"To err is human; to forgive, divine."Alexander Pope
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Citizens of Japan, China and Indonesia have understood the benefits of soy products for years but it is only recently that Western societies have begun to implement soy products as a regular part of their diet. Many Americans are turning to soy products believing that soy beans are a magical product that can lead to healthier life. This interest in health also transcends to using soy wax to create soy candles and other consumer goods. The benefits of soy products are undeniable and include helping to prevent breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer, helping to prevent heart disease, increasing protein intake in diets that are lacking protein and helping to prevent osteoporosis. The key to gaining these benefits through the use of soy products is to use these products in moderation and as nutritional supplements to a diet that is balanced with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy products. While the benefits of soy products are astounding, it is imperative that you not overuse soy products by consuming large amounts of soy protein supplements because too much soy can be unhealthy. Careful inspection of Eastern diets will show that although soy products are an important part of the diet, they are only used sparingly in combination with a healthy, balanced diet.
The Unhealthy Results of Overuse of Soy Products
An increase in soymilk, tofu, tempeh, and other products created from soy beans has been on the rise due to medical claims that tout the benefits of soy proteins. Although there are significant benefits to the moderate usage of soy, overuse of soy products can be detrimental to your health. Soy beans contain powerful enzyme inhibitors that can block the action of trypsin and other enzymes that are necessary for the digestion of protein. Failure to digest protein adequately can contribute to gastric distress, deficiencies in the uptake of amino acids and even cancer of the pancreas. Overuse of soy products can also result in mineral deficiencies. Deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc can result from the overuse of soy products due to the existence of phytic acid in the soy beans. Phytic acid is known to be a substance that can block the reuptake of the aforementioned minerals resulting in deficiencies in these minerals even when they are consumed in adequate amounts because the phytic acid in the soybeans prevents the body from absorbing these essential minerals. Additionally, overuse of soy products by children can result in stunted growth. Soy beans contain some of the highest levels of phyate and as previously mentioned these phyate levels can result in mineral deficiencies that are necessary for growth. For this reason overuse of these products can inhibit growth in children but these deficiencies can be reduced by combining moderate amounts of soy in conjunction with fish and meat which will help to reduce the mineral blocking capabilities of phyate.
Health Benefits of Moderate Use of Soy Products
Although the overuse of soy products can be a health hazard, integrating small amounts of products derived from soy beans such as tofu, tempeh, soy milk and even soy protein supplements to a balanced diet could be advantageous to your health. The health benefits of moderate usage of soy products include disease prevention and increased protein consumption. The risk of some cancers, heart disease and osteoporosis decrease with the moderate use of soy products as nutritional supplements to healthy, balanced diets. Soy products have preventative effects on cancers such as breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. Anecdotal proof of the preventative powers of soy products against these cancers is shown in the relatively low occurrence of these types of cancer in countries that traditionally utilize soy products as a regular part of their diet. Additionally, scientific proof has demonstrated that the isoflavones present in soy beans can inhibit the growth of pre-existing cancerous tumor cells. While soy products have not been proven to prevent the growth of such cells, there abilities to hinder the growth of these cell has a significant effect on reducing the risk of cancer. The isoflavones in soy products are also linked to a decreased risk of heart disease. The isoflavones have been known to help to lower cholesterol levels as well as blood pressure and may also help to prevent the accumulation of plaque in the arteries. Osteoporosis is another disease that may occur less frequently in those who include moderate use of products derived from soy beans in their diet. Tempeh and tofu especially are useful in this capacity as each serving contains 15%-20% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of calcium for adults. Coupling moderate use of soy protein with regular exercise can greatly reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, soy products are a healthy way to increase protein in a diet that is lacking in protein. Tempeh, tofu and soy beverages such as soy milk are some examples of high protein soy products that are also low and fat and can be used to supplement a balanced diet. The one caveat to using soy products as a source of protein is that they should be viewed as only a small part of a balanced diet because they lack the amino acid balance that is necessary for building muscle. For these reason, they should be used in conjunction with protein from meat sources that will help to maintain this balance.
Soy Products Used for Purposes Other Than Consumption
A focus on healthier living and better use of environmental resources has led some people to begin using soy products for purposes other than consumption and nutritional value. One popular use of soy products is using soy wax to create soy candles. Although the majority of candles produced are made from paraffin wax, there has been a recent trend to begin creating candles out of soy wax. These soy candles are favored by many who are environment or health conscious. Soy candles are non-carcinogenic, non-toxic, created from soybeans which are a natural product, are renewable resources and also burn cleaner than traditional candles. These reasons make soy candles one of the many soy products that appeal to those who wish to live a healthier lifestyle with minimal impact to the environment. The downside of soy candles is that they are much more expensive to produce and therefore much more expensive for consumer purchase.
A Conclusion on Soy Products
There is a place for soy products in modern societies. Moderate use of soy products can have many health benefits including reduced risk of certain cancers, heart disease and osteoporosis. Soy products can also be an excellent source of protein and calcium when used as part of a balanced diet. The negatives associated with soy products is that when overused, they could cause health problems including stunted growth in children and mineral deficiencies. Also, soy products are not only nutritional sources but they can also be used for consumer goods such as the creation of candles.
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