SNI Global

The Soy Nutrition Institute provides information, research, and discussion about the benefits of soy to your health.

processed Soy

Learn more about evaluating foods by nutritional value rather than level of processing

The healthfulness of food is best measured by its nutrient content and its effects on health—not by its processing level. Soy foods are a prime example of how modern food processing can deliver nutrient-dense options.

This fact sheet examines this topic in more detail:

  1. Nutrient quality contributes to healthfulness
  2. Not all processed foods are alike
  3. Soy foods deliver proven benefits
  4. Avoid oversimplifying dietary guidance
  5. The PROs of PROcessing

Click here to view the fact sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is soy protein processed?

Watch this video to learn the basics.

Are minimally processed soy foods like whole soybeans, tofu, and edamame better for you than other foods with soy ingredients?

Soy is available in a variety of forms, like edamame, tofu, and whole soybeans, as well as concentrated sources of protein often found in processed foods. Soy is prized for its functionality and nutritional benefits, often boosting the overall nutrition profile of a processed food like soymilk, soy-based meat alternatives, and soy protein bars. These foods are accessible, convenient, and often cost-effective choices and can support an overall health eating pattern. They can also bridge the gap between an omnivorous and flexitarian diet because plant-based meat alternatives can sate cravings for popular animal proteins. Depending on which soy food you choose, they can offer protein, unsaturated fat, fiber, and valuable probiotics.

In fact, the majority of intervention studies that research soy and/or soy isoflavone intake use isolated soy protein, isoflavone supplements, and other concentrated sources of soy or isoflavones.

ResOURCES

Navigating the Nuances of Ultra-Processed Foods

Blog: It’s Not About Fake Meat, or Even Processing; It’s About Poor Overall Diet Quality

Blog Post: Ultra-processed foods help vegans meet protein requirements

Processed Foods vs. Whole Foods: What a Dietitian Wants You to Know

Reconciling Your Diet: Soy and Ultra-processed Foods Guide

Video: Are Soy Foods Ultra-Processed?

Video: Soy Myth-Busting by Whitney English

Explore the Research

Dietary guidance on plant-based meat alternatives for individuals wanting to increase plant protein intake

Nova fails to appreciate the value of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives in the diet

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of substituting soymilk for cow’s milk and intermediate cardiometabolic outcomes: understanding the impact of dairy alternatives in the transition to plant-based diets on cardiometabolic health

Dietary Guidelines Meet NOVA: Developing a Menu for A Healthy Dietary Pattern Using Ultra-Processed Foods (2023, Hess et al.)

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases: a multinational cohort study (2023, Cordova et al.)

Perspective: Soy-based Meat and Dairy Alternatives, Despite Classification as Ultra-processed Foods, Deliver High-quality Nutrition on Par with Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Animal-based Counterparts. (2022, Messina et al.)

This page is supported by SNI Global and U.S. Soy.