Soya

What is Soya

Soya - as seen in the new M&S Super Soya range - is part of the legume family (peas and beans) and has been used by many Asian cultures for thousands of years. Soya is the only plant food considered to be a complete protein, i.e. one that provides all the essential amino acids our bodies need.

Soya beans are extremely versatile - they can blanched, baked or roasted whole, or used to make soya milk, tofu and soya bean oil. Consequently, soya products can be used in many different dishes.

Nutritional Benefits of Soya

Soya products are a great low fat source of protein, particularly for vegetarians or those cutting down on meat. Protein is one of our most important nutrients, used by our bodies in a wide variety of functions, most importantly for growth, repair and development. For more information about protein click here.

Soya beans are low in saturated fat, also known as 'bad' fats, and high in unsaturated 'good' fat providing some short chain omega 6 and omega 3 fats. For more information about these types of fat, please click here.

Soya beans also contain fibre, which is important for digestive health, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. They can even contribute to one of your recommended 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day!

Health Benefits of Soya

Heart Health

The strongest associated health benefits of soya are in relation to heart health. Cardiovascular disease is one of the biggest preventable causes of death in the UK. Changes to diet and lifestyle, such as reducing intake of saturated fat and taking more exercise, can considerably reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

One of the major risk factors of cardiovascular disease is raised cholesterol - particularly LDL or 'bad' cholesterol, which can build up over time in the arteries and obstruct blood flow to important organs. There are many scientific studies to support the findings that soya, as part of a low saturated-fat diet, can help to reduce total blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol levels. Current recommendations advise an intake of at least a 25g serving of soya protein a day can help to lower cholesterol.

For more information about heart health and how to lower your cholesterol, please click here.

The Menopause

It is estimated that up to 80% of menopausal women experience hot flushes at some point. This figure is much lower (18-20%) in many Asian countries where diets tend to contain more vegetable proteins such as soya beans. Research in this area is still quite new, however, many menopausal women are including more soya protein in their diets to try to help with their symptoms.

Bone Health

Studies have shown that populations with the highest soya intakes tend to have higher bone densities than those consuming much less soya. However, research in this area has not been conclusive and further investigations are needed.

For more information about bone health and diet please click here.