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of a smoother journey through the potentially distressing and uncomfortable roller coaster ride of hormonal changes experienced by many women.

Japanese women (particularly those living in Japan as generally they consume more soy foods than Japanese women living elsewhere) do not experience the amount or intensity of hot flushes or heart palpitations that Caucasian women do. This is thought to be because of the isoflavones in soy which act like very weak estrogens which have a balancing effect on human estrogens. It is thought that when women's estrogens levels are too high, the isoflavones in soy will lower them and when too low will act like estrogen to maintain a proper balance.

Regularly consuming soy isoflavones has also been shown to improve bone density, leading to a lowered incidence of osteoporosis and hip fracture in postmenopausal women.

As well as lowering blood pressure and harmful cholesterol levels, soy protein may help postmenopausal women stay lean as it creates less and smaller fat cells than does animal protein. This is due in particular to an isoflavone compound found in soy called: genistein.

Breast and Endometrial Cancers

Due to the weak estrogen present in Soy isoflavones, (1/1000th that of human estrogen) there has been some speculation that soy foods can increase the incidence of these cancers in women. However, this has only come into question because of the increased risk of breast cancer connected to conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in which the estrogens derived from animal sources are not only different to human estrogens, but far more potent!

In reality, there is conclusive evidence that women eating a typical Asian diet rich in whole soy foods, including miso, tofu, tempeh, soy beans, soy bean sprouts, and soy milk enjoy a significantly lowered incidence of both breast and endometrial cancers.

Special Benefits for Men Consuming Soy Protein

The most obvious benefit to regularly eating whole soy foods for men is the proven capacity it has to lowering blood pressure and harmful cholesterol levels resulting in a healthier cardiovascular system.

However, consuming whole soy foods also indisputably linked to a reduced incidence of prostrate cancer due to Genistein, the isoflavone found primarily in soy beans. Studies have shown that genistein not only prevents the propagation of cancer cells but it actually induces a self destruction sequence the body naturally uses to rid itself of abnormal cells.

It is obvious that the health benefits of regularly consuming whole soy protein are outstanding. However, when buying all Soy Foods, it is beneficial to be aware that Soy Bean's are a major world crop tainted by genetic engineering. Make sure your whole soy products are GE free.

Learn more about this author, Deborah English.
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