According to the American Heart Association, tofu is a good choice if you have high blood cholesterol. New recommendations from the American Heart Association say that people with high cholesterol should consume about 25 to 50 grams of soy protein daily as part of a program aimed at lowering cholesterol.
The new recommendation is the result of analysis of 38 clinical studies that demonstrated that substituting soy products such as tofu for meat and other foods containing animal proteins lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol by as much as 8%. Substituting soy for meat products also lowers triglycerides, another blood product that has been associated with heart disease, while increasing "good" HDL cholesterol. The US Food and Drug Administration allows makers of low-fat foods containing at least 6.25 grams of soy to include a health claim on the label.
The new soy recommendation is part of an ongoing program of revisions and additions to AHA dietary recommendations. In addition to the soy recommendation, Krauss said the AHA will be making a specific recommendation on red wine in the near future. Several studies have suggested that a glass or two of red wine daily may reduce the risk of heart disease.
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