Soy protein and weight loss – what is the connection? Some knuckleheads insist that soy protein and weight loss are directly connected, because, wait for it, soy protein contains special compounds that promote weight loss. What evidence do they have? None, of course. In fact, when it comes to soy protein, we know that most soy protein bars, for example, are made using low-grade proteins.

But it does not stop at just inane claims about special properties of soy protein to induce weight loss. Some “experts” claim that soy milks and yogurts are healthier than dairy products. Is it true?

No. Soy foods are a nutritious source of protein, says Marion Nestle, Ph.D., a nutrition professor at New York University, “but soy products are not essential. They are just a food.” Nestle says the science is “painfully inconsistent” about whether soy helps protect against breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopausal hot flashes or osteoporosis.

“At the moment it is not possible to prove that soy has any special health benefits beyond minor effects on cholesterol lowering,” Nestle says. Some research even suggests that soy products may cause the very health problems they are thought to prevent. It is likely, Nestle says, any health effects derived from soy are too small to make a difference. [source: What to Eat]