Can Soy Protein Help Lower Cholesterol?
Since heart disease is the leadingTrusted Source cause of death in the U.S., researchers are looking for ways to reduce this number. Having high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, so finding ways to improve high cholesterol is important. Previous studiesTrusted Source have shown that eating soy can reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol—also known as “bad” cholesterol by as much as 4%. Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recently looked into different varieties of soybeans to figure out why they can lower LDL cholesterol.
Cholesterol and heart disease: According to MedlinePlus, cholesterol is a “waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all the cells in your body.”
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is one type that doctors consider to be “bad” cholesterol. The other cholesterol type is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which doctors consider “good.” If LDL cholesterol levels get too high, the buildup can cause plaques in the walls of your arteries. This contributes to an increased risk of developing heart disease and strokes.
Excerpted from Medical News Today
