Soy Snacks

[Guest guest]

Soy appears to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, aid weight

loss (also notes on childhood obesity) -

 

The labels in the snack food aisle promise low-fat, no-fat, low-cal

and low-carb tasty treats. But what really makes a food healthy? And

should we believe the commercial hype about soy products and our

health? Renowned nutrition and weight-loss expert, and University of

Kentucky physician and researcher, Dr. James Anderson addresses these

and other questions in two articles in the June issue of the Journal

of the American College of Nutrition.

 

What is so good about soy?

 

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 JACN article, Anderson reports 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 twelve 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 that soy may be a valuable tool in maintaining

overall health, lowering cholesterol, and even slowing the

development of diabetes.

 

" The bottom line is soy is healthy, and while incorporating it into

weight loss may not have a more dramatic effect on your waistline

than other nutrition plans, its benefits go beyond weight loss toward

increasing overall health, " Anderson said.

 

What is a healthy snack?

 

In another JACN article, " Snack Foods: Comparing Nutrition Values of

Excellent Choices and 'Junk Foods', " Anderson raises the possibility

that poor snack choices may play an active role in increasing rates

of childhood obesity. Noting that snacking can be healthful when

snack foods are high in nutritional value and low in calories,

Anderson provides a quantitative analysis of what makes a snack

either a healthy choice, or a " junk food. "

 

While parents may not enter the grocery store with calculator in hand

to crunch the numbers before their children bite into some crunchy

snacks, Anderson's research reveals that there is a reliable method

for calculating the health value of snack foods. He calls upon

manufacturers and government to make this information more readily

available to consumers.

 

" Labels should clearly identify excellent food choices and junk

foods, " said Anderson. " The government should also consider options

such as taxing junk foods, subsidizing healthy foods, and prohibiting

junk food advertisements in media targeted to children, especially

advertising in schools. "

 

As a physician, Anderson regularly treats young people trying to

control their weight. He believes stemming the American obesity

epidemic is a task shared by all.

 

" Communities, schools, legislative bodies, movies, television and

food companies should partner in promoting healthful food choices.

Where childhood obesity is concerned, we are all responsible, "

Anderson said.

 

Anderson, professor of medicine and clinical nutrition, UK College of

Medicine, and director, UK Metabolic Research Group, is also the

director of the Obesity Research Network, a nationwide network of

physicians and scientists recognized for their work in the treatment

of obesity. He also is medical director of the HMR® Program for

Weight Management in conjunction with the University of Kentucky. He

currently has several weight loss and lipid treatment research

studies in progress.

 

For more information on weight loss and lipid research, visit

Anderson's Web site at mc.uky.edu/nutritionresearch/default.asp. To

inquire about making an appointment with Anderson, contact UK

HealthCare at 859-267-1000 or toll free at 800-333-8874.

 

Contact: Allison L. Elliott

allison.elliott

859-323-6363

University of Kentucky

http://www.uky.edu