    Most of us believe in the nutritional value of soy beans although some
have suspected that phytoestrogens may not be beneficial for those who
are already suffering or has survived breast cancer.
     However, soya is still one of the best foods we can have for preventing
cardiovascular diseases. In a study by Welty et al in 60 post menopausal women, soy nuts were found to reduce blood pressure by 9.9% systolic and 6.8% diastolic. The women were assigned into two groups at random; 1 group with the standard Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) regimen, which is a program in United States to reduce LDL or low density lipoprotein (”bad cholesterol”) with changes in diet, exercise, weight loss and others (e.g., smoking and stress) and the other group of women assigned to TLC plus soy supplementation. After sometime the groups were reversed in order to see if the results will again be observed. This grouping assignment technically means “randomized with cross-over” and with such study design the results of the comparison were strong or the results consistent following whichever test regimen was given.
         
       Furthermore, soy nut supplementation had resulted in lowering of the
LDL and apolipoprotein B levels (this is the substance that carry
cholesterol to our tissues especially to our blood vessels creating plaques
which eventually lead to blood vessel blocks -heart attack and stroke).
    Basically we have, in the authors own words, that dietary soy “may be a
practical, safe and inexpensive modality to reduce BP.” They
characterize the effects as being “comparable with those seen with
antihypertensive drugs.” This study provides proof that food has a real healing
effect on the body, not just nourishment.
[Welty et al, Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1060-1067]
