It's Soy Good For You

Thursday, November 06, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. — People are putting soy milk on their cereal, in smoothies and coffee. But what are the health benefits of soy milk?

Research indicates that regularly including soy protein, such as that found in soy milk and other soy foods, as part of a heart-healthy diet can help reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary artery disease.

Soy milk contains more fiber and iron than does cow's milk, and it has no cholesterol. Cow's milk has from 5 to 24 milligrams of cholesterol in a cup. However, don't give up cow's milk totally. Unless it's fortified, soy milk contains little calcium or vitamin D.

The November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource recommends that you read the label carefully. Check the amount of soy protein. Health claims on the label recommend 25 grams of soy protein a day to help reduce the risk of heart disease. (One cup of soy milk generally contains 7 to 8 grams of soy protein.) To reach the heart-healthy recommendation of 25 grams, you might need to drink soy milk and include tofu, tempeh and soy nuts in your diet.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville
Erik Kaldor
904-953-2299

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale
Anne Tewksbury
480-301-4368

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

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