Studies have found that women who eat soy foods have, on average, denser bones than those who do not. The nutrient content of soy food varies depending on how it is processed. Many soy foods are also fortified with nutrients. The Upside Soybeans are the richest plant source of high-quality protein. Soy protein can help to conserve calcium in the body and enhance bone health when it replaces animal protein in the diet.
Soy protein helps to lower blood cholesterol in people who have high blood cholesterol levels.
Soy protein is processed more easily by the kidneys and may be useful for people who are at risk for kidney disease when it replaces animal protein in the diet. Soybeans are high in fiber and B-vitamins , particularly folate . Soybeans are high in iron but this mineral is absorbed well only from fermented soy foods like tempeh. Some people have allergies to soy protein and need to avoid all soy foods. Although some studies show that soy foods may help to prevent breast cancer, in women who have had estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, eating soy foods could, in theory, have the opposite effect.