Look to the lowly soybean to increase the cholesterol-controlling power of your diet.
Soybeans contain isoflavones, a group of compounds that have a cholesterol-lowering effect.
Consuming about 25 grams of soy protein each day has been shown to lower cholesterol levels about 10 percent. To get the amount of soy protein that's thought to offer the most protection, check food labels. A good source will have 6.25 grams or more of soy protein per serving. Substituting soy protein for animal protein is nutritionally sound. That's because soy protein, unlike all other plant proteins, contains all the essential amino acid building blocks needed to make human proteins.