Enjoy Soy at Every Age

MANKATO, MN (04/08/2009)(readMedia)-- From toddlers to teens and beyond - it's important to remember that soyfoods provide health benefits at every age.

"Studies indicate that consuming soy during childhood can help prevent diseases later in life," explains Sue Meyer, Chair of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council's Consumer Education Committee. "Soyfoods rich in essential iron, calcium, potassium and protein also help children maintain energy and sustain a healthy weight."

Young adults can improve their cognitive function simply by adding soy to their diets. Soy also offers healthy alternatives to high fat, high calorie meals during the day and adds exotic elements to events at night.

"Vanilla soymilk is the perfect compliment to breakfast," Meyer says. "And by sprinkling edamame or soy nuts on a salad, or by adding a bowl of miso soup to the menu, any dining experience is sure to be enhanced."

As mid-life approaches, the soybean council recommends adding soyfoods because of the essential nutrients they provide, such as calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, fiber and amino acids. According to the Food and Drug Administration, incorporating just 25 grams of soy protein into your daily diet can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, boost HDL (good) cholesterol, alleviate symptoms of menopause and protect against heart disease.

"For those enjoying their sunset years, soy simply helps sustain a healthy and active lifestyle," Meyers says. "It can also help prevent bone loss in post-menopausal women, and additional studies have shown that soyfoods slow the thinning of hair and nails, and aids in preventing age-related wrinkling and decreased elasticity of skin."

With April being Soyfoods Month, Minnesota's soybean farmers challenge people of all ages to try adding soy to their diet. For helpful tips and recipes visit www.mnsoybean.org.

The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council is made up of an elected board of 15 soybean producers from across the state. The mission of the council is to invest soybean checkoff dollars in well-defined research, marketing, education and commercialization programs designed to increase demand and thereby improve the profitability of Minnesota's soybean farmers.