2008 Woodie Awards
With so many soy products, healthy eating means moderation
Jeanette DiRubba, Reporter
Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: Features
Senior Amanda Russ said soy products intrigue her not only because they are "different and healthy," but also soy's growing profile. Russ has been affected by the soy campaign.
On the flip side, Zara Rowlands, associate professor of food and nutrition at Youngstown State University, said that although soy is healthy, Americans might consume too much soy because of the commercials promoting the versatile bean.
"We as Americans tend to overindulge in certain products because we believe it's healthy for us. Consuming too much of anything isn't healthy," Rowlands said.
Soy may promote heart health because the protein has the ability to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease if 25 grams of soy protein are consumed per day, according to the American Dietetic Association.
Still, Rowlands said proper soy intake to maintain health should be about two or three times a week at most. Also, switching an entire diet to only soy products "runs the danger of having too much," she said.
Chrystyna Zellers, the registered dietician in the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center, said that soy health is controversial. Although it is a lean source of plant protein found without saturated fat, which is healthy and can prevent certain types of heart disease, cancer survivors should eat soy in moderation or not at all.
Cancer survivors, specifically women who have had breast cancer, need to be cautious of soy because of its plant estrogen, which could stimulate cancer cells, according to the American Dietetic Association.
Rowlands also said that people with a thyroid disease or those with a family history of the disease should abstain from eating soy products.
"Substances in soy can depress the thyroid function, which controls metabolism, and can cause rapid weight gain," Rowlands said.
Many foods contain soy, but Zellers said it's best to have natural soy.
"The more natural you go with soy, the better. Just because it's a soy product or has soy in it, doesn't mean it's not high in calories," Zellers said of the soy protein bars and other products claiming to contain soy.
On the flip side, Zara Rowlands, associate professor of food and nutrition at Youngstown State University, said that although soy is healthy, Americans might consume too much soy because of the commercials promoting the versatile bean.
"We as Americans tend to overindulge in certain products because we believe it's healthy for us. Consuming too much of anything isn't healthy," Rowlands said.
Soy may promote heart health because the protein has the ability to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease if 25 grams of soy protein are consumed per day, according to the American Dietetic Association.
Still, Rowlands said proper soy intake to maintain health should be about two or three times a week at most. Also, switching an entire diet to only soy products "runs the danger of having too much," she said.
Chrystyna Zellers, the registered dietician in the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center, said that soy health is controversial. Although it is a lean source of plant protein found without saturated fat, which is healthy and can prevent certain types of heart disease, cancer survivors should eat soy in moderation or not at all.
Cancer survivors, specifically women who have had breast cancer, need to be cautious of soy because of its plant estrogen, which could stimulate cancer cells, according to the American Dietetic Association.
Rowlands also said that people with a thyroid disease or those with a family history of the disease should abstain from eating soy products.
"Substances in soy can depress the thyroid function, which controls metabolism, and can cause rapid weight gain," Rowlands said.
Many foods contain soy, but Zellers said it's best to have natural soy.
"The more natural you go with soy, the better. Just because it's a soy product or has soy in it, doesn't mean it's not high in calories," Zellers said of the soy protein bars and other products claiming to contain soy.
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