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Soy Protein may be Superior to Whey for Strength Training
Many male weight lifters view soy protein as inferior to whey for their training needs. This has been a long standing belief in the weight training and body building communities. New research, however, shows that because of it's strong oxidative properties, soy out ranks whey when it comes to controlling muscle damage and repairing it.
The notion that soy is inferior to whey really has no basis. It's just gym folklore. There are also a lot of guys who think that the minute amout of phytoestrogens (natural female hormones) in soy will make them weak or interfere with their own male testosterone development. More folklore.
One recent study measured the effects of soy protein on muscle weight gain and "antioxident status". Having high antioxidents means your body can kill those nasty free radicals and soy is full of them. As expected, the soy protein reduced free radicals during exercise which lessened muscle damage and fatigue. Muscle mass was significantly increased, equal to or more than whey.
Besides measuring up to it's competitors in the gym, there are other health benefits to using soy as a protein source:
* There is significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides
and lipoproteins when one switches from a diet high in animal fats to one that is soy based.
* Soy is rich in an unsaturated fat called linoliec acic which can lower cholesterol.
* Certain phytochemicals in soy offer protection against heart disease.
* Phytochemicals appear to have a favorable effect on the brain.
* Soy appears to aid in the formation of lean body mass. (definitely of interest to body builders)
* Soy's phytoestrogens can be helpful to women needing hormonal
treatment
Soy protein is one of the healthiest food choices you can make. For athletes looking to put on muscle it's also one of the best choices. Recent research has shown that soy builds muscle mass just like whey. Soy has the added benefit of reducing the oxidative stress that causes muscle damage by means of antioxidents and can more quickly facilitate repair. You won't get this from whey or any other kind of protein.
About the Author: Dr. Lanny Schaffer is an Exercise Physiologist and the President of The International Fitness Academy. For more cutting edge fitness news go to http://www.aerobic-exercise-coach.com
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