lifeScience
One of the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation’s (VVF) important tasks is to unravel scientific research and make it easy to understand and digestible. Here we update you on the latest…
By Veronika Charvatova MSc, VVF Health Campaigner So-ya good
There’s been a number of studies investigating the effects of soya isolates (extracted soya protein) on human health but not so many using soya foods as they are normally eaten. A recent study did just that as it was aimed at investigating the effect of soya milk consumption on cholesterol levels in blood. High cholesterol is responsible for furred up arteries so it’s important to keep your cholesterol in check in order to stay healthy. Healthy young to middle-aged volunteers consumed soya milk
daily for a period of 21 days. At the end of this period, the volunteers had significantly reduced total cholesterol – on average by 11 per cent. The ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL), which is the type that tends to stick to the walls of arteries, was reduced by an astonishing 25 per cent. On the other hand, the ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) – that’s the type of cholesterol that helps to reduce bad cholesterol – was increased by 20 per cent. These results are very positive as it’s been suggested by the
authors that soya could be an important non-drug cholesterol- reducing agent.
Onuegbu, A.J., et al., 2011. Consumption of Soymilk Lowers Atherogenic Lipid Fraction in Healthy Individuals. Journal of Medicinal Food14 (3) 257–260
Milky worry
A long-term study followed 8,894 men for prostate cancer diagnosis and mortality over at least two decades. The results showed that milk intake, especially in the first 20 years of life, was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Daily milk consumption in adolescence was
associated with a 3.2-fold risk of advanced prostate cancer later in life. Cows’ milk contains insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-
1) which directly promotes cancer growth. High intake of animal fat has been also associated with increased testosterone levels and high testosterone levels may increase prostate cancer risk.
Torfadottir, J.E., et al., 2012. Milk Intake in Early Life and Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer. American Journal of Epidemiology.175 (2) 144-153
Healthy pulse
A refreshingly original, long-term study of several hundred elderly women found that a daily intake of pulses and soya products was associated with a significantly reduced risk of functional disability in later life. People with functional disabilities have problems, for example, with going outside the home, keeping track of money and bills, preparing meals, doing light housework, taking prescription medicines in the right amount at the right time and using the telephone. Pulses (beans, lentils, peas, soya) are a true wonder-
food as they contain plenty of healthy carbohydrates and protein, fibre and essential minerals such as calcium, iron and zinc and B vitamins.
Kim,J., Lee, Y., Lee, S.Y., 2011. Legumes and soy products consumption and functional disability in older women. Maturitas. 69: 268-272
20 viva!life
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