Soybeans Benefits

Soybean is a legume indigenous to East Asian countries, mainly China, Japan and Korea. Popularly used for the production of oil and soy milk, soybean plants are now cultivated across several countries in east and south Asia, as well as in the United States.

Introduced during the years of Great Depression in the United States, soybean cultivation was widely encouraged as a food product. It was also extensively used in the automobile industry.

Benefits of Soybean

• Soybean is a rich source of protein. This makes it an ideal substitute for meat products and is highly preferred in vegetarian diets.
  
  
• Rich in calcium and magnesium, the soybean is very beneficial for children; it promotes proper development and overall heath.
  
  
• This legume is digested easily, and hence, is highly recommended by dieticians for weight watchers.
  
  
• Many scientific studies have linked regular consumption of soybean to the lowering of cholesterol. It is thus highly beneficial for people with heart disease.
  

Some people are allergic to soybean. Therefore, it is recommended that you consult a physician before including the legume in your daily diet.

Soybean is one of the most highly cultivated crops in the world. Apart from being used for direct consumption as food, the legume is used in many processed products like milk, soy oil, soy meals and tofu. It is also used to make margarine, salad dressing and mayonnaise. Soy oil is commonly used in cooking. Soy meals are mainly obtained after removing the fatty content from the protein-rich legume beans. This is mainly used to produce animal food products for pets, fish and farm animals.

Soybean milk is widely used in vegan and vegetarian diets especially in China, Japan and Korea. Tofu is obtained by curdling of soybean and is a popular ingredient in many East Asian dishes.

The benefits of soybeans extends beyond food products. Researchers today are trying to derive fuel from soybean. This bio-diesel is being considered an option for renewable sources of energy. Soy oil is also used as a lubricant in automobiles, in place of diesel. Environmentalists prefer it over petroleum-based lubricants.

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