How Soy Protein Benefits Athletes

By Edna Booker


Proteins are an essential part of a balanced diet. Many people think of meat when they think of them but many plants contain high levels of them. Those who have decided not to consume meat and fish need to make sure that they get enough of all the necessary proteins from plants. Soy protein benefits the body in almost the same way as meat because it is complete.

Proteins are made up of amino acids, they are the building blocks. Many types of amino acid are now known and it has been found that there are twenty two which are used by the human body. Most of these are made in house, so to speak in that the body can produce them with little help. However, there are nine others which must be included in the diet for good health.

Soy contains all of these nine missing amino acids and is therefore called complete. There are only a few plants which are complete and so consumption has grown massively in recent years as vegetarians became aware of this. It is also high in other essential nutrients; fatty acids, micronutrients, fiber, calcium and B vitamins. At the same time it is low in fat and cholesterol and so is a great way to get lots of benefits without much harm.

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.

Fermented soy foods are a better option as they are easier to digest and also contain probiotics which aid absorption of nutrients. These are found in a variety of forms such as, miso, tempeh and nattoo. Miso is an extremely versatile ingredient and can be eaten in soup but also used as a flavoring for other meals as it has lots of umami and is almost like beef in its taste.

Another method of ingesting it is to take a supplement. Powders are now widely available and are used by body builders and athletes who want to increase strength and build muscles. It seems strange to some people that body builders might be vegans but it is entirely possible and there are a growing number of athletes who are shunning meat proteins in favor of plant ones.




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