Did you know soybean is known to be one among the list of world’s healthiest food?
Soybean or soya protein is said to be the most protective bean providing many health benefits. Today, in this article, I shall discuss with you about a latest research study claiming one more major health soybean benefits; that is how soybean compound can be helpful to treat HIV. But, before you read on further about it, let us first see what all this little bean has got to offer.
You must be pretty much aware of soybeans as a brilliant source of high quality protein. Yes, soybeans contain around 40% protein, which is the highest amount of soybeans nutrition among plant sources. The protein in soybean, is known as “soy protein.”
Soybean has a high profile in terms of nutritional value. It is rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and phytoestrogens. Besides it is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and lactose free. Soybean takes the credit of being the only vegetable food that contains all eight essential amino acids. Hence it is often used to replace the animal proteins in a vegetarian diet.
Health Benefits of Soybean
- Lowers the risk of coronary heart disease, since it contains heart friendly omega 3 fatty acids.
- Osteoporosis- since it is enriched with calcium
- It helps to reduce hot flushes associated with menopause
- Contains isoflavones, thereby reduces the risk of various cancers
- Low in fat, no cholesterol
- An excellent source of fiber
- Good for cognitive abilities, nervous system functioning since its a good source of vitamin B12
- Soy is good for your skin as it contains vitamin E. It moisturizes your skin with its antioxidant property.
Having read about the numerous soybean benefits, I am sure you must be eager to know how soy can be helpful in treating HIV.
Soybean Compound Can be Helpful to Treat HIV
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially recognized the cholesterol-lowering properties of soy protein in 1999 with a health claim stating that 25 grams of soy protein per day may lower the risk of heart disease. Most soyfoods are also low in saturated and trans fats, because of which the American Heart Association has recognized soyfoods’ role in an overall heart-healthy diet.
What research revealed?
Coming to the research, previously there are studies showing soy protein isolate in reducing the risk of prostate, colon and breast cancer and also osteoporosis, hot flushes in menopausal women. Now there is an immense addition to this section as a new study states that a compound found in soy beans can be effective in treating HIV without the drug resistance issues faced by current therapies.
According to the study, genistein, a compound obtained from soybeans and certain other plants, exhibits promising results in inhibiting HIV infection.
On every cell’s surface, there are sensors which tells the cell about its surroundings and also communicate with other cells, HIV makes use of these surface sensors brilliantly to send signal inside the cell so as to make an entry into the cell and spread the infection.
Genistein is a “tyrosine kinase inhibitor” which acts by blocking the communication from a cell`s surface sensors to its interior, therefore, it blocks the false signal and ceases HIV from entering the cell and this is totally a different approach to the conventional anti retro viral drugs act.
“Although genistein is rich in several plants such as soybeans, it is still uncertain whether the amount of genistein we consume from eating soy is sufficient to inhibit HIV,” Wu said.
But, surely soya can be useful in controlling the HIV infection and claimed more soybean health benefits. However, since soybeans are proven to do wonders to your health, you must include them in your daily diet, especially if your diet is a vegetarian one. Soybeans are processed in to various soy products such as soy flour, soy milk, cottage cheese like tofu and fermented products like tempeh and miso. So hog on to whichever product you like as per your choice. Practice making soy food in your family so that your children and elders can enjoy benefits of soya health too.
So in what form would you prefer soy- milk, cheese, tofu? Let us know in the comments below to know more soybean milk benefits.
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