|
 Soy
An
Excellent Source of Protein
Protein Power
Soy is made up of 36-56% protein,
and is one of the most abundant sources of plant protein. Adequate protein
intake is very important when on a low-calorie diet, to prevent muscle loss.
Muscle burns more calories than fat does. The more muscle you have in
relation to fat, the higher your metabolic rate. When on a low-calorie diet,
not eating enough to build or maintain muscles will result in less muscle
available to continue to burn calories.
Soy protein stands out among all
plant proteins for its benefits to human health. The highly nutritious soy
has twice as much protein as meat, four times that of chicken eggs, and 12
times that of cow's milk.
Weight Loss Wonder
Polypeptides and other components
of soy also help in weight loss in other ways. Scientists think that an
active tetrapeptide in soy helps speed up the fat decomposition process.
Experimental studies have shown that soy may aid weight loss by boosting
metabolism. At the same time, soy peptides may interact with receptors in
the brain to signal to the body and produce a feeling of satiety, while
delaying emptying of the stomach.
Scientist compared the effects of
consuming soy to casein in a low-calorie diet. Casein is a protein found in
milk and cheese. Eating soy not only decrease weight, but also lowered more
cholesterol and triacylglycerol, the main components of fat.
No Sugar High
For those on low-sugar diets, it
is helpful to look out for a food's glycemic index, which indicates its
blood glucose response 2 hours after it is eaten, on a scale of 0 to 100.
The glycemic index of soy bean is 10-19, which is very low. It will cause
only small fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels, making it a
good choice for low-sugar nutrition for a weight loss regimen.
Bounty in a Bean
Soy has a high concentration of
isoflavones, which help lower cholesterol levels and the risk of heart
disease. They can also help prevent osteoporosis. Soy also contains calcium,
folic acid, fiber, vitamins, phytochemicals, and all nine essential amino
acids necessary for building and maintaining tissues. Low in fat,
cholesterol free and high in fiber, soy is the ideal source of protein from
plants. |
