Soybean is hailed as the most protective bean. Soy contains 40 percent protein. It has the highest protein content amongst plant products. “Soy protein” refers to the protein found in soybeans. The key benefits of soya are its high protein content, vitamins, minerals and insoluble fibre. Soybean is the only vegetable food that contains all eight essential amino acids. Soyabeans are processed to various soya products namely soy flour, soy milk, cottage cheese.
Soy beans contain significant amounts of phytic acid, dietary minerals and B vitamins. Soya beans also contain compounds called phytosterols. These plant compounds are structurally similar to cholesterol and steroid hormones. They function to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol by blocking absorption sites. The soya bean has been transformed into a number of popular soya based foods including:
Miso – a fermented soya bean paste that is used as a flavouring, popular in Asian cuisine. It is a good source of many minerals.
Tempeh – is an Indonesian specialty typically made by cooking and dehulling soya beans and forming a textured, solid ‘cake’. It is a very good source of protein, B vitamins and minerals.