SOy Protein Lowers Cholesterol - Slightly

High blood levels of LDL ( the bad cholesterol ) and triglycerides increase the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack. Dietary choices may influence your chances of getting the disease. For example, some studies found that diets high in soy lowered cholesterol. Researchers from Tulane University in New Orleans pooled the results of 41 clinical trials conducted between 1982 and 2004 that examined the effects of soy intake on cholesterol. These studies showed that diets high in soy reduced cholesterol by about 4 points ?( milligrams per 100 millliters of blood ) . Also, supplements containing isoflavones found in soy don’t lower cholesterol. Substituting soy burgers or hot dogs for the real thing has some health benefits – but not a lot. ( American Journal Cardiology, 98:633-640, 2006)