Is "Good Health" just a hope and a wish, or are we serious about what we say and pray? Do we take our health for granted, or are we actually doing something about it?

Certainly, as we grow older, which is each and every year, health issues become more of a concern. But we shouldn't wait until we are helplessly old, weak and hospitalized to think about our health.

Prevention is always the best cure. Even while young and healthy, we should be more health-conscious, and maintain a healthy diet and regimen to avoid problems later.

Today's proliferation of fast foods (not to mention 'junk food') makes us wary of how over-processed food impacts our health. Terms like pure, organic and fiber are now part of savvy consumers' jargon and vocabulary.

Wholesome foods provide health benefits that can't be duplicated by laboratory concoctions. Serious questions are being raised about the safety of artificial chemicals and preservatives, hormones and genetically engineered food.

Let's take a look inside people's minds on the High Holidays, during those intense emotional moments when we take the stand to pray for our life, and for our beloved.

Here sits Big Ben, a wealthy executive, who's getting to be known not only for his big heart, but also for his big paunch. "Oh G-d," Ben admits, "I ask You, I plead with You, please be generous when You dole out the number of my allotted years. But it's probably a chutzpah for me to nosh on potato chips by the bag, exercise by flipping the remote control, and hope that You'll dig through all that accumulated schmaltz in my arteries to keep me alive and moving."

Elegant Edith prays and muses, "Please G-d, strengthen me as I enter menopause, I'm scared. Protect me from those health menaces I read about; hot flashes, osteoporosis, the family history of breast cancer. Keep me healthy so I can keep up with my teenagers!"

During a break in the service, Hostess Harriet is mentally preparing the Rosh Hashanah meal. "I stopped buying those coffee creamers whose labels read like a chemists' brew, but now I'm stuck. How can I wow my guests with my delicious creamy pumpkin pie at a meat dinner, and what can I offer in their coffee that is pareve?

May G-d inscribe you and your family for a healthy and good life, but G-d also wants us to do our part in a natural way, and soy foods may be the answer to your prayers.

The round little white soybean has taken the center stage of healthy eating. Deceptively humble in appearance, the soybean remained unknown for many years, used only as animal feed in the great American plains, until its nutritional value was recently discovered. "Soy?" You may bemoan. "Isn't that just for health nuts? How much tofu can I eat? I need some tasty to get this blah white bean curd into me!"

Things have changed for the better. Yes, you can now feel healthy and virtuous while delighting in dreamy delectable dishes. In 1984 Japanese researchers and Cornell University food scientists developed a soy beverage based on traditional Japanese recipes. Eden Foods, a natural foods pioneer, started by importing soy from the Far East, and then in 1986, broke ground with their American plant. Made from soaked, ground, cooked and strained organic soybeans, sweetened with barley malt rather than sugar, Edensoy has the highest protein value and the best nutritional profile of soy beverages on the market.

Edensoy has expanded beyond the confines of the health food store. Its convenient aseptic packages are now in the aisles of national grocery chains, selling millions of cases each year.

Versatile, with a creamy texture, Edensoy has a light, mild flavor. It can be used like milk- as a refreshing drink, on cereal, in smoothies, pancake and cake batters and much more. Quiches, pies, puddings, cakes, kugels, ice creams- Edensoy makes them pareve and healthy. Those plant estrogens, isoflavones and phytochemicals are busy at work with each bite!

So, take heart, Big Ben! Soy foods may lower your cholesterol and halt the dangerous progression that clogs the arteries. Rich in complete protein with all the amino acids, soy has no saturated fat. Bone up on your soy intake, Elegant Edith. Soy's isoflavones appear to increase bone mineral content in post-menopausal women and reduce the possibility of osteoporosis. Oriental populations, whose diets are traditionally soy-rich, have lower rates of breast, uterine and prostate cancer than their American counterparts. Soy's phytochemicals may suppress the growth of tumor cells, and its plant estrogens may safely reduce hot flashes.

As for your culinary quest, Hostess Harriet, you'll jump for soy, as it makes you the hostess with the mostest! Have your meat loaf, and eat it (a creamy, healthy dessert) too!

People mistakenly think that the mere fact that food is vegetarian automatically guarantees it to be kosher and pareve. What could be questionable about a soybean?

Certainly, a name like "Eden" sounds pure and pristine, and what could be wrong with the Kashruth of such a biblical name?

Let's not forget that the original Eden, too, had its forbidden fruit. Adam and Eve didn't listen to the rules, and we've been suffering ever since.

The fact is that Health foods do require a trusted kosher supervision. The OK Laboratories has worked in partnership with Eden Foods since its inception over thirty years ago. A pioneer in organic standards, Eden is also living up to the highest Kosher standards. The late Rabbi Berel Levy, the dynamic founder of OK, personally traveled to Japan many times to establish and maintain Kosher supervision over Eden's imported macrobiotic line. Many (but not all) of Eden's oils, tamari soy sauces, whole grain pastas and teas are under the thorough and meticulous supervision of the OK as well.

The OK seal on Eden products insures that all machinery involved in production is kosherized at the right temperature, and that all ingredients and processing are under the guidance of OK Laboratories or are certified Kosher by OK Laboritories.

You can now rest assured that these soy products are good for your body, and also good for your soul.