Does soy reduce cholesterol?
Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.
Possibly. Although eating soy-based foods can slightly lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as the "bad" cholesterol, the American Heart Association has concluded that soy alone doesn't lower cholesterol enough to make a big difference in your health.
However, eating soy-based foods can still be good for you because soy-based foods have less saturated fat than meat does. Soy-based foods also provide other helpful nutrients, such as good fats, called monounsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber.
If you substitute soy for animal-based products, this switch — rather than the soy itself — may reduce your cholesterol.
Talk to your healthcare team or dietitian if you're interested in adding more soy to your diet.
With
Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.
Show References
- Jenkins DJ, et al. Cumulative meta-analysis of the soy effect over time: Journal of the American Heart Association. 2019; doi: 10.1161/jaha.119.012458.
- Soy. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed March 7, 2023.
- Tagney CC, et al. Lipid management with diet or dietary supplements. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 7, 2023.
- LDL cholesterol-lowering nutrition therapy. Nutrition Care Manual. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://www.nutritioncaremanual.org. Accessed March 7, 2023.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/soy/faq-20057758