Soy can help you lose weight, University study shows
Home | Soy Research | Recipes | Newsletter | Soyfoods Descriptions | Nutrition Information

What Doctors Are Saying About Soy

Lose Weight with Revivial

Revival Soy

Indiana Soybean Board

Soybean.org


Soyfoods Descriptions

Risk-Free Trial -
Soy Bars & Shakes

Weight Loss Success with Soy

Soy Research Newsletter

Soyfoods Products/Companies

Soy Recipes At Our Site

Soy Nutrition Information

Soy Research

Soy Books

Soy Organizations

Soy Benefits: Weight Loss

Weight Loss
Supplement Weight Loss with Soy Products
Getting Into Shape For The Holiday

Fad Diets Are Out: Healthy Weight Loss is New Trend

Soy Benefits: Menopause

Soy & Menopause: Get Menopause Relief from Soy
Menopause, Perimenopause & Postmenopause

Soy Benefits: Popular

Soy & Thyroid
Energy & Workouts
"Smart-Carb” / Low-Glycemic Index of Soy
PMS/Menstrual Health
Cholesterol/Heart Disease
Bone Health
Hair, Skin & Nail Health

Soy Benefits: Also Popular


Other Links

Food Service Use

Soy Protein As A Food Ingredient

Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA)

www.Soy.com

Soy Isoflavones

For those interested in the full health benefits of soy isoflavones, newer naturally concentrated products are available with much better flavor than retail soy products. Because of a patented, natural concentration process, just 1 Revival Soy bar or shake contains the amount of isoflavones found in 6 cups of a typical soymilk. Learn more.

Isoflavone articles from The Soy Connection newsletter for registered dietitians, selected physicians and family and consumer science professionals...

Additional isoflavone information..

 

 

Back to top

Isoflavones: New Frontier In Nutrition

By Anne Patterson, R.D.

f you have read any health and nutrition columns in consumer magazines, newspapers or the internet, you are aware of the terms isoflavone, phytoestrogen and phytochemical. At times it may seem a little confusing. Besides, aren't the nutrients we've known about for years adequate for our health and well-being?

No one questions the importance of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals to our health; however, new frontiers in the field of nutrition will be explored as we learn more about specific phytochemicals such as isoflavones. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive, meaning they are neither vitamins nor minerals. There are many hundreds of these bioactive plant chemicals found in dietary sources of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices.

Isoflavones have received a great deal of research, especially for possible cancer and heart disease-preventive properties. To date, most of the research has been done in animals, cell culture and in vitro studies. Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen, compounds that have weak estrogenic activity. There are many types of phytoestrogens and not all are in edible plants. Isoflavones are found in chick peas and legumes. The legume, soy, has the most concentrated amount.

The following questions are commonly asked by consumers trying to learn more about isoflavones.

Q. Where are isoflavones found in the soybean?

A. The isoflavones seem to be concentrated in the soybean hypocotyl (the part of the seedling below the seed leaves) with low to moderate amounts in the cotyledon (first layer of leaves formed on seedling).

Q. Are there factors which make a difference in the amount and forms of isoflavones in the soybean?

A. Soybeans contain three types of isoflavones in four chemical structures. Exact chemical analysis done on a wide variety of soyfoods and ingredients has shown a great difference in amounts of the isoflavones as well as their chemical forms. The variety of soybean grown, growing conditions, location and crop year, can all make a difference in the amount of isoflavones in soybeans.

 

Q. What soyfoods have the greatest amount of isoflavones?

A. All the soyfoods in the following list are excellent sources of isoflavones, providing a range of 30 - 50 milligrams per serving.

  • Roasted soy nuts (1 ounce)
  • Soy flour (1/2 cup)
  • Soy grits (1/4 cup)
  • Textured soy protein (1/2 cup, cooked)
  • Yellow, green vegetable or black soybeans (1/2 cup, cooked)
  • Regular soymilk (1 cup)
  • Tempeh (1/2 cup)
  • Tofu (1/2 cup)

For those interested in the full health benefits of soy isoflavones, we recommend Revival Soy because just 1 bar or shake contains the amount of isoflavones found in 6 cups of a typical soymilk.

Q. Don't other soyfoods or soy ingredients contain isoflavones?

A. Yes, most do, just in significantly smaller quantities. For example, miso is a good source, but who eats a 1/2 cup of miso, since it is used as an ingredient? Soy hot dogs, soy burgers, soy cheeses, soy yogurts and soy isolate powder do contain isoflavones, but competition with other ingredients and processing all affect amounts of isoflavones. The best way to know is to call the consumer line on the package of food and ask them if they have analyzed for isoflavones. Soy oil doesn't contain isoflavones.

 

Q. Are isoflavones destroyed in the cooking process?

A. Isoflavones are fairly stable, so under normal home or institutional cooking methods they are not destroyed.

 


Reprinted with permission from The Soy Connection newsletter, Volume 6, No. 2, Spring 1998. More information about the newsletter can be obtained by writing to:

Editor, The Soy Connection
P.O. Box 237
Jefferson City, MO 65102

. . .

What Doctors Say About Soy


The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Soy is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your personal physician's advice. Discuss this information with your own physician or healthcare provider to determine what is right for you. Soy is not a substitute for prescription medication, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or any other medical treatment.

Copyright 1996-2006
Physicians Laboratories