The concept that natural components in plant foods could have a beneficial effect on human health is not new. In India, it forms the basis of the practice of traditional system of medicine " Ayurveda", while in A.D. 390 Hippocrates the most celebratedGreek physician said " Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food". The scientific research has now focused on phytochemicals-phytonutrients, natural compounds found in plant foods - soybean that speak directly to our body chemistry with profound effects on our health. When phyto-nutrients enter our body they join our network of messenger molecules. The medicinal effects of soybean is mostly due to its bio-active components-phytochemicals , which exerts their action beyond nutritional benefits. Soybeans are the concentrated sources of isoflavons, weak-phytoestrogens, binds to estrogen receptors and block the bindings of more potent estrogens, indicating lower risk of breast cancer (WCRF,1 997). Consumption of phytochemicals including soy isoflavons may explain the lower incidence of chronic diseases like coronary heart disease and cancer etc.
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