Pages

Ads 468x60px

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

How Soy Protein Benefits Athletes

By Edna Booker


Those who choose not to eat meat need to obtain the nutrients they are missing by eating other forms of them. Protein is one of the major elements of meat and fish and is needed by the body for basic functions such as cell construction. Eating soy protein benefits vegetarians and vegans in much the same way.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are many types, but over twenty have been identified as necessary for proper cell and bodily function. Many of these are made automatically by the body but there are nine which need to be present in the diet. Soy contains all of these and is therefore referred to as complete.

Soy is a legume. This whole family of plants is nutritious and people should eat plenty of them. Legumes are high in proteins, micronutrients, B vitamins, fiber and omega fatty acids. They are also low in fat and cholesterol and so are a great way to get lots of nutrients without the bad stuff.

Part of the switch to plant based protein has come about from looking at the diet of people in the far east. Japan has more people who live to be over one hundred years old than any other country. Not only do they live longer they are healthier and more active. Researchers have been looking at their dietary habits to understand the affect of the foods eaten there on health and have found some very interesting things.

Modern diets are often too high in fat and sugar and do not contain sufficient nutrients. This has been linked to all sorts of problems from cancer to heart disease and even mood disorders. The brain requires a high level of nutrient to function properly and without them cannot produce sufficient neuro chemicals. Serotonin production often suffers and this leads to lower mood. A healthy diet is necessary not just for health, but also for happiness.

There are lots of ways to get this beneficial food into the diet. Soy products are widely available now. There are lots of processed foods which contain it such as meat substitutes, soy milk, tofu and vegan cheese. These should probably be consumed in moderation as they are highly processed and have been linked to food allergies and digestive issues.

The most healthy way to consume it seems to be in fermented products. These are things such as miso and tempeh. The fermentation process starts to break down the parts of the bean which can be hard to digest and also encourages the growth of probiotics. These are the good bacteria which help digestion.

Eating soy is a great way to get protein without having to eat meat. It is complete and so contains all the amino acids needed by the body for proper function. In countries where the residents consume lots of it their health outcomes and life expectancy are much better than in the west. It can also be obtained as a supplement in powder form for those who need to build muscle mass.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

 
Blogger Templates