Studies show soy protein can be a potent cholesterol-lowering agent. According to several studies, substituting soy protein for some animal protein can yield a substantial reduction in blood-cholesterol levels over a relatively shot time. Based on a University of Illinois study, about 50 grams of soy protein daily - about the amount in one cup - can cut cholesterol levels by 12 percent. (The soy protein must replace about half your normal daily protein intake. In order to make sure you're cutting down on protein, eat your soy product first. In addition, if you're adding 50 grams soy protein to your diet, restrict your intake of meat to one 3- or 4- ounce serving daily, cooked weight.)

Other Touted Benefits of Soy

For Women: Helps reduce menopausal symptoms
May be a useful tool in maintaining strong bones. Consumption of soy protein results in far less urinary calcium excretion than does animal protein. In addition, Dr. John Anderson at the University of North Carolina noted, "It looks promising that genistein may have some preventive effect on bone loss."

For Men: Prostatitis: Soy food, which can dampen the effects of estrogen, may help prevent the proliferation of inflammatory cells that can lead to prostatitis.

For Men: Benign Prostate Hypertrophy: By moderating estrogen activity soy food may help prevent prostatic enlargement.

For Men: Prostate Cancer: In test-tube studies, genistein- an isoflavone in soy - has been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate tumor cells.