol and boost (good) HDL cholesterol as well as lower saturated fat, cholesterol, and calorie intake. Besides protecting against heart disease, soy foods can help you maintain a healthy weight, which can help protect against heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
In addition to lowering the risk of heart disease, some studies have shown that soy may help alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause; however, more research is needed to confirm these benefits. Some studies have begun to show soy foods help improve the natural thinning, wrinkling and decreased elasticity of skin, hair, and nails. Improve mid-life and vitality by including soy foods in your healthy lifestyle.
Living Life to its Fullest With Soy
Late in life, soy foods sustain your health. Studies show that soy foods may help prevent bone loss in post-menopausal women. The heart-healthy qualities of soy protein help decrease your risk of heart disease. By lowering (bad) LDL cholesterol and increasing your (good) HDL cholesterol, soy foods may also help control blood pressure and improve blood sugars. Many soy foods contain high dietary fiber to regulate digestive action and high quality protein to maintain muscle.
Starting with soy foods when you are young ensures you can enjoy the health and nutritional benefits of soy foods at every stage of life. At any age, Gain Health, Lose Weight, and Eat Soy!
