Should I drink enhanced soy milk?

Lately it seems like every other day I see a patient with high cholesterol. I guess it makes sense, since the population of obesity is growing and growing. Many of my patients have large amounts of adiposity (abdominal fat), intake excess calories, and are lacking in the physical activity department. Unfortunately these symptoms go hand in hand with more heart problems, more cancer, and more diabetes. It is alarming!

When it comes to treatment, though, instead of prescribing medication right away, I tell my patients to take a fish oil supplement of DHA and EPA (about 1000 mg/day), increase physical activity, decrease saturated and trans fat, and increase their fiber intake. Plant sterols, also known as phytosterols, present in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and many other plant foods, have also been proven to help lower cholesterol. I always aim to increase intake of these foods, but let’s face it: It isn’t always easy to get someone to eat their recommended daily needs of fruits and vegetables! The enrichment of foods with plant sterols is a relatively new development in functional foods that aims to enhance ability of certain foods to reduce cholesterol.

A recent study published in Lipids in Health and Disease found that plant-sterol-enriched soy milk reduced LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Participants supplemented with three 8-ounce glasses of low-fat plant-sterol-enriched soy milk or moderate fat plant-sterol-enriched soy milk in conjunction with a diet consisting of 15% of calories from protein, 35% from fat, and 50% from carbohydrate. The soy milk was enriched with 1.95 grams of plant sterols. In the low-fat soy milk group, LDL levels were reduced from baseline by 10-13% and in the moderate fat soy milk group by 12-15% and triglycerides by 9.4%. They compared these results to those drinking 1% dairy milk.

While soy is still a controversial topic it can be a part of a healthy diet. This is good news too for my patients who already drink soy milk and are willing to try plant-sterol-enriched! One company that I know is on board is Silk. Check out their product here.

Comments (4)

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Wednesday December 9, 2009 adrienne wrote:

... i drink the low fat soy milk and don't know if the enhanced is worth the extra calories ? i don't have weight to lose but at 52, i do have excess belly fat. i work out 6 days a week and seriously watch my calorie intake.

Wednesday December 9, 2009 KZOLADY wrote:

... I tried several kinds of soy milk including Silk, because milk upsets my stomach (not lactose intolorerance). I couldn;t get past the taste and color. It doesn't taste or look like milk which I really love. I switched to fat free, calcium enriched Lactaid. I'm not sure how it measures up. but it tastes very good, has a nice texture, and doesn't upset my stomach.

Wednesday December 9, 2009 MissMarlowe wrote:

... Thanks for the tip KZOLADY. I do like soy milk, especially the chocolate ones. Soy milk gives a slight nutty taste in cooking with it and in making milkshakes. Soy milk and ice cream for the kids, and for the adults, add a little Kahlua.

Wednesday December 9, 2009 Carla wrote:

... Yes I do and have for years because regular milk doesn't agree with me - someone told me to try soy milk. I have been hooked every since.

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