There were made many studies upon the usefulness of soy protein and the results seemed to point towards the fact that the soy protein would lower the triglycerides and the LDL cholesterol also known as 'bad cholesterol' and would maintain the level of HDL cholesterol also known as 'good cholesterol'.
But all this good news was torn apart in January 2006 when the American Heart Association declared that after 22 studies made on soy protein the conclusion was that soy protein has only minimal effect upon the heart risk factors including the cholesterol.
Until the mystery upon the soy protein is resolved people should continue to eat soy food even though it has no spectacular good effects upon the heart system, it has quality protein in its composition and is low in saturated fat which is good for the organism.
Another study was made in 2005 on 34 adults with high cholesterol level and it showed that after eating daily 50 grams of soy protein, and other lowering cholesterol foods the subjects had an ideal cholesterol level in blood as after taking cholesterol lowering pills.
Another study made in 2005 by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality did not bring spectacular news about the soy protein. The conclusions of the study were that the soy protein eaten daily reduced the 'bad' cholesterol level with only 3%.
After considering these studies valuable, the AHA Nutrition Committee decided not to recommend the soy protein as an aliment which needs to be eaten for lowering the cholesterol level, but they still consider the soy food a good replacement for high fat meats.
There are several products which contain soy protein and which can be combined for a tasty meal. For example tofu is an ideal aliment which can be added to stir-fries, curries or stews and bring an excellent taste to the meal. When you need a snack try the soy nuts which are roasted soy beans and bring you an excellent amount of proteins. Also good for our organism are the soymilk, the soy cheese and the soy burgers.
If you enjoy cooking you can use soy flour for baking, miso for preparing soup and tempeh for combining it with spaghetti.
There are so many food varieties containing soy protein on the market that you will never get bored of eating them and you will also eat a healthy food.
It is absolutely important to understand your fatty acid (cholesterol) level and for many reasons. One of the most obvious reasons would be because having a high cholesterol level of the wrong type can make you extremely prone to such things as cardiac diseases and strokes. Although excessive obesity is one of the plainest symptoms of high cholesterol, just because you are below the correct weight for your height this does not mean that your cholesterol level is proper. Your first port of call should always be a health professional.
Sorting out Your Cholesterol Level
There are some considerations that you need to think about when you are trying to understand your cholesterol level especially when put against your body type and mass index, such as for instance the fact that there are both good and bad types of cholesterol. There is LDL cholesterol, which is considered as being the bad type of cholesterol, and then there is HDL cholesterol which is actually considered as being desirable to the body and it's systems. The test itself is very simple and the results can be presented to you within a matter of minutes for an overall cholesterol level although for a full breakdown of each type a laboratory test will usually be required.
You can be put into either one of three categories: satisfactory, low danger level, or higher danger level. If your total cholesterol is less than 205mg/dL, then you are considered as being in the satisfactory category, and your risk of heart attack is low, but there may be other factors that raise that risk, such as smoking, drinking or other lifestyle choices.
If your cholesterol is in between 206 and 245mg/dL, then you are considered as being in the low danger level category, and about 33% of all people fall into this category. If it turns out that you are in this category, you should see a doctor or nurse to have your cholesterol levels checked annually, or more often if your HDL is less than 41mg/dL and you consider that other factors may increase the risk factors of cardiac problems.
Finally, if your levels sit at 245mg/dL plus, then you are likely to be in the high risk category and your risk of cardiac attacks and strokes are incredibly raised. As well, you have a far more than average risk of other heart problems, and so you must take immediate steps towards reducing those risks and decreasing the likelihood of future heart and blood problems.
The underlying message to remember here is that the lower your LDL (the bad one) cholesterol, the lower your overall cholesterol level will be and it is the easiest one to control. You should take all of the precautions that you can to lower your LDL cholesterol to the safer end of the scale. If necessary there are medications that can be taken to help, but in the end dietary and lifestyle changes will almost certainly be recommended by your health practitioner or adviser.
Both Groshan Fabiola & Steven J Lucas are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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Steven J Lucas has sinced written about articles on various topics from High Cholesterol, Finances and Asthma. Steven is a young head on old shoulders. He loves researching topics, guitars, Terry Pratchet novels and flight simulators (the real thing not the PC versions). The latter is just as well since his day job involves fixing and flying them. When not doing a. Steven J Lucas's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.