It has little fat, no cholesterol and lots of fiber. It's also high in protein, and it's complete protein, too. Unlike most vegetarian sources of protein, soy contains all the essential amino acids the human body needs.
Moreover, soy contains heart-healthy omega-6 fatty acids, and eating a few servings a day can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Some evidence suggests that it may also build bone, ease hot flashes in post-menopausal women and ward off certain cancers, including those of the colon and prostate. In addition, soy can be processed into almost any form imaginable, and some of its components can be extracted and added to other foods.
So what's the problem? Soybeans contain estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones, and several early studies suggested that they might fuel the growth of breast-cancer cells, at least in animals. On the other hand, women in Asian countries, who eat lots of soy, have a lower incidence of breast cancer than Western women. And recent studies investigating the connection between soy and breast cancer in humans haven't uncovered any major concerns.
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