There are many protein shakes and snack foods on the market that are made of soy. These items are designed to be used as meal replacement items in a diet or weight loss program. These items have become increasingly popular due to their convenience, cost, and ease of use. Soy protein shakes come in a variety of flavors and different caloric values. However, they all are a very easy way to enjoy a low calorie, high protein food item to your diet! People that are on the go and do not have time to prepare nutritious meals are finding that these types of products fit really well into their lifestyles.
Soy is naturally a very good food source that is low in calories while high in protein and nutritional content. It is also a highly sought out choice for those who choose to live a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle to be able to satisfy the protein requirements that their body needs.
So how exactly does soy work to help people lose weight? There have been several clinical research studies done concerning the health benefits that eating soy promotes. They have found several interesting facts. One such study was done by the University of Iowa. They found in this study that soy protein is considered a low glycemic index food. This means that it assists in the regulation of blood sugar levels and due to this does not cause fluctuation in insulin levels. What this means for the average person is that they feel more satisfied and full after eating soy protein foods. Appetite is decreased for longer periods of time. This helps promote better weight management goals.
Another interesting fact that was discovered, is due to the fact that soy is very high in fiber, adding foods of this type to diet programs can help achieve weight loss more quickly. Soy contains high levels of Tyrosine which is responsible for increased brain activity and staying mentally alert. This is achieved without needing extra glucose or energy stores to do this.
Other clinical research studies have been done on lab animals. These revealed that soy protein assisted in stimulating the metabolism of these animals. Due to this factor, soy may well be considered important to a person’s weight loss program. Increases in metabolism can burn extra calories and fat stores more quickly and result in quicker weight loss.
Some other health benefits that were discovered during the clinical research studies included the fact that the isoflavins that soy is rich in may slow down the increases in fat stores and the loss of lean muscle mass and tissue in women who are going through menopause. Soy has been found to reduce hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause in women as well.
In Japan where the diets are high in soy proteins, they found that women are much less likely to suffer problems such as hot flashes during menopause than their United States counterparts. Another study showed that the numbers of women who ate diets that contained large amounts of soy protein dramatically decreased the number of them who had breast cancer.
Soy protein is a very good choice for people who want to lose weight or eat a healthy diet period. Its benefits, convenience, and ease of use have been well documented. New information is coming out every year as to the benefits that soy protein brings to a person’s diets. Therefore it is an excellent idea especially for people to add soy proteins to their daily diet whether they are trying to lose weight or not.
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