SOYBEANS
The humble soybean came from China, apparently arriving in the US in the late 1700's, championed by Benjamin Franklin. Henry Ford was the first to use soybeans on a large scale commercial use - including for the finish on his Model T's.
In 1999, the FDA approved the labeling of food products containing soy protein as beneficial for heart health. "Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Today, scientific research worldwide shows that there are many beneficial elements in soy foods. Two components are particularly notable. One is protein; the other is a group of phytoestrogens called "isoflavinones", including genistein and daidzein. Soy proteins have benefits for both men and women. For example, nutritionists suggest that 55-100 mg of isoflavones daily can help maintain a healthy prostate, among other benefits.
Soy foods have been found to help:
- alleviate hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal women
- lower LDL cholesterol and stabilize HDL cholesterol
- increase bone mineral density
- stimulate the immune system.