Tofu, Healthy or Not?

Lately there has been a lot of controversy over the health benefits and risks of tofu and other soy products. Especially, it seems, those who are anti-vegetarian have been willing to embrace the idea that soy is not good for you.

It is true that soy contains a chemical that mimics the action of estrogen and it is feared that this may add to the risk of breast cancer, however studies show that this estrogen-like chemical actually has protective effects against breast cancer.

On the other hand, there are those that are extremists to the other direction; those who believe more is always better. They point to the Chinese and Japanese who have been eating tofu for centuries and enjoy great health. However, they do not eat it in the amounts that most Americans do (even those with a tofu aversion will find it hard to avoid soy as it is in almost every processed food on the market).

Tofu DOES contain complete protein (soy is the only vegetarian food that can boast this), is inexpensive, and has been shown to support health probably because it contains many trace minerals and omega-3 fats, which are growing in popularity as more is discovered about them.

The key here is, like any minimally processed food, tofu and other soy products are a healthy part of the diet in MODERATION. Make sure not to over-do it and balance tofu with other protein and nutrient-dense foods.