10 Healthy facts about soybeans & bull; hello healthy

If you are looking for a practical and healthy snack, don't hesitate to choose soybeans. The reason is, this type of bean contains complete nutrients that are good for the body, including fiber, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, protein, various vitamins and minerals. Secretly, soy has a myriad of interesting facts that deserve to be listened to, you know. Come on, find out through the following reviews.

Healthy facts about soybeans

1. The best source of vegetable protein

Soybeans are a great source of high quality protein. This is because soy contains all kinds of essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are the types of amino acids the body needs, but cannot be produced on their own, because they need to be imported from outside through food.

Judging from the nutritional content, every 100 grams of soybeans contain 17 grams of protein which is good for building body muscles. That is why, soybeans are the best source of vegetable protein.

2. Soybeans that are processed into tempeh contain more nutrients than tofu

Tempeh and tofu are two plant-based protein foods that are preferred by many people. Although both are made from soybeans, in fact tempeh is more nutrient dense than tofu. How could that be?

This is influenced by the different processes of making tempeh and tofu. Tempe is made by fermentation, while tofu is made from condensed soy milk.

Soybean, which is the raw material for tofu and tempeh, contains antinutrient compounds. Antinutrients are compounds that can inhibit the absorption of certain nutrients in the body.

Well, this compound cannot be removed through the coagulation process (compaction). Because tofu is made from condensed soy milk, it means that the antinutrient compounds cannot be removed. On the other hand, the antinutrient in tempeh is easier to remove because it is made by fermentation. Well, that's why tempeh contains more nutrients than tofu.

3. Healthier than red meat

According to Kathy McManus, a dietitian and director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard, the amount of protein from processed soy products - such as tofu or edamame - can replace the amount of protein from red meat and other protein sources.

Red meat is high in saturated fat which can cause cholesterol buildup in the body. Meanwhile, soybeans contain polyunsaturated fats (good fats) which are much healthier. So, there is no doubt that soybeans can meet the fat intake the body needs in a healthier way.

4. Reducing the risk of breast cancer

Many people say that soybeans are a trigger for breast cancer in women. In fact, this is just a figment.

In fact, soybeans contain the most isoflavones than any other food ingredient. Isoflavones are a type of antioxidant that can actually help ward off cancer-causing free radicals.

Isoflavones do have estrogen-like properties that can trigger cancer growth - if they are produced in excess. However, according to Marji McCullough, ScD, RD, a director of epidemiology and nutrition at the American Cancer Society, there is no research showing that soy can trigger breast cancer.

The effect is just the opposite, namely soybeans can reduce the risk of breast cancer, as reported by Today's Dietitian. Isoflavones in soy have a balanced way of working, namely acting like estrogen as well as being antiestrogen. That is, these isoflavones can stop excessive estrogen formation while providing antioxidant properties to suppress cancer growth.

5. Eating soy is safe for male fertility

Many people say that men should not eat soybeans because they can trigger fertility problems. It is feared that the isoflavone content in soy can reduce the male hormone testosterone, making it infertile.

In fact, a study shows that men who consume 40 milligrams of soy isoflavones every day for 4 months do not experience a decrease in the quality of the hormone testosterone or sperm count. This means that soy does not make men experience fertility problems. In fact, consumption of soybeans can actually reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men.

6. Soy milk is safe for children under five

Many parents do not provide soy milk for children for fear that their little one's development will be disrupted. In fact, until now there has been no research that has been able to prove it.

This is evidenced by a 2012 study comparing the development of babies who are given breast milk, cow's milk and soy milk. In fact, all babies show normal growth and development in the first year of life.

However, breast milk remains the best food for babies until they are two years old. After that, then you can give soy milk according to doctor's recommendations.

7. Soybeans do not trigger hypothyroidism

You may have heard a myth that reveals that the phytoestrogen content in soy can trigger hypothyroidism. Phytoestrogens are compounds in plants that are similar to estrogens in the human body. Estrogen is one of the risk factors for cancer if the levels are excessive in the body.

Indeed, a study published in Clinical Thyroidology in 2011 found that as many as ten percent of women developed hypothyroidism after eight weeks of taking soy protein supplements. But in reality, this only occurs in women who contain 16 mg of phytoestrogens per day, aka with an excessive dose.

Meanwhile, women who took soy protein supplements at low doses did not show any changes in thyroid function. So, soybeans are not proven to trigger hypothyroidism if they are still consumed within reasonable limits.

8. Lowering blood sugar and healthy heart

Soybeans are one of the foods that allows you to reap two benefits at once, namely keeping blood sugar stable and maintaining heart health. This is influenced by the low glycemic index level of soybeans.

The glycemic index is a value that shows how quickly your body converts carbohydrates into blood sugar. Each type of food and drink has a different glycemic index. The higher the glycemic index, the faster carbohydrates will be converted into blood sugar. As a result, blood sugar levels in the body will also rise faster.

The good news is, soybeans contain a low glycemic index so they don't make your blood sugar rise dramatically. At the same time, these nuts can also make the heart healthier, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease.

9. Reducing the effects of hot flashes in menopausal women

Based on a study published in the journal Menopause in 2012, eating soy foods can help relieve the symptoms that appear when women enter menopause. In particular is the sensation of heat and scorching that is common at night (hot flashes).

Starting to enter menopause, the hormone estrogen in the body will decrease dramatically. It is these hormonal changes that cause you to 'overheat' at menopause.

Consuming one to two servings of soy each day has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity hot flash. However, further research is still needed to find out how long this soy is effective against hot flash in menopausal women.

10. Make full longer

For those of you who are on a diet, soybeans can be a healthy snack choice for you. This is because soybeans are a type of legume that has a low glycemic index level.

Foods with a low glycemic index tend to be absorbed more slowly by the body. By eating soy snacks, your stomach will feel fuller longer and control your appetite. As a result, you will not go crazy when you eat a big meal.