Soy Benefits
Soy benefits have been recognized for a long time in Asia as soy has been consumed for thousands of years. First written record of soy growing goes back to 2800 BC. It was used back then as a type of antibiotic to reduce swelling and to treat wounds. It was only by the end of 18th century – beginning of 19th century, we come across soy bean crops in Europe.
Nowadays there is plenty of official research that talk about soy benefits, thanks to organizations like American Soybean Association and universities and we started seeing more of soy products on supermarket shelves in Western countries. Therefore, this oriental legume is getting more and more consumers making it a part of their diets.
The soybean is a legume, however as it is high in oil, it is also considered as a type of oilseed. Whether a legume or oilseed, soybean has an excellent nutritional profile. It contains no cholesterol, 18% fat- most of which is polyunsaturated vegetable oil, 15% carbohydrates, 15% dietary fiber and a whopping 40% protein- it provides the majority of essential amino acids needed by your body. It contains vitamins B6 and E and is also rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, manganese, phosphorus and folate.
Soy, in terms of protein content, is as good as meat, only without the bad stuff that comes from the animal sources of protein. As soybeans are believed to prevent various diseases due to their nutritional profile, they are also considered to be a protective agent.
The most commonly and easily found soy product at the shops is soy milk with added A, D and B vitamins, which makes it a great alternative for those with lactose intolerance. Other soy products include tofu, cheese, yogurt, soy drinks, vegetable butter and more.
So it may be wise to drink a glass of soy milk or consume other soy products from time to time to reap the soy benefits for health, such as fighting bad cholesterol, preventing hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, prostate and breast cancers, treating osteoporosis, helping control diabetes, reducing the symptoms of menopause. It is also beneficial for kidney and liver health.
A recent research carried out by the Buffalo University found that men that consume soy products regularly decreased their risk of prostate cancer and women the risk of developing type 1 breast tumor.
It is even more interesting observing those that consume a lot of soy products and the number of diabetics among them. There are fewer cases of diabetes among those with a higher soy intake, according to Massachusetts University researchers. Glycemic index value of soy milk is 44 and its glycemic load is 8 for a glass (one serving). Soybeans are one of the lowest GI foods among legumes with a glycemic index value of 20 to 25.
Soy milk is actually better digestible than cow’s milk because humans need an enzyme called lactase to digest lactose. While these are found in good amounts in infants, but after a while they are lost, resulting in poor digestion and symptoms such as intestinal gas, bloated tummy, heartburn and more. Older adults are less likely to tolerate normal milk while not having such problems with soy milk.
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