Meat is a killer and should be avoided, and you should get your protein by eating plenty of soy products like tofu, right?

Not necessarily so if research coming out of the U.K. is to be believed. According to a study led by Loughborough University and reported on in the journal Dementias and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, eating high levels of some soy products, including tofu, may raise the risk of memory loss.

The study focused on 719 elderly Indonesians living in urban and rural regions of Java.

The researchers found high tofu consumption - at least once a day - was associated with worse memory, particularly among the over-68s.

According to the same study, however, consumption of tempe may actually improve memory.

The latest study also found that eating tempe, a fermented soy product made from the whole soy bean, was associated with better memory.

Professor Hogervorst said the beneficial effect of tempe might be related to the fact that it contains high levels of the vitamin folate, which is known to reduce dementia risk.

“It may be that that the interaction between high levels of both folate and phytoestrogens protects against cognitive impairment.”

Well, like many other households in Japan, we eat plenty of tofu and other soy products. Because of this, I think. . . ummm. . . . er. . . .ah. . . . ???