Soy Protein: A Healthier Alternative

One of the big worries many people have when switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet is whether their new diet will contain sufficient protein. While vegan and vegetarian diets, on the whole, are healthier than consuming meat, these diets do not always provide sufficient protein. Fortunately, soy in the form of healthy protein bars can provide a great substitute for meat, ensuring vegans and vegetarians get all the nutrients they need. Soy protein is derived from soybeans. Soybeans are a type of legume that are native to East Asia, but which are now grown around the world. Soybean has been found to be an inexpensive high-protein food, as soybeans produce more protein per acre than most other farm products. In fact, soy has so much protein it's often called the “meat of the field.” Soy can be incorporated into a variety of foods, including dairy analogues, for people who are lactose intolerant or who wish to avoid animal products. In addition to being high in protein content, soy also has the benefit of containing all the amino acids present in meat. While soy has all of the protein and amino acids present in meat, it has much lower fat content, making it a great alternative. If you're looking for even more reasons why soy is a great nutritional source, consider these health benefits:

• Soy helps your body get the most from other foods – Amino acids present in soy products help the body more efficiently process other foods. Getting the maximum nutritional value from foods helps you stay healthy and also helps you avoid overeating.

• Reduced heart disease risk – Studies show that soy will reduce LDL cholesterol, the “bad cholesterol” that doctors warn us about. The Food and Drug Administration says that consuming four servings of soy each day can help people reduce LDL cholesterol by nearly 10 percent. According to medical professionals, for every one percent reduction in LDL cholesterol, patients' risk of heart disease drops by 2 percent. Heart disease is a major health concern, being a leading cause of death among Americans. Consuming soy is an excellent way to help avoid heart disease.

• Soy is easy to incorporate into your diet – It's easy to make soy a part of your daily diet. There are a wide variety of soy products consumers can use, including soy milk, tofu, supplements, and protein bars. The great thing about the diversity of products is that no matter what your tastes are, chances are there is a soy product that you'll enjoy.

• Soy is chockful of other nutrients – In addition to having plenty of protein, soy also contains lots of vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, iron, and fiber.

By making soy a part of your diet, you can enjoy the benefits of a vegan or vegetarian diet without losing important nutrients. You'll also likely find that soy products taste great. Promax Nutrition gives people who want better bodies the natural protein, vitamins, and minerals they need in delicious, gluten-free, vegetarian snack bars.