Is Soy a good protein source?
There are still many ongoing controversial debates about consuming soy protein. It has been seen to be both beneficial and harmful at the same time. So how do we know whether soy is a good protein source?
Soybeans can be eaten whole or can be found in many soy products like soy milk, tofu, yoghurt and tempeh.
Soy is a favourite among many vegetarians and vegans, including and also those who are allergic to dairy products. For many of them, soy products are their major source of protein.
Soy-rich diets have been shown to have many potential benefits. One of them is the lowering of cholesterol levels. Several studies suggest that diets rich in soy foods may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol. Diet rich in legumes can also help to lower the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, blood sugar and also reduce menopause symptoms.
The reason why some people are against eating soy products is that the majority of soy beans are genetically-modified, and this causes them to worry about the side-effects of consuming these products in the long-term.
Check out the infographic below to know more about the nutrition facts of the common soy products that we, Singaporeans, usually consume:
In conclusion, the least processed soy products may contain more vitamins, minerals and beneficial compounds while highly processed soy products will certainly contain more salt, sugar, fat, and unnecessary additives.
Hence, minimally processed soy foods, such as soybeans, tofu, tempeh, edamame and soy milk are healthier and more beneficial to your body.
Minimally processed soy foods will also be able to provide the benefits mentioned above. At AMGD, we also feature soy protein in our bentos such as Poddies, Tofu-tastic and 6/1, which are on our vegetarian menu.
Click here to view our vegetarian bentos: https://www.amgd.sg/index.php?route=product/category&path=274_123
Reference:
- Goodson, A. (2018, October 04). Soy protein: Good or bad? Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/soy-protein-good-or-bad#nutrition
- Petre, A. (2020, August 27). Is soy bad for you, or good? Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-soy-bad-for-you
