What is soy and how is it useful? This question interests almost everyone. What is the reason for this? The fact is that lately, more and more of the mentioned ingredient has been added to the food products familiar to us. Thus, he began to gradually replace meat, as well as other components.
So what is soy and how is it useful? Photos of this product and its features will be presented below.
General information
Soya - what is it? This is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family. Cultivated soybeans are actively cultivated in Southern Europe, Australia and Asia, as well as in South and North America, South and Central Africa, and on the islands of the Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Product Features
Soya - what is it? The seeds of this plant are a fairly common food product. According to experts, such fruits have the following characteristics:
- high protein content (up to 50%);
- high productivity;
- the possibility of preventing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis;
- the presence of a large number of B vitamins, calcium, iron, polyunsaturated fatty acids and potassium.
How to use?
Soy - what is it, and what properties do the fruits in question have? Their unique properties allow the production of a wide range of different products.
Before telling you what harmful soy is, it should be said that it is very often used as an inexpensive substitute for meat and dairy products. Also, these bean fruits are part of the feed for farm animals.
Product benefits
What properties does soy have? The benefits and harms (for health) of this product are the subject of frequent debate by many experts. However, most of them consider such fruits to be unique in a number of indicators.
Scientists have found that the product in question contains a huge amount of genestein, phytic acid and isoflavonoids. They have an effect that is similar to the action of such a female sex hormone as estrogen. This feature of soy causes its certain healing properties, namely the ability to reduce the risk of cancer.
It should also be noted that phytic acid inhibits the development of benign and malignant tumors, and genestein is a unique substance that slows the growth of cancer.
Basic properties
Soy - what is it, and what are its properties? Fermented soy products are often included in the daily diet of both adults and adolescents. Such dishes are used not only as a prophylactic, but also for the treatment of diathesis, diabetes mellitus, various allergic reactions, urolithiasis and gallstone diseases. Moreover, soy is indicated for diseases of the cardiovascular system and liver.
Not so long ago, experts found that the composition of the product includes lecithin, acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine. These substances effectively restore and reconstruct brain and nerve tissue cells, and also have a positive effect on learning, cognitive abilities and memory.
It is impossible not to say that all of the above elements play an important role in supporting the human sexual function and reproductive system. In addition, they restore strength after mental and moral stress, and also support the patient's motor activity.
What else is useful for the product in question? Lecithin, which is part of it, is able to control blood cholesterol, enhance the metabolism of adipose tissue and participate in other metabolic processes of the body. Also, this component inhibits tissue degradation and aging processes, reduces signs of arteriosclerosis, treats amnesia, muscle dystrophy and glaucoma.
What is harmful soybeans in products?
In addition to an impressive list of useful properties of the product in question, it also has a large number of harmful qualities. By the way, the latter can easily negate all the benefits of its use in everyday diet.
Most soy products on the local market are hazardous foods. The only exception is food that was obtained through fermentation.
The most dangerous is genetically modified soy. Experts say that such an ingredient is contaminated with residues of herbicides and does not contribute to maintaining normal health.
How to get GM soy?
Why is genetically modified soy so dangerous? The fact is that in the process of its cultivation, farmers process plantations with a huge amount of such a potent poisonous herbicide as Roundup. The latter is intended not only for weed control, but also for a significant increase in yield.
How does it affect human health?
In the course of numerous studies, experts have found that regular consumption of soy products causes the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland dysfunction, immune system diseases, impaired reproductive function and cognitive abilities, as well as infertility, heart problems and even cancer.
We list some of the consequences that were associated with the frequent use of soy and soy products:
- mammary cancer;
- stones in the kidneys;
- brain damage;
- food allergy (serious forms);
- disorders in the thyroid gland;
- diseases of the immune system;
- sexual disorders in women.
It should also be noted that American scientists found that those of the stronger sex who consumed soy products 3 times a week for a long time, the risk of developing Alzheimer's increased almost 2 times. Also, the abuse of this food often led to a weakening of memory, a decrease in the mass of the brain, and a disturbance in mental processes.
Negative human impact
As mentioned above, soy contains phytic acid. Its excessive intake of the body helps to block the full absorption of zinc, calcium, iron and magnesium. In addition, with the help of soy products, scientists have learned to control the birth rate of laboratory animals. The fact is that in large quantities, phytoestrogen is able to suppress the reproductive function of the body and significantly reduce its ability to conceive.
It should be noted that many manufacturers add soy to infant formula. Often this leads to early puberty of girls and impaired development (physical) in boys. In this regard, the introduction of soy products in baby food is completely unacceptable.