Soy is one of a few plants in which complementary protein is present, containing 8 essential amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, lysine, threonine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, valine), which cannot be produced by the organism, but are indispensable for its proper functioning. Soy contains no cholesterol. It is a rich source of nutriceuticals, isoflavones, protease inhibitors, phytic acid, cellulose, which are capable of inactivation of carcinogens, stimulation of the immune system, and possess a number of properties which may be used in prevention of cardiovascular diseases and other civilization-related pathologies (atherosclerosis, neoplasms).
The paper presents metabolism of isoflavones in the human organism, as well as the hypotheses concerning molecular mechanisms of the effect of genistein, which is the most abundant isoflavone occurring in soy. The
most important effects of soy and its components on human organism are also discussed.

Keywords: soy, civilization-related diseases