Soy Protein Shakes - Diet Plan Outline

Soy protein shakes and snacks have become a popular weight loss alternative. Examples include the Scan Diet and Revival Soy. They are prescribed to be an effective and healthy meal replacement. The conventional wisdom is that soy protein is healthy and is effective at lowering cholesterol, but is best consummed in foods rich in them. But shakes and snacks can be an effective and convenient way of adding soy protein to your diet during your busy day.

Information about Soy Protein for Weight Loss

Let's examine the facts about Soy Protein

Soy is naturally a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate food, but doctors at Iowa State University have recently documented two key properties of soy protein that help with weight loss independent of calorie content. In other words, soy has inherent medical properties, apart from low calorie content, that help with weight loss!

This Iowa State study shows that consumption of soy protein rich in isoflavones decreases fat deposition (storage) while increasing muscle mass. The researchers concluded that, "Isoflavone-rich soy may attenuate the increase in fat deposition and prevent loss in lean tissue during menopause." This is extremely important as lean muscle tissue even at rest burns up to 17 times more calories than the same amount of fat tissue.

Let's examine these two concepts more closely:

1. Soy helps decrease the amount of fat your body stores. With soy you convert less calories into fat from the food that you eat. Soy protein is also good at controlling insulin levels. Reduced insulin fluctuations results in fewer "sugar cravings". Binge eating due to sugar cravings often defeats the heroic efforts undertaken by millions in their diets.

2. Soy helps increase your muscle mass. Your muscles burn energy (in the form of calories) for daily maintenance and during exercise. Increased muscle mass burns more calories on a daily basis even if you are not exercising. This means that you lose even more weight while just sitting around! Soy can also improve energy levels (which you can use to start a regular exercise program).

Other weight loss properties of soy protein:

Soy increases the rate at which your fat cells burn stored fat. Other studies have shown that soy protein increases activity directly inside of fat cells. Another way of saying this is that soy protein stimulates your metabolism!

Soy is a low-glycemic index food and thus minimizes insulin fluctuations. This helps keep sugar cravings to a minimum and helps you to feel more satisfied and less hungry until your next meal.

Soy gives you more energy. More energy provides you more willpower to exercise properly.