Home » Soy and Health » Soy for Heart Disease » 10 Ways to Lower Cholesterol

10 Ways to Lower Cholesterol

Adding soyfoods to your lifestyle can help lower your cholesterol and improve your heart health.  Any changes you make to lower your cholesterol can go a long way in reducing your risk of heart disease.  Here are the top 10 ways to lower cholesterol with soy.  

1.  Ask your doctor if soyfoods can improve your heart health.  See your doctor for a physical and have your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels checked.  Ask how to lower cholesterol with a low cholesterol, low saturated fat diet that includes soyfoods  

2.  Make soyfoods part of your healthy heart diet.  Soyfoods are naturally cholesterol-free and very low in saturated fat.  When they replace animal proteins, soyfoods have proven to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.  

3.  Know the sources of cholesterol.  Cholesterol comes from your body and food. Your liver and other cells in your body make about 75 percent of blood cholesterol to maintain a certain level in the body at all times. Foods provide the other 25 percent. Soyfoods are from plants that do not contain cholesterol as do animal foods, such as meat and dairy.  

4.  Lower high blood cholesterol levels.  According to the American Heart Association, when too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, a heart attack or stroke can result.  

5. Raise your HDL cholesterol. Some experts believe that HDL (good) cholesterol removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup.  Research has shown that soyfoods lower LDL cholesterol and may increase HDL cholesterol.     

6.  Calculate your BMI to determine if you are at a healthy weight.  Body Mass Index is an indicator of your risk for heart disease. Individuals below 25 are at a lower risk for developing chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.  Use ourBMI calculator and learn how soyfoods can help you lose weight!  

7.  Count how many grams of soy protein you eat in one day.  The FDA recommends eating 25 grams of soy protein a day as part of a diet low in fat to help reduce your risk of heart disease. Use the Soyfoods Protein Content Chart to help you reach 25 grams.   

8.  Look for soy on the ingredient list of foods.  In the supermarket, soyfoods appear in the freezer section, produce section, dairy section, and more.  Pick out a soyfood you have never tried before!  Or find a favorite soymilk, dairy free frozen dessert, soy burger, edamame, soy energy bar, or soy nut butter.  Soyfoods in the Supermarket can help you find soyfoods in your local store.   

9.  Begin now a low cholesterol diet by selecting and preparing soyfoods.  Cooking with Soyfoods provides tips to help every cook make a delicious soy dish.  Discover a new Soy Recipe today!  Read the Soy Fact Sheets for more information on how to purchase, store and cook soyfoods.  

10.  Eat heart healthy away from home.  Ask for soyfoods at your favorite restaurants. See what soy options you can enjoy while out and about.

News and Consumer Info

Sales and Product Info

Soy and Health

Locating Soy Products