Historically, soya bean is an important food for thousands of years in the East, where it is popular food in Japan (a country noted for its high life expectancy).

Among beans and the plant food kingdom, soya beans are unusual due to the completeness of the protein they provide – soya bean consist of 36% of high quality protein and 64% carbohydrates, fibre, mineral oils and water, making it having twice the protein content of other beans.

Popular Forms Of Soya Beans

Soya beans is very easy to include in one’s meal/diet as it comes in many easy to find forms such as :

• Soya Milk – a heart-friendly drink as it has mostly unsaturated fats and are rich in cholesterol-lowering soya protein (containing 9 essential amino acids).
• Tofu – a nutritional powerhouse packed with proteins as well as having a good amount of copper, selenium, calcium and phosphorus.
• Edamame – which is essentially boiled green soybeans, has high protein content(they are soya beans, after all) and rich in fibre.
• Tempeh – made from fermented soya beans, is an excellent source for good bacteria that benefits digestion.

What Are The Health Beneifts Of Soya Beans?

1. Helps In Cardiovascular Health

• Research has shown that eating 25g of soya protein each day can help to keep the heart healthy.
• Decreased risk of heart disease – higher intake of soya protein has been linked to a drop in the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Lower cholesterol – soya protein in known to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by up to 5% and triglycerides (a type of fat in blood)
• Healthier arteries – replacing saturated animal fats with unsaturated plant fats from soya protein keeps the arteries healthy
• Less chance of having a heart attack – studies have shown there is a reduced risk of non-fatal heart attack when regularly eating soya

Note : It is advisable to consume soya in its natural form than those in dietary supplement (that contains soy components) for better cardiovascular support.

2. Helps Against Type 2 Diabetes

Soya bean has been shown to lessen insulin resistance by increasing the synthesis of insulin receptors. However, the increase in insulin receptors seems to happen only if soya bean is consumed along with a moderate amount of polyunsaturated fat.

High levels of total soybean intake (appoximately 200 grams per day) have also been associated with decreased of type 2 diabetes.

3. Helps Fight Obesity

Increased protein intake has always been associated with suppression of appetite. Among the three macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat and protein), protein has the most suppressing effect on food intake. Dietary protein has been shown to induce higher satiating and greater weight loss than carbohydrates.

4. Helps Maintain Weight

Soya bean works both ways – to control weight and to gain weight. By suppressing appetite, it helps control obesity. Conversely, if eaten in large quantity, it provides fibre and protein, which may lead to weight gain.

5. Better Bone Health

Soya bean improves the health of bones. It also helps lower the risk of osteoporosis in people who consume a lot of whole soy foods.

Remember, soya bean provides a good amount of Vitamin K, a much-needed nutrient with respect to bone health.

6. Helps Maintain Digestive Health

Soya bean provides fibre, which is essential for a healthy digestive system, and hence, a healthy body.

7. Helps Fight Against Sleep Disorders

Soya bean as a high content of magnesium, which is directly linked to increasing the quality, duration and restfulness of your sleep.