Who Should Consume Soy?

If you search the web to find information on soy, you will find a lot of information. In an article in The New York Times, a study on soy is explained. A large study was done with more than 24,000 women. The study showed that protein is very good for the bones of woman who are in their first few years after they reach menopause.

The women in the study were between the ages of 40 and 70. They were participants in the Shanghai Women’s Health Study and were followed for four and a half years. Over the four and a half years, 1,770 fractures were reported. The researches studied the woman’s diets and found out that the more soy a woman consumes, the less chance she has to break a bone. The article also stated that, “Within 10 years of menopause, high soy consumption was associated with a 50 percent reduction in the risk for bone fractures”.

In the article, Dr Xiao- Ou Shu points out that in 2005, the American Heart Association and the Food and Drug Administration recommended the consumption of 25 grams of soy protein each day to help prevent hear disease. While there are many different opinions on the ability of soy to contribute to the heath and well being of women, according to this article, woman who have reached menopause should consume it.