April is National Soy Foods Month and now more than ever, more and more people are enjoying soy. Soymilk, soy burgers and soy cheese are showing up in consumers' shopping carts now more than ever. The American Soybean Association (ASA) encourages all members to take a stroll through a local grocery store and look for soy foods front and center.

Soymilk can be found in a multitude of flavors in the dairy section and tasty soy nuts show up near sunflower seeds in the snack food aisle. Today, edamame (the green soybean) embellishes salads at fast food restaurants and soy spaghetti is a well-liked entrée on school lunch menus.

Soy offers many health benefits and that is positively impacting the popularity and use of soy. Eating soy has been known to lower cholesterol. It may also help in the prevention of certain illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease, cancers, osteoporosis and diabetes. Soy foods are an excellent choice for weight management as protein helps delay feelings of hunger.

So the next time you are in the grocery store, at a restaurant or at home cooking a meal, look for ways to incorporate soy into your diet. Join a growing number of people who are benefiting from the nutritional and health advantages of soy.

For more information about Soy Foods Month and soy foods in general, visit http://www.soyfoodsmonth.org.