Serves: 5

The term super fits. Soy is showing promise on all sorts of health-promoting fronts. It may protect against heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis, and it may ease the hot flashes ant accompany menopause, too. Pretty impressive credentials for a bean the size of a pearl.

Soy gets its health enhancing status from a powerful little plant nutrient called isoflavone, which acts as an antioxidant and a cholesterol-reducer. Soy protein also plays an important role in lowering cholesterol. When soy protein replaces animal protein, such as meat, in the diet, studies have found that blood cholesterol levels can drop. Not only has soy reduced total blood cholesterol, it can also lower LDLs (the artery clogging cholesterol) and slightly raise HDLs (the "good" cholesterol that can remove plaque from the arteries).

Good sources of soy include soy milk, roasted soy nuts, tofu, soy protein powder, soy protein bars, soy flour, soybeans, tempeh (a combination of fermented soybeans and grains) and miso (fermented soybean paste).

From "Betty Crocker's Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cooking Today." Text Copyright 2005 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

More Recipes from the Betty Crocker's Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cooking Today Cookbook:
-BEANS HAVE BENEFITS
-GRAIN'S GOODNESS
-LOW-FAT COOKING 101: CREAMY SOUPS WITHOUT CREAM
-LOW-FAT COOKING 101: SIMPLE STEAMING METHODS
-SUPER SOY
Cheesy Soy Burgers
Creamy Quinoa Primavera
Easy Mac'n Cheese
Gorgonzola Rigatoni With Vegetables
Greek Salad Toss
Indian Lentils & Rice
Layered Enchilada Bake
Mediterranean Couscous
Mexican Black Beans With Cilantro-Chili Sour Cream
Mushroom & Mozzarella Risotto
Mushroom-Curry Bulgur
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Portabella Gemelli
Provolone Eggplant with Chunky Tomato Vinaigrette
Quick Veggie Pizza
Roasted Red Pepper Mostaccioli
Smashed Potato Soup
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Three-Pepper Stir-Fry
Vegetable Manicotti
Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie