JEDDAH: Consuming soya foods has numerous beneficial effects for one's health, a medical expert stressed at a scientific seminar held at the Kingdom Hospital in Riyadh recently. Dr. Mona Sanan, Consultant for Heath & Nutrition Services, Al Rabie Saudi Food Company, said in her presentation titled "Soya food: Potential biological effects and its relevance to human health" that scientific evidence and meta-analysis studies revealed that soya drinks are healthy and contribute to a healthy heart and bones. "Consuming soya foods is beneficial in numerous ways. Soya contains the plant protein that supports bone formation and minimizes bone loss preventing the risk of osteoporosis." She further said that consuming soya foods is good for the heart as well. "Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of soya foods is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease," Dr Sanan said. In line with this, she cited that Al Rabie recently launched "Al Rabie Joya", a soya drink in its aim to provide healthy options in beverages. The company, she added, will continue to invest and act proactively to provide the best nutritional food choices to its consumers. "It is our mission to set a benchmark in food quality and help cultivate a greater sense of responsibility among food manufacturers to offer products that are genuinely healthy," Dr Sanan pointed out. "Nutritional foods are a fundamental concern in any society. We believe that people must have easy access to nutritious food products to meet their dietary needs," she noted. More and more people are deliberately choosing soya milk because of the added health benefits. Soya milk is high in protein, and because it is made from beans, also contains considerably more fiber than cow's milk. Besides the extra protein and fiber, the biggest benefit in soya milk are the isoflavones, chemicals very similar to the hormone estrogen.
