Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) afflicts the air passageways to the lungs, making them smaller and tighter. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two examples of COPD, though COPD also includes afflictions like asthma.

COPD is usually brought on by the inhalation of noxious gasses, like cigarette smoke. In fact, as if you didn't already know that smoking was bad for you, 90% of COPDs are caused by cigarette smoke.

New research shows that soy products, such as soymilk and tofu, can aid in lung recovery. Soy has long been known to reduce cholesterol and aid in the alleviation of menopause symptoms, but a new Japanese study published in "Respiratory Research" has shown that soy can also lower the risk of attaining COPD and other negative respiratory symptoms.

A team of physicians led by Dr. Fumi Hirayama and Professor Andy Lee from Curtin University of Technology, Australia, polled 300 patients with COPD from six Japanese hospitals about their soy intake.

"Soy consumption was found to be positively correlated with lung function and inversely associated with the risk of COPD," said Hirayama. "It has been suggested that flavonoids from soy foods act as an anti-inflammatory agent in the lung, and can protect against tobacco carcinogens for smokers. However, further research is needed to understand the underlying biological mechanism."

Even though tossing your Marlboro Reds is probably the best method of COPD prevention, this study reaffirms the health benefits related to soy products.

Soy is a source of high-quality protein and essential amino acids that can easily replace the nutrients found in meats with a fraction of the fat and cholesterol. In addition to its ability to fight and prevent COPD it also wards off heart disease, high blood pressure, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Not to mention it makes you smart (meaning, it stimulates brain function, memory and concentration).

And now what would a good proclamation of the benefits of a superfood be without a contradiction? Soy is not exactly the miracle food it was once thought to be. With the upheaval of an industry obsessed with corn and soy oils, many companies have turned to mass-produced soy products which often contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

These often include non-organic corn and soy derivatives, canola and cottonseed oils, and sugar from sugar beets. Ingredients such as cornstarch, corn meal, and soy lecithin are examples of common ingredients that are suspect.

While some scientists rave about soy and others denounce it, most agree that-as long as it is consumed in unprocessed or fermented forms, and not genetically modified-soy is beneficial to your health.

This does not, we're sorry to say, include soy milk and tofu. Miso, edemame, and tempeh, however, are great sources of soy that are either fermented or raw and provide healthy meat substitutes.

So while they may never create a "soy-garette" that's actually good for your lungs you can still get a healthier respiratory system just by altering your diet. And who knows? Maybe substituting soy for meat products will finally get you that flat tummy you always wanted. Then you'll really be smokin'!