If the only soy in your diet comes from the soy sauce you sprinkle on chow mien, you may be missing out on more than just a tasty and versatile food. Soy is an inexpensive way to add protein to your diet, and may also help reduce fat when substituted for meat in traditional dishes. But its benefits may go beyond even that. In cultures where soy is the main source of protein, rates of cardiovascular disease and some cancers are relatively low. Researchers are looking into whether soy plays a role, some studies suggest there may be a link.
Soy products come from the soybean, a legume native to northern China.
The United States now produces much of the world's soybeans. The beans look like small brownish yellow peas. Soybeans are usually processed into other products. For example, soy oil is used to make ink for newspapers. Soybean products are also added to a variety of foods during processing.