Know The Nutritional Benefits Of Soybean

By Nandhini Devi

Monday, June 20, 2011, 14:27

Soybean is a legume that is considered as a very rich nutritional food. Mostly preferred by vegans, this legume is high in protein. The presence of phytochemicals such as polyphenol, phytates, isoflavones and saponins in soybeans increases its health benefits. Soybean is also a rich in calcium and magnesium. Several products are obtained from soy. Some of them are soy milk, soy sauce, tofu and soy oil.

Today, diet is all about eating healthy food. One such commodity that is consumed on a daily basis, in order to ensure maximum health benefit is soybean. Let's have a look at the nutritional facts and benefits of soybean.

Nutritional facts and benefits of soybean -

1.The presence of isoflavones and saponins in soybeans reduces the risk of heart diseases. Isoflavones increase the flexibility of blood vessels, while saponins help in reduction of blood cholesterol. This is one main nutritional benefit of soybean.

2.One of soybean's health benefit is that it get digested easily. So, it is specially beneficial to children or even to adults who are recovering from any diseases or who have digestive problems. Consumption of soy ensures that all essential nutrients are obtained by the body.

3.One health tip to those suffering from constipation. You can cure constipation by regular consuming soybean in any form, as it is rich in fibre content.

4.The isoflavones present in soybean help in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. The proteins obtained from meat products leads to loss of calcium through urine. However, this is not so in the case of soy protein.

5.Women suffer loss of bone calcium during the stage of menopause. They are more prone to hip fractures or hot flashes during this phase. However, regularly consuming soybean as soy milk, tofu or in any other form helps in reducing this calcium loss.

6.Another nutritional fact of soybean is that it has a low glycemic index. This helps in reducing the risk of diabetes, keeps blood level stable, as well as reduces chances of diabetic related diseases such as kidney or heart failure.

7.Many elements found in soybean contribute towards the reduction of occurrence of many types of cancers including cancer of colon, prostrate and endometrial.

8.The amino acids present in soybean contribute towards the protein required by vegans. Omega-3 fatty acids, present mainly in fish, can also be obtained by consumption of soybeans.

By having a look at the nutritional facts and benefits of soybean, we can understand better about the health benefits it offers to us. So, get your pack of soy milk, tofu, tempeh or just the soybeans to give maximum health benefit to your body.