Say ahoy to the benefits of soy!

Well-being

While the epidemic of cardiometabolic diseases is mounting globally, more people are waking up to the health benefits of incorporating plant-based foods into their diet. A relatively new term on the block, cardiometabolic health is the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, including Type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle changes and incorporating healthy eating can protect you from the perils of poor cardiometabolic health.

Say yes to plant-based protein

Not many people know this, but a vegetarian diet can be nutritionally adequate if your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy products, fibre, phytochemicals, and antioxidants is adequate. Eating plant-based proteins like soy can have a favourable impact on blood lipids. Soy protein has been shown to lower LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, raising heart-protective HDL-cholesterol and decreasing cardio metabolic disease risk.

Plant-based proteins are healthier

Plant-based proteins, as compared to animal-based sources of protein, have an effect on cardiometabolic disease. Eggs, dairy, meat and fish are a few examples of animal protein in your diet.

Soy protein is a better choice

Soy protein is a great alternative for meat. It is the only widely available plant protein that supplies all the essential amino acids in the proper ratios, making it a complete high-quality protein comparable in quality to milk, meat and eggs.

Soy protein and animal proteins help in weight loss and also help in lowering blood cholesterol .

(The author is regional head,
Max Super, Delhi)