Written by Khyati Desai Katoch
,
Monday, 30 November 2009 11:16
The first domestication of soybean has been traced to the eastern half of North China in the eleventh century B.C. or perhaps a bit earlier. Soybean has been one of the five main plant foods of China along with rice, soybeans, wheat, barley and millet.
The majority of the soybean crop is processed into oil and meal. Oil extracted from soybeans is made into shortening, margarine, cooking oil, and salad dressings. Soybeans account for 80 percent or more of the edible fats and oils consumed in the United States.
Soy oil is also used in industrial paint, varnishes, caulking compounds, linoleum, printing inks, and other products.
Development efforts in recent years have resulted in several soy oil-based lubricant and fuel products that replace non-renewable petroleum products.
Lecithin, a product extracted from soybean oil, is a natural emulsifier and lubricant used in many food, commercial, and industrial applications. As an emulsifier, it can make fats and water compatible with each other. For example, it helps keep the chocolate and cocoa butter in a candy bar from separating. It is also used in pharmaceuticals and protective coatings.
The high protein meal remaining after extraction can be processed into soybean flour for human food or incorporated into animal feed. Soybean protein helps balance the nutrient deficiencies of such grains as corn and wheat, which are low in the important amino acids, lysine and tryptophan.
Nutrient Content
Soybeans contains carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals like calcium, folic acid and iron.
Health Benefits of Soybean
Soybean is an excellent food for diabetes.
It is easily digested and is one of the most nourishing and body building foods in the world.
Soybeans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. This makes it important in preventing colon cancer by increasing the stool bulk
Soybean helps in reducing the cholesterol levels. Soybean actually helps in reducing the total and the low density lipoprotein(LDL). Soybean also maintains the levels of the High density lipoprotein(HDL). These both help to reduce the risk of various diseases like heart attacks.
Enjoying soy foods daily for just 6 months can be enough to exert beneficial effects on bone in menopausal women.
Soyfoods are perfect for breakfast, especially when trying to lose weight because they are filled with bone-building and heart-healthy soy protein, plus they reduce overall calories and fat grams.
Including soyfoods during a teenage girl's adolescence years may provide increased protective benefits and reduce the risk of developing breast cancer later in life.
Soybean Recipes
Soy Patties Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups soybean pulp
2 cups natural brown rice(cooked)
2 Tbsp. vegetable fat
1 onion, chopped fine
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
flavor with garlic, sage or whole wheat bread crumbs
Method
Mix the first seven ingredients thoroughly together,and shape into patties. Roll the patties in whole wheat breadcrumbs. Bake in a greased pan until brown, or warm in a frying pan, but do not fry.
Tangy Tomatoey Soybeans
Ingredients
·125 g soybeans, soaked overnight
·2 cups water
·2 teaspoons vegetable oil
·3/4 medium onion, chopped
·2 tablespoons tomato paste
·1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
·1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
·1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder (optional)
·2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, chopped
·salt
Method
·Bring a pot of water (2 cups) to a boil, lower flame, add salt to taste (around 1/4 tsp), and cook the pre-soaked soy beans for about 30 minutes, or until cooked.
·Drain.
·While the beans are cooking, heat oil in a saucepan on a medium-high flame and add the mustard seeds.
·When they start sputtering, add the chopped onions and sauté until they turn brown.
·Now add the tomato paste, red chili powder, garam masala powder, and sauté for about 5 minutes.
·Add the cooked soy beans to the saucepan, mix well and sauté for another 5 minutes.
·Remove from flame, garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot!
