S
oy, also named the “meat of the field”, carries higher protein content as compared to other plants, making it a suitable meat substitute. This is great news for vegetarians and vegans, who depend a lot on soy to serve as meat and sometimes dairy alternatives.
Aside from its high protein content, soy is a good source of fibre, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, iron, folate and other vitamins. Low in fat and sugar, soy contains no cholesterol at all! In fact, a lot of non-vegetarians enjoy soy just as much as vegetarians; not only for its health benefits but also because of the many unique ways to prepare it.
Conceal It
If you do not quite fancy the taste of soy per se, you can choose to have it in form of soy isolates and soy concentrates. Soy flour can also be used when baking cookies, muffins, breads and such. These lovely baked goods will not only be yummy but nutritious too!
True Goodness
It is healthier to eat soy in its whole form like soy milk, tofu, roasted soy nuts because these are not processed, unlike the isolates and concentrates. If you want to take it a step away from the healthier version, opt for the fermented choices such as tempeh, natto and miso. The fermentation process destroys any toxins that might have gotten onto the soy during its growth. Of course, you can always go for the organic varieties of soy!
Variety
The great thing about tofu and tempeh is that they take on the taste of whatever you cook them with (just like shitake mushrooms), so you can be adventurous with flavours. Here’s how you can cook it and include it in your delicious everyday meals. •
You know all about the Chinese Kung Pao Chicken, but how about Kung Pao Tofu? Cook it the same way you would the Kung Pao Chicken, but use baked tofu instead. Throw in lots of vegetables and serve with rice!
• Marinade tempeh with soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, garlic, and powdered chipotle, and grill until golden brown. Maple grilled tempeh can be enjoyed with sandwiches, rice, or even on its own.
• •
Grab some soymilk, vanilla, mango and banana chunks, orange juice and ice cubes. Blend them into a smooth puree for a glass of fresh smoothie. Douhua is a popular Chinese dessert, which is soft tofu in sweet syrup and can be enjoyed chilled or warm.
The Soy Conflict
People have very conflicting views about soy. While some take it as far as calling it miracle food, others think that one would be better off without it. Some concerns include negative effects on thyroid function, but it is still unclear how high one’s soy intake has to be for such a reaction. Soy also contains isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen, which mimics properties of the estrogen but at a lower strength. This causes worry since it might disrupt the production of true estrogen and other hormones when the body thinks that it does not need to make them anymore. However, the phytoestrogen can work in favour for aged women in preventing postmenopausal syndromes (since estrogen production drops during menopause). It also helps to prevent osteoporosis and prevent the loss of bone mass by accelerating our body’s calcium absorption. It is best to consume soy products with caution if you are pregnant or have known health problems, as well to not let infants consume too much of it (not a good idea to let babies take in too much estrogen-like compounds). As with all foods, eat in moderation, and indulge your cravings the best you can!
Apr - Jun 2014 | bewickedmagazine.com
15