Does Soy Grow on Trees?

Due to its high nutritional value, soy foods continue to gain popularity in the market place. Much of this interest has focused on soybean products for people looking to cut down or eliminate animal products from their diet–soy comes in the form of tofu, soy milk, soy-protein fortified flour, miso and soy protein meat substitutes. The soy plant originates from central and eastern Asia. Soy has been cultivated in China for many centuries and is now cultivated in many countries, mainly in China, USA, Argentina, and Brazil.

But beyond tofu and soy milk, soybeans are also a delicious vegetable on their own and can be eaten directly from the pods similar to other beans or peas. When eaten as a vegetable, soybeans are usually called edamame.

Edamame is planted the same way as bush beans are, and a mature soybean plant reaches about 2-feet tall. The soy plant belongs to the family of the papilionaceous. The soy plant has large trifoliate leaves with small white to purple flowers, born close to the stem. The soy beans ripen in a pod, which normally contain 3 to 4 beans. The color of the soy beans differ from light yellow, to green and black. Only the soybeans (seeds of the soy plant) are used.

Edamame offers a number of superfood phytochemicals such as isoflavones, genistein, saponins, beta-sitosterol and daidzein. Soybean consumption has been associated with reduction of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. The soybean protein as well soy isoflavones are responsible for this action. The soy bean contains about 38% protein of high nutritional quality, because the eight essential amino acids are present.

Edamame is great on its own, but is also adds character as an ingredient in other recipes. Incorporate them as you would other beans, or try these recipes for Egyptian Edamame Stew or Green Tea Rice with Edamame and Shitakes.

Read more: Health, Whole Soy Benefits, edamame, soybeans

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Merideth G.

4:01PM PDT on May 12, 2012

Others have mentioned genetic modification, phytoestrogens, and allergens, so I'll just say this: soy is a mineral-depleting food. Most Americans are mineral deficient already (from eating insufficient vegetables). Health and peace.

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Robert O.

1:22AM PDT on Apr 24, 2012

I love soy products. Thanks for the article Melissa.

Kat H.

7:35AM PST on Feb 11, 2012

I love edamame!!

KS G.

12:31AM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Jennifer C.

5:17PM PDT on Oct 16, 2011

Excellent article. Thanks for sharing.

Claudia D.

2:30PM PDT on Sep 17, 2010

almond milk is really yummy

Past Member .

5:00PM PST on Dec 13, 2009

siemens servisi

12:26AM PDT on Jun 23, 2009

One thing to keep in mind, too, is that when a person goes to see a naturopath, this kind of doctor will always start a person on an elimination diet, which helps a person self-test for food sensitivities. This reason for this is because food sensitivities are behind a lot of health issues, such as IBS or sinus allergies. The best advice for starting an elimination diet is to see a naturopath. With such a diet a person avoids the most common food allergens. There are about 16 major food items to avoid during this process. Soy is one of the big ticket items. Many people with digestive issues benefit from this process.

10:16AM PDT on Jun 14, 2009

thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

Lisa B.

6:34PM PDT on Jun 2, 2009

Unfortunately majority of soy is genetically modified. Even those that "think" they are buying organic soy are getting genetically modified soy. I will NOT touch ANY soy products or products with soy in them. Testing something majority of american companies avoid is being done in other countries. Last year France discovered that all of their "organic" soy was indeed genetically modified soy. Soy is full of estrogen and it is not healthy for anyone to eat all of the time. Sprayed with tons of roundup which has been proven to cause skin cancer. When I banned soy from my diet I lost 14 pounds in two weeks. I have steadily lost since then and do not gain anything back as long as I avoid it. I do not even feed my dogs dog food as I will NOT feed them ANY soy products either.