Soy is known to effectively fight cholesterol because it contains proteins that reduce total and LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, according to the analysis of a group of studies published in 2007.1.

To reap its benefits, it is estimated that a daily intake of 25 grams of soy protein is necessary. Soy can be eaten as tofu, as a drink, but there are also textured soy proteins to rehydrate that can easily replace ground meat (which has bad fats) in many preparations.

Soy also has the advantage of being low in calories and high in calcium, making it a staple among vegetarians.