Making good choices is true for everyone, vegans and meat eaters.

Here is a list of some reading materials:

The China Study

The Face on Your Plate

What We Eat, Why Our Food Choices Matter

Soy was merely mentioned as a possible plant based protein source. While the consumption of soy is certainly controversial these days, I am not sure that adding a few cubes of tofu to your stir fry or having a cup of miso soup every once in a while is going to have any severe consequences. The issues arise when one consumes copious amounts of processed foods that have added soy or isoflavones. Isoflavones, the flavonoid in soy that all the buzz was once about, are endocrine disruptors that mimic the action of estrogen. Our bodies know how to handle the small amounts of isoflavones naturally occuring in tofu. Feed it soy nuts by the bagful or food bars containing concentrated levels of isoflavones and the body may not know what to do with it all. I am no soy expert, but I would say excess soy intake should be avoided, but a little naturally occuring soy now and again should not hurt you. There are plenty of other good, plant based protein food choices for one to choose from to ensure adequate protein in their diet.

When looking for a way of eating that will keep LDL levels in check, a diet low in saturated fats should be followed. Saturated fat is primarilly found in animal products.

also- since most vegan's/vegetarians don't get enough protein, over all they are going to be lighter but it's really not a good comparison. By association people that eat a lot of red meat often don't care about their health. So they are more likely to eat trans fats, lots of saturated fats, soda, candy, etc.

It's an unfair assumption to say that someone who eats meat is 3 times more likely to be obese, when in actuality, those who are careless about their food choices would more likely. Also- you mention that this statistic has been reported. Do you happen to have a link to this study? I'd be very interested in reading it.

Just as there are healthy vegans/vegetarians there are plenty of healthy meat eaters as well, evidence shows it really doesn't come down to if you eat meat or not, it has more to do with other "good choices" one makes about their food.

I've red studies supporting both sides, I'm mostly wondering how soy is a justifiable meat substitute (for health reasons) when there is so much evidence suggesting otherwise?