I am a healthy eater and have been working with a well-known athletic trainer for about a year now. The combination has been successful in helping me lose body fat and many inches. In an effort to lose those last few unwanted pounds, I recently asked my trainer for nutrition suggestions. One item in my diet he recommended eliminating was soy. He said that it acts similarly to one of the female hormones in that it can trigger the storage of fat. Is there any link between soy and fat?

There has been some concern about possible reproductive problems in women who eat a lot of soy. That's because soy contains phytoestrogens, or plant substances that have a weak estrogen-like action. However, there hasn't been any research to substantiate that possibility.

The only health claim that research has backed up is that soy protein may help lower cholesterol levels when eaten in conjunction with a low-fat diet.

I doubt that pointing the finger at soy foods is really the cause of your inability to lose those last few pounds. There are lots of beneficial reasons to eat soy, especially if you enjoy the flavor! Instead of eliminating this food, try keeping a record of everything you eat and drink for at least one week. Then see if you notice anything that you could change or eliminate that might help you lose weight. And remember that perhaps your weight goal is too ambitious, and your body is trying to tell you something.

Lynn Grieger, R.D., C.D.E., iVillage