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Soy, Oh Boy!
A few years ago you may not have heard of a delicious little Asian bean called the soybean, but today it is impossible not to find it in numerous aisles of the supermarket. It turns out that Asian countries have been in on the secret of all the great nutritional benefits that the soybean has to offer for thousands of years, and only in the past few centuries has it made it's way over to America. Well, let's just be happy that soy came into our lives because it has various health benefits.
Since it is a plant, soy products contain little or no saturated fats, but they do provide omega-3 fatty acids and are thought to lower "bad" cholesterol. Natural soy products also contain all 9 essential amino acids so it is a great source of protein. It is actually one of the only vegetables that contains more proteins than carbs! Soy has lots of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and is suggested to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, and aid reduction of hot flashes and menopausal woes.
Soy has been used to make tons of food products and can easily be incorporated into your diet. There is soy milk, soy nuts, soy yogurt, soy flour, tofu, edamame. It's easy to enjoy soy products, just substitute it as milk in a smoothie or cereal. You can also stir fry vegetables with tofu or make a delicious fruit parfait with soy yogurt. The possibilities are endless. So go ahead, enjoy the taste and benefits of the soybean! |
