The discovery of several macronutrients in soya beans capable of slowing down the progression of diabetes, prostate cancer and delaying menopausal symptoms in women over 40 has led to high demand for soya-based products in the country. Managing Director of Golden Effect Ventures (Nig) Ltd, an Agege-based manufacturing and packaging company, Bartholomew Nneji spoke to CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on these issues as well as the health benefits of consuming golden boy soya milk powder, among other issuesSoya beans have been in existence for long, why the renewed interest in their consumption'SOYA beans are among the oldest vegetables in the eastern countries and have been cultivated in China for over 3,000 years. The reason for this lies in their nutritive value. They contain three major macronutrients required for healthy living. They are proteins, carbohydrates and fats.Others are vitamins, calcium, folic acid and iron. They have been adjudged the only plant food that contains complete proteins and provides the essential amino acid in the amount needed for human health and development.Embracing soya beans as complete food nutrition enhances supply of required cells and materials necessary for the body nourishment, which replenishes worn out tissues.A well balanced diet is the most important requirement for healthy living. Good nutrition helps to reduce the risk of getting a number of diseases out of the system, ranging from diabetes to heart-related diseases.Soya's culinary versatility and exceptional health benefits are a relatively recent phenomenon in the West. The soya bean is the most widely grown and utilized legume in the world and one of the most well researched, health-promoting foods available for mankind. Like other beans, soya beans grow in pods, featuring edible seeds.Soya beans made their first appearance in the United States in the 18th century, planted by an American who brought them from China. American farmers began planting soya beans in the 19th century.It was not until the early 20th century, when nutrition pioneers such as George Washington Carver and John Harvey Kellogg discovered their health benefits that they began to receive greater public attention.Today, the United States is the world's leading commercial producer of soya beans. But Golden boy soya bean milk powder is made from non-Gmo soya beans in China.How does consumption of soya beans milk reduce menopausal symptoms in women'Women in Japan and China typically have fewer hot flushes during menopause than their Western counterparts. This observation led to research into dietary differences, including the fact that Asian women tend to have soya-rich diets, while Western women have meat-rich diets.It is thought that a soya-rich diet helps reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes because the phytoestrogens act like a mild form of hormone replacement therapy.The reduction rate of hot flushes varies from one study to the other, from 1.9 per cent to 45 per cent. More research is needed, but soya beans offer promise in helping women to manage menopausal hot flushes. The studies suggest that one needs at least 2-3 serves of soya products daily. This would mean either: 500ml soya milk per day, 100g tofu per day and four to five slices of soya linseed bread per day.In fact, with golden boy soya milk and four slices of soya linseed bread per day, women are sure of reduction in the rate of menopausal stage.Why any interest in golden boy soya milk powder when there are other liquid soya products in the market'Well, there are other liquid soya products but they are not enough. They are not as affordable as golden boy. After extensive market research, we realised that there is no processed soya product packaged in powdery form. Of course, golden boy soya-milk has been in used in China for years and we decided to bring it into Nigeria. It is made easier for consumers by producing soya bean milk powder in a sachet that is handy and readily available for all and sundry.But this doesn't answer the yearning inquiry into why buyers should prefer this product to other brands'Golden boy is highly soluble in water and dissolves easily whether in cold, hot or warm water. It is a good alternative to milk, good for everyone, especially the growing ones.It is creamy and lacks the odour usually associated with soya beans, bearing in mind the African's low tolerance to cholesterol.Golden boy soya milk is an improved nutrition that ensures fewer invasions of diseases in the body. It is the closest affordable substitute to meat. With the help of advanced food technology, the nutritive value of the milk is retained during preparation for good taste.Why can't this be processed in Nigeria than China'We are working towards it, but the problem is the epileptic supply of power in the country. For now, we have an agreement with the Chinese company that after five years of this project, we can bring the business back to Nigeria.This is a challenge. Of course, we will face greater challenges when we begin to produce locally due to overhead cost. This will result in high-cost of production and consequently high prices for the finished products.What are these benefits of soya beans that could be derived from consuming golden boy soya milk'Soya beans are regarded as equal in protein quality to animal foods. A cup of soya beans provides 57.2 per cent of the Daily Value (DV) for protein for less than 300 calories and only 2.2 grams of saturated fat.Soya protein tends to lower cholesterol levels, while consuming protein from animal sources tends to raise them, since they include saturated fat and cholesterol.You mentioned low cholesterol, how does it impact on blood pressure'A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition investigated the effects of soya protein and soya isoflavones on blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels in 61 middle-aged men with high risk of developing coronary heart disease. Some contain soya protein and soya isoflavones, while the other contain olive oilFive weeks later, half of the men that consumed diets containing at least 20 grams of soya protein and 80 milligrams of soya isoflavones each day. The effects on their blood pressure, cholesterol levels and urinary excretion of isoflavones were measured, and then compared to those of the other half of the men, who were given a placebo diet containing olive oil.The men consuming soya in their diet were found to have significant reductions in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Not only was their total blood cholesterol significantly lowered, but also their levels of HDL (good) cholesterol significantly increased.While the control group consuming the soya-free diet containing olive oil also experienced an increase in their HDL cholesterol levels, their blood pressure was not affected, nor did their levels of LDL (potentially harmful) cholesterol drop.The researchers concluded that daily intake of at least 20 grams of soya protein (golden boy soya milk) including 80 mg of isoflavones for a minimum of five weeks would be effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in high-risk, middle-aged men.How does soya milk stabilize blood sugar at healthy levels, especially for the diabetics'It's highly beneficial to diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes. The protein in soya beans and other legumes is excellent for diabetic patients, who have problems consuming animal sources of protein.The protein and fiber in soya beans prevent high blood sugar levels and help to keep it under control. Some diabetics have discovered that the effect of soya beans and other legumes in monitoring their blood sugar levels is quite much.Diabetes patients are susceptible to atherosclerosis and heart disease, which is the number one killer of persons with diabetes. Keeping cholesterol levels low with golden boy soya milk may be useful for prevention of heart problems.In addition, soya beans have been shown to lower high triglyceride levels, which tend to be high in diabetic patients. High triglyceride levels are another factor that increases the risk of diabetics having heart disease.Prostate Cancer is common among men over 40 years; does soya milk provide protection against the scourge too'The incidence of prostate cancer is much lower in Asian than Western world, and soya foods is one important reason according to a research published in Cancer Epidemiological Biomarkers and Prevention.A nine-year Japanese study involving 43,509 men ranging in age from 45 to 74 years discovered that those who ate more of soya food and miso had a significantly lower risk of localised prostate cancer.Among the men who were older than 60, the protective effect was stronger. Men, whose diets provided the most genistein had a 48 per cent reduced risk of localised prostate.Similarly, men consuming the most daidzein and soya foods showed 50 per cent and 48 per cent reduced risks of localized prostate cancer, respectively, compared to men consuming the least daidzein and soya foods.
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