Soy is one of the most controversial products, as it combines both benefits and harms. Almost every person, even if not on purpose, ate soy, since even the most common foods - sausage, chocolate, mayonnaise, and so on - can contain it.
The homeland of soy and its composition
The homeland of soybeans is East Asia, and the product itself belongs to legumes. It was here that soybean cultivation was first introduced. Whatever the negative side of this plant, it can still be confidently called one of the most valuable crops in the world. A distinctive feature of soy is its composition, namely, a high protein content. The protein component in these beans exceeds 40 percent and it is worth noting that the quality of soy protein is not very different from vegetable. In addition, the plant is rich in beneficial trace elements and vitamins. In the composition of soy, you can find iron, magnesium, phosphorus and other elements necessary for the human body.
Soya Benefits
Since soy is a rather cheap product, it gained its popularity not only due to its composition, but also due to its availability. This factor allows soy to mimic products such as milk and meat, which are much more expensive in the traditional version. Now you can meet meat and milk from soybeans not only in vegetarian restaurants, but also on the menu of ordinary meat lovers who have certain difficulties with money. However, it is worth considering that in large quantities soy can harm the body.
If we talk about the beneficial properties of soy, it is first of all worth highlighting the presence of isoflavones in the composition, which reduce the risk of oncology, namely breast cancer. Also, products containing soy are characterized by a low percentage of fats and carbohydrates. For this reason, the human body easily assimilates them. For example, soy-based tofu cheese is recommended for people with gastrointestinal problems.
Since soy has a low calorie content and does not contain cholesterol, it is often included in diets for those who want to lose weight. At the same time, a big advantage is the satiety of these beans and, as an added bonus, a large number of minerals and vitamins that are healthy. Also, soy products are recommended to be included in the diet for people who have been diagnosed with the second type of diabetes. This product corrects carbohydrate metabolism and normalizes the acid balance in the body. In addition, soy meat and milk can be consumed during fasting, which for many will be a very convenient solution. With proper preparation of soy products, it will be very difficult to distinguish them from traditional ones.
Disadvantages of soy
However, despite the fact that soy is a valuable plant crop, this product may also pose a danger to human health, so before using it, you should carefully familiarize yourself with all the contraindications. In particular, soy can have a depressing effect on the thyroid gland and disrupt the endocrine system. Doctors recommend not giving children soy milk, since with regular use they can be more often diagnosed with thyroid disease. There is also a version that for the female body, some elements in the composition of soybeans are a kind of contraceptives, therefore, when planning to have a baby, it is better to exclude soy dishes from your menu.
If you want to go on a soy diet, it should be borne in mind that it should be diluted with traditional food, as a large consumption of these legumes will not give the effect that you expect, and even on the contrary, it can affect health far from the best way. This also includes the version that daily use of soybean triggers premature aging in the human body. Completely abandon such products need people suffering from metabolic disorders of uric acid. It is strictly forbidden to use soy to those who have urolithiasis, since oxalates, which contain these amazing beans, can provoke the appearance of new stones. It is also very careful to introduce soy in the diet for people who have an allergic reaction to legumes. In addition, some are seriously confused by the fact that soy often becomes an experimental object of geneticists, and accordingly, products from this plant may contain GMOs.
Soy and Cholesterol
Scientists still have not come to a consensus about whether soy is useful or harmful, so in any case, when you eat it, you should be very careful. In 1995, clinical trials were conducted on soybeans, which led to the conclusion that, by consuming about 50 grams of soya daily, it is possible to lower cholesterol in the body and, accordingly, reduce the risk of various cardiological diseases, including strokes and heart attacks. This norm in translation to finished products is equal to 680 grams of tofu or 8 glasses of soy milk. Nevertheless, it is not worth counting on reducing soy cholesterol alone, as this requires a comprehensive diet.
Soy and cancer
To this day, scientists are puzzling over whether soy products really prevent breast cancer. According to one version, they, on the contrary, increase the risk of serious cancer, as the soybean composition is very diverse and some elements in it have an estrogen-like effect. Nevertheless, the majority nevertheless tends to the fact that regular consumption of soy products contributes to the activation of the antiestrogenic effect, and accordingly, the risk of getting cancer is minimized. Corresponding studies were conducted on Shanghai women, and it turned out that the group that consumed soy in adolescence, after a few years, had an almost 60 percent lower risk of cancer.
Soya in cooking
Before different soybean varieties can be used in cooking, it must be preliminarily prepared, namely, soak the beans for at least 12 hours. After that, they are thoroughly washed, boiled until cooked and used for their intended purpose.
Among the finished products that contain soy, it is worth highlighting not only tofu, milk and chocolate, but also various sauces, as well as meat.
Popular Soy Products
Soybean oil, which is obtained by cold pressing, is actively used in cooking. They can be seasoned with salads, used for frying or baking. By taste, soybean oil slightly resembles a nut. A sludge in a bottle with a small amount of sediment is allowed. For many, soy is a famous soy sauce that goes well with Japanese dishes, namely sushi and rolls. This sauce is obtained by fermenting boiled soybeans with ground roasted wheat.
Soy meat, which must be soaked before cooking, is also worth mentioning. On sale you can find only dried meat semi-finished products containing soy, which swell in water and take the desired shape.
Thus, there is still no unequivocal opinion on whether soy dishes are useful, so before you eat foods containing these beans, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons, and it is better to consult with your doctor.