A quick trip through the health-food section of any grocery will reveal several labels touting soy content, but most Americans do not know much about soy beyond a vague idea that it is a healthy food. In his article in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (JACN), University of Kentucky physician and researcher Dr. James Anderson reported on his investigation into the effectiveness of soy in adult weight loss.
Meal replacements, including powders, drinks and energy bars, are popular weight-loss tools. Anderson tested two commercially available meal replacements -- one soy-based and one milk-based -- in a group of obese adults for 12 weeks. Both groups lost weight. The soy-based group lost slightly more weight in any given week and displayed lower serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Soy intake also produced small but significant reductions in serum glucose values. This evidence suggests soy may be a valuable tool in maintaining overall health, lowering cholesterol and even slowing the development of diabetes.