Soya milk has long been an alternative to cow’s milk for those who are lactose intolerant but there have been claims that soya may also have important health benefits relating to heart disease, the menopause and osteoporosis.  Certainly in Japan, where the national diet contains large amounts of soya, the incidents of these conditions are a fraction of those in the West.

The health claims made for soya relate mainly to the natural plant extracts soya contains called phytoestrogens. Some of these compounds - isoflavones - have a similar structure to the female hormone oestrogen and may act in similar ways to oestrogen in the body.

Scientists are now researching whether because of this they may help to alleviate menopausal problems such as hot flushes and the bone loss disease osteoporosis - which are both linked to a decline in oestrogen in the body.

But while the soya market continues to boom what are the proven health facts?

Heart disease
Studies in animals have shown that isoflavones appear to reduce the build up of cholesterol in the body. Too much cholesterol in the body leads to a condition called atherosclerosis - a build up of fatty deposits on the artery walls, which increases the risk of heart disease and strokes. The Omega 3 fatty acids in soya also reduce the risk of blood clotting, and so therefore also reduce the risk of heart attacks.

In 2001 the US Food and Drug Administration was so impressed by the health claims made for soya in relation to heart disease that it approved the health claim that “25 grams of soya protein a day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease”. This claim has seen the popularity of soya products soar in America.

The British Heart Foundation also recommends soya as part of a cholesterol-lowering diet.

Menopausal problems
Controlled studies have shown that changing the levels of phytoestrogens in the diet can affect the length of menstrual cycles, hormone levels and hot flushes, but research into this area is still only in its early stages.

Dr Paola Albertazzi, from the Centre for Metabolic Bone Disease in Hull, is one of the leading experts in this field. She carried out a study into the link between soya and the menopause in 1998. Her research showed that 76mg of phytoestrogens a day reduced hot flushes in menopausal women by between 45 and 50 per cent.

Osteoporosis
The incidence of osteoporosis in Asian countries and hip fracture rate in Japan are lower than in the West. The isoflavone genistein seems to protect against bone loss in animal studies and increases in bone density have been demonstrated in short term studies in humans.
The National Osteoporosis Society says: 'There is insufficient evidence to be certain about the effectiveness of isoflavones and what form or amount is necessary to have an influence on health.’

Summary
There have been conflicting results from tests carried out during recent years it seems that the only way to find out if soya will be of help to you is to try it for yourself for 6-8 weeks and see if there is an improvement.  There has never been a better time to start taking soya since it's hard to ignore the growing number of soya products appearing on our supermarket shelves, everything from milk to bread, yogurts, cereal and pasta are being marketed.  You can also buy soya capsules at your local pharmacy. 

Always consult your doctor before starting any new diets, medications or supplements