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Often called the new wonder food, soy has gained acceptance as a main ingredient to the vegetarians. Soy is well known thanks to it’s many health benefits.

These benefits include the fact soy has zero cholesterol so it helps to reduce the risk of heart disease and many types of cancer – specifically colon, prostate, and breast. Since cancer and heart disease combined cause over a million deaths per year in the United States this is powerful and beneficial knowledge to know.

The link between diet and health problems such as cancer and heart disease has been well-documented and researched. Now there are other factors that can contribute to health problems, but what you eat is generally a factor that you can take control.

Soy also helps to keep you healthy because it provides a complete protein. This means it provides all of the amino acids for our needs. Great news for vegetarians and vegans, but it is also important for people who eat meat to know that they can get the proper amount and kind of protein they need without the harmful side effects that can come from eating too much meat.

While the health benefits of soy have been well-known and understood in other countries, particularly Asian, soy has gained a major foothold in the U.S not only because the western world has slowly awakened to the health benefits of soy but also because more soy food companies have introduced tasty soy products.

There is not a thing wrong with solid cubes of plain tofu, (a good cook can turn out zesty, wonderful meals with it) now you can also get soy products such as soy flour, soy flakes, and soy grits. On the market are also different brands of soy burgers, soy ‘hot dogs’, soy ‘chicken’ patties, and even soy ‘bacon’ and imitation bacon bits.

Although many vegetarians and vegans sneer at these imitation foods, I view them as a good thing because they are a great way to ease meat-eaters more soy. This in turn can aid in keeping them healthy.