Consumers are increasingly health conscious and actively seeking nutritious foods made with plant proteins. A recent study from the United Soybean Board found that when purchasing food and beverage products, more than 70% of U.S. consumers prioritize getting enough protein, vitamins, minerals and good fat. 1 Soy is a source of plant protein that provides all those attributes and more. Its versatility is unmatched as a sustainably grown, complete protein powerhouse that meets the nutritional needs of consumers of all ages.
“There is a reason soybeans play a key role in feeding a growing population,” said Mark Messina, Ph.D., Director of Nutrition Science and Research at Soy Nutrition Institute Global, “They are higher in protein than other legumes, widely available, environmentally friendly and they can be easily added to the diet since soy foods come in many forms.”
Between soy protein isolates and concentrates, soy flour and lecithin, there are endless soy ingredient options that can enhance a product’s performance, add nutrition and help formulators meet consumer demand for nutritious, sustainable food and beverage products.
Global nutrition leader, ADM, also sees the value of soy protein for the food industry. According to their proprietary research, ADM found that health and nutrition are top motivators for plant-forward consumers across product categories, including meat and dairy alternatives and specialized nutrition.
“Food manufacturers are looking to differentiate their food and beverage products with ingredients that can support key nutritional value,” said Jacquelyn Schuh, Global Protein & Savory Marketing Director at ADM. “These ingredients must be widely available, cost effective, support sensory targets and have excellent functionality – in addition to providing the right nutritional quality. Soy protein checks each of these boxes, and product developers that incorporate soy into their formulations will be likely to find success with today’s consumers.”
A source of high-quality plant-based protein
Soy is a high-quality, complete protein that is highly digestible and contains all nine essential amino acids in the proper ratios to fully meet the protein requirements of both children and adults. Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) is a globally-accepted method for assessing the protein quality of food proteins. It takes into account a protein’s digestibility as well as its essential amino acid profile. When considering its PDCAAS, soy protein is considered comparable in protein quality to animal proteins, such as meat, milk and egg.2
“Soy is one of the few non-animal proteins that is a “complete protein” with a PDCAAS of 1.0, making it easy for formulators to meet protein nutrition targets for their products,” added Schuh.
Soy protein delivers unique nutritional benefits
Beyond nutrient content, soy foods are being intensely studied for variety of health benefits due to the protein and isoflavones, from reducing risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and certain cancers, to reducing wrinkle severity, according to Messina.
Plus, as ADM’s consumer research finds, consumers are interested in added protein with additional and complementary health attributes, including support for digestion, weight management and more.3
Here’s a look at five health benefits associated with soy protein consumption:
1. Heart health
Soy is the only plant protein with a Food and Drug Administration-approved heart health claim. Foods containing at least 6.25 grams of soy protein may carry the claim, which states that consumption of soy protein may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. 4
2. Weight management
Protein is the most satiating nutrient and soy protein, like other high-quality proteins, can enhance the satiety level of food products, helping consumers control their hunger levels. Diets based on soy protein foods have also been shown to support healthy weight loss, preserving muscle while targeting fat loss.5
3. Muscle mass and recovery
Consuming protein-dense foods and beverages, in conjunction with an exercise program, can help maintain and build muscle mass, which is important to many active individuals, and particularly important to maintaining good health as we age.6 As one of the few plant protein comparable in protein quality to animal protein, consuming soy protein, in conjunction with an exercise program, can support strength and muscle growth gains comparable to whey protein.7 Additionally, soy protein consumed post-exercise can support muscle recovery, by promoting muscle gains and reducing fatigue.
4. Immune health
Consumers looking to support their immune system can look to soy as well. Consuming high-quality protein is critical to maintaining a healthy immune system. Because soy protein is a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids, it can support a healthy immune system.8
5. Chronic disease risk reduction
Several studies conducted during the past three decades have found that consuming soy products may also support bone health, lower cancer risk, improve cognitive function and skin health and reduce hypertension.9,10
Soy is the best plant-based protein for human health, the environment and your business
Soy is equally good for your business as it is for human health. Sustainably produced and neutral in taste and texture, soy is a versatile and cost-effective plant protein for many food and beverage applications.
Learn more about U.S.-grown soy and its versatility in the food industry by visiting U.S. Soy.
References
1 Plant Protein Survey, United Soybean Board, August 2023
2 Hughes GJ, Ryan DJ, Mukherjea R, Schasteen CS. “Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Scores (PDCAAS) for Soy Protein Isolates and Concentrate: Criteria for Evaluation.” Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 2011 December 14;59(23):12707-12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22017752.
3 ADM Outside Voice℠, Global Protein Consumer Discovery Report, January 2023
4 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Health Claims: Soy Protein and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease.” https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.82. April 1, 2018
5Velasquez MT, Bhathena SJ. Role of dietary soy protein in obesity. Int J Med Sci. 2007 Feb 26;4(2):72-82. doi: 10.7150/ijms.4.72. PMID: 17396158; PMCID: PMC1838825. Role of Dietary Soy Protein in Obesity – PMC (nih.gov)
6 Volpi E, Nazemi R, Fujita S. Muscle tissue changes with aging. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004;7:405-10.
7 Lynch HM, Buman MP, Dickinson JM, Ransdell LB, Johnston CS, Wharton CM. No significant differences in muscle growth and strength development when consuming soy and whey protein supplements matched for leucine following a 12 week resistance training program in men and women: A randomized trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:3871.
8 Kelly B, Pearce EL. (2020). Amino Assets: How Amino Acids Support Immunity. Cell Metabolism, 32(2), 154-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.06.010
9 Messina M. Soy and health update: Evaluation of the clinical and epidemiologic literature. Nutrients. 2016;8:754.
10 Messina M, Duncan A, Messina V, Lynch H, Kiel J, Erdman JW Jr. The health effects of soy: A reference guide for health professionals. Front Nutr. 2022;9:970364.
