Genesee Valley Dental Group

Dr. Randall Freeman 4806 Lakeville Road • Geneseo, NY • 585-447-9108

We accept Excellus BC/BS PPO, Cigna PPO, CSEA Employee Bene t Fund, and many more. Please check our website, geneseodental.com for the full list.

Soy Foods Pack A Powerful Punch

The Cleveland Clinic notes that soy foods provide a host of nutritional benefits. Plant protein, including soy, can provide cardiovascular benefits, including helping with people with high blood pressure lower their blood pressure to healthier levels. While many people rely on animal-based proteins to get their daily recommended intake of protein, soy foods are naturally free of cholesterol and low in saturated fats. That makes soy foods more heart-healthy sources of protein than animal products. The Cleveland Clinic says substituting soy foods for animal-based proteins a few times per week can reduce a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Soy foods also can be a great source of dietary fiber, though the U.S. Soybean Export Council advises consumers that not all soy products are the same. The USSEC notes that foods like soy milk and tofu contain very little fiber. People who want to utilize soy beans as a source of dietary fiber should look to foods that utilize the whole bean, such tempeh, soy flour and textured soy protein. The USSEC also notes there’s some confusion in regard to the connection between soy foods and iron, though the group admits research is ongoing. While a 1/2 cup serving of cooked soybeans contains four milligrams ofiron,thephytateandsoyprotein present in soy foods reduce iron absorption, meaning that the body won’t really benefit from the iron. However,theUSSECrecommends consumers purchase fermented soy foods, including tempeh and miso, because the body might absorbmoreironfromthesefoods than it will when consuming other types soy foods.