I had heard of soy tempeh, but I never knew exactly what it was or just how much nutritious goodness it packs, until now.
Soybeans have been around dating back to about 3000 years ago, where they were cultivated and widely used in China. Today, the West is responsible for almost 50% of their production and hence it bodes well that we learn how to make soy tempeh in a simple and effective manner, especially if you’re interested in adding this nutritious legume to your daily diet.
But before we do so, let’s review the nutritional breakdown and benefits of soybeans in order to understand why people make such a big deal about eating soy-based foods.
Take a look at the table below:
Soy Tempeh
The nutrients listed, their density and Daily Value (DV %) are based on one cup of cooked Soybeans, weighing 172 grams that provide 298 calories.
If you see the first four rows, the nutrients listed are molybdenum, tryptophan, manganese and protein. Now the food ratings for these four nutrients have been labeled from excellent to very good because of the Daily Value (the nutrient amount required for each day) being over or just below 75%.
Protein is vital in building body tissue along with other specialized life-giving functions. Molybdenum helps in breaking down the sulphites in the body and without its presence, can lead to infections.
In addition, molybdenum is known to deal effectively with gum and teeth disorders. Finally, the nutrient manganese has many benefits such as facilitating the manufacture of fat, sex hormones and breast milk in females. It is also known to stimulate growth of the connective tissue and is also thought to be of importance in brain functioning. If all that weren't enough, it also helps in neutralizing free radicals as well as being of assistance in preventing diabetes and for normal nerve function.
Soy also contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid which helps in building protein, and therefore is considered a near-complete source of food. Next on the list is iron, which is imperative to the structure of hemoglobin, which assists in transporting oxygen from our lungs to the body to be used as energy.
Next on the list, you’ll find that the omega-3 fatty acids which are ‘good fats’ and help in combating cancer and cardiac-related diseases are also present. Phosphorus, which is the next nutrient on the list, is again a vital element in our diet as its primary use in our body is to transfer energy from cell to cell via Adenosine tri-phosphate, while magnesium is instrumental in its production.
Dietary fiber, which is known to reduce and prevent cholesterol and colon-related diseases are also present at healthy levels. Potassium, which is instrumental in neuron function and copper are also a part of the nutrients of soybeans.
Finally, Vitamin K & B2 are also present in healthy amounts, the lack of the former can cause liver damage and the latter plays a vital role in body metabolism.
Despite the fact that soybeans do have a high carb count, it is still considered an excellent substitute for meat as it provides all necessary nutrients that are required in maintaining good health.
Now, if you're sold on the nutritional benefits, it's time to see how you feel about the taste, so check this out for instructions on how to make soy tempeh.
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