Soy doesn’t help lower your cholesterol, according to the FDA

In early 2000, the FDA authorized a health claim regarding the benefits of eating soy for heart health (assuming you had an otherwise appropriate diet). This was based on research that showed that consuming 25 grams of soy protein helped reduce total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Now, the FDA is revoking this claim because of inconsistent findings in subsequent studies regarding the relationship between soy protein and cholesterol results.

Soy is still a great source of protein, especially for those who are following plant-based diets, and the FDA reiterates that soy protein is generally healthy especially since it doesn't contain dietary cholesterol, and is low in saturated fat. So, if you’re using soy as a meat substitute, you don’t have to alter your diet. You just have to make sure you’re going beyond soy to give your body what it needs to keep your LDL cholesterol levels low.

It’s important to make sure you incorporate whole grains, plant sterols, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants into your diet. These ingredients are all found in ALL Step One Foods and together they work to lower your LDL levels.

And don’t forget that just because a food is plant-based or made with soy doesn’t automatically make it good for you (regardless of cholesterol and saturated fat content). Refined grains, sweetened beverages, and highly processed foods all contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular problems – even if they don’t contain a smidgen of animal fat or are full of soy protein. So put down the soy protein bars and pick up a Step One Foods bar instead.

Our foods are plant-based and whole, and made with ingredients proven – again and again – to lower your risk of heart disease. There are no refined grains, no superfluous sweeteners, and no empty calories… and they do help lower cholesterol. That’s a guarantee.