The Benefits of Soy
John Liberati
Axia College of University of Phoenix
During the summer of 2006 I started to notice myself having less energy. I had put on a few pounds and noticed a little “spare tire” around my waist. Since I had not been to the doctor’s office for some time, I scheduled an appointment. My doctor informed me that I had high cholesterol and was overweight. The doctor also informed me that I’m in a high risk category for heart disease and, since I also smoke, cancer. Cancer is a disease that has been linked to my family for years. My mother has battled cervical and skin cancers, so it is a disease I couldn’t take lightly. I realized I needed to change a lot of things fast but didn’t quite know how to do it. I have a friend, who is Vegan, tell me about soy protein and soy based products. I didn’t believe that substituting soy protein for animal protein in my diet would benefit me that much, so I decided to do some research on my own. At the Third International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing Chronic Disease, held in late 1999, researchers presented data linking soy consumption to a reduced risk of several diseases. Disorders as diverse as osteoporosis and certain forms of cancer are under investigation. Although studies are still being conducted, results show that eating soy lowers the risk of heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and promotes weight loss.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In 2002, 696,947 people died of heart disease (51% of them women). This was 29% of all deaths in the United States (Heart Disease Facts and Statistics, 2007). It is also the most expensive, with the total cost in excess of $120 billion. This is a staggering number considering all types of death: murder, natural causes, cancer. The six risk factors of heart disease include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, a current smoker, physical inactivity, and obesity. In...