2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Soy belongs to the legume family and originates from East Asia. It has been used as an important source of protein in the Orient for five thousand years. Soybeans were introduced to the Western world in the 20th century.
The plant soy grows in a variety of soils and a wide range of climates, ranging from tropical in Brazil to frosty on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. When the soybeans ripen, their fruits become hard and dry. Although most soybean varieties are yellow in color, there are also rare varieties that are black, brown or green.
Soy composition
Soybeans is a plant product that is suitable for everyone who wants to eat healthy. It is high in cellulose, lecithin, omega-3 fatty acids, phytoestrogens and isoflavones. Soy contains vitamins A, C, E, H, B6, B9, B12 and many minerals. There are so many proteins in soy that soy is rightly called the meat of vegetarians.
100 g soy contains 446 calories, 19 g fat, 36.5 g protein and 30 g carbohydrates.
Selection and storage of soybeans
Fresh soy it is necessary to store in the refrigerator, using within two days. Frozen soybeans can be stored for several months. Dried soybeans, in turn, can be stored in an airtight container for a longer period of time.
Culinary use of soy
The use of soy is most often associated with its transformation into other foods, such as tempeh, tofu, miso, soy milk or other nutrients. However, boiled soy can also be used as an ingredient in soups, sauces and stews. The most famous soy products are:
Soy sauce - This is a common spice that fits perfectly in a number of vegetable and meat dishes.
Soybean oil - The advantage of this type of oil, as well as the others is that it has no cholesterol. It has a neutral taste and is also very rich in important fatty acids. It is most often used to prepare various marinades for salads, but the fact that it can withstand temperatures above 180 degrees makes it suitable for low-temperature grilling and frying. It is also used for suffocation.
Tofu - white, almost tasteless soy name, which rightly bears the title "king of soy products". It is very widely used in cooking - roasted, grated in vegetables or combined with various vegetables. Soy cheese can be marinated with soy sauce or olive oil with spices, resulting in a cheese with a very strong aroma and taste. Keep in mind that tofu has the ability to absorb foreign odors.
Soybeans - fried or baked soy is a very popular breakfast. If you want to eat healthy, choose roasted soybeans without salt.
Soy milk is also gaining widespread popularity, especially among vegans. It is also a very good choice for people who suffer from lactose intolerance.
Soy flour it can be used in all dishes in which wheat is added, but it is still necessary to mix it with the latter.
Benefits of soy
Soy has extremely many health benefits that come in the form of soy protein quality and the form of the isoflavones genistein and daidzein. The main health benefits of soybeans can be summarized in the following categories:
- Soybeans improves bone strength. Soy products, such as soy milk, do not contain much calcium, but soy isoflavones can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. A number of studies have shown that soy isoflavones may be a factor that helps prevent bone loss.
- Soy reduces the risk of heart disease. In countries where soy products are taken regularly, the risk of cardiovascular disease is lower. Studies show that soy can help prevent heart disease by lowering total cholesterol, lowering lipoprotein cholesterol and preventing plaque formation in the arteries, which can lead to stroke or heart attack. These health benefits are also mainly attributes of soy isoflavones. Genistein can increase the flexibility of blood vessels.
- Soy helps prevent some cancers. Several studies have shown that regular intake of soy foods can help prevent hormones associated with cancers such as breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer.
Soy products such as tofu, tempeh and soy milk are very rich in protein. This protein is of very high quality because it contains all the essential amino acids. Soy is a good source of lecithin and vitamin D. These natural antioxidants prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Soy is also rich in magnesium, which plays an important role in bone, heart and artery health.
Harm from soy
It is possible that some people may be intolerant to soybeans, but it is still debatable what amount would cause an allergy. On the other hand, soy is one of the most vulnerable to GMO contamination.
Recommended:
A Brief History Of Soybeans
Many years ago, Europeans visited China and there were amazed to see that people made cheese even though they did not know milk and dairy products. When they saw the soybeans, they were amazed by this plant. The Chinese wanted to combine the process of soaking and cooking soybeans, because it takes a long time to soak, because it contains many carcinogenic substances.
A Bulgarian Company That Traded In Dangerous GMO Soybeans Was Fined
The Burgas District Court imposed a maximum fine of BGN 1,000 on a company from Kameno, in whose workshops a dangerous GMO soybean was found for sale. The magistrates confirmed the full amount of the sanction, which was imposed by the inspectors of the Food Safety Agency during a surprise inspection.
