In a new study, researchers found that soy protein could help lower blood cholesterol levels in the body.
They suggest that soy protein may help protect heart health and prevent heart disease.
The research was led by a team from the St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to remove soy from its list of heart-healthy foods.
But it has been unclear if the proposed move aligns with existing scientific evidence.
In the current study, the team performed a meta-analysis of 43 published studies that evaluated the health effects of soy.
All of the 43 studies provided data about “total cholesterol,” which reflects the overall amount of cholesterol in the blood.
In addition, 41 studies examined the protein’s effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is often referred to as the “bad cholesterol” because a high amount of cholesterol can cause a build-up of cholesterol in arteries.
The researchers found that soy protein could reduce LDL cholesterol by 3-4% percent in adults.
Although the amount is small, it is important for heart health.
The researchers suggest that if people replace a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol-rich meats with a diet that includes soy protein, they can reduce more cholesterol.
The existing findings and their new analysis suggest that soy protein contributes to heart health.
They hope that this work is taken into account in the FDA’s current evaluation of soy protein as it pertains to heart health.
They also suggest that the public should continue to consider plant-based diets as a healthy option.
The lead author of the study is Dr. David Jenkins, the director of the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre.
The study is published in The Journal of Nutrition.
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