It is often taken as a given fact that soy is beneficial to our health, and that it is certainly a healthier alternative to dairy products and meat. However, it is rare that anyone actually either asks or informs us of what soy is or why we should consume it.
Soy ? Where does it come from?
The origins of soy can be traced back to Japan from as early as 2800 B.C. Since then, it has been a prominent feature of the Asian diet and has been linked to the lower frequency of cancer in those native to this region (especially in comparison to the UK and the USA).
Soy was first introduced in Europe in the early 18th Century and has gone from being used almost exclusively as animal feed to a multi-billion dollar industry.
What is it?
Soy is a highly nutritious legume which has over a 40% protein content, omega3 fatty acids, high fibre content and contains 'isoflavones' which are known to imitate the effects of natural estrogens. Also known as glycine soja (wild soybean), soybeans are the world's primary source of vegetable protein and contain all of the essential amino acids, which gives it the title of a 'complete protein'.
Why Consume Soy?
Aside from the obvious benefits to consuming soy outlined above, there are several more specific reasons as to why soy would be a smart addition to any diet or lifestyle. Soy has been given more and more attention in terms of research over the past decade and the following have been the most prominent discoveries:
Making Soy a Part of Your Diet
This is not as difficult as it sounds as soy products are becoming more and more readily available (in all shapes, sizes and flavours) and equipment such as soy milk makers, and tofu kits are now available for home use, as well as commercial.
Probably the biggest step towards increasing soy in your diet (and replacing dairy) is gained from converting to soy milk. Although some people find the taste of soy milk, 'different' to that of cow's milk, by transitioning, this can easily be overcome.
By mixing soy with cow's milk, in incremental steps over the period of a month or so, it can be relatively easy to transition.
Suggested Transition:
Weeks 1-2: Use 25% Soy, and 75% cow's milk on cereals and for drinking 'neat'. Use soy in coffee and tea, but with a splash of milk. Replace 25% of regular flour with soy flour when baking. Use soy milk in smoothies where the taste is much weaker than on cereals.
Weeks 2-4: Split 50-50 when using milk and flour. Use only soy in tea and coffee and have a scoop of soy-based 'ice cream' along with regular ice-cream.
Week 4+: Increase split to 25-75 in favour of soy milk and flour. Continue at this level until you feel accustomed to the taste of soy milk and other soy products.
It will not be long until your taste alters and you actual begin to prefer the taste of soy milk, especially in drinks such as smoothies, where soy gives a much more creamy taste.
Recommended Soy Products/Brands
At EFL we heartily recommend the following:
the high protein content of soy can improve athletic performance aims to bring you the very best in health and the high protein content of soy can improve athletic performance resources, news and articles as well as the products, equipment, supplements and superfoods you need to achieve optimal health and nutrition.
Oswego taxi to Midway ..One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More
High Fructose Corn SyrupBefore we get to high fructose corn... Read More
The makers of Bumble Bee Tuna generated some buzz today... Read More
In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive... Read More
The field of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams,... Read More
Most people understand that it is wise to limit the... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
Water is a vitally important component of any valuable and... Read More
AgingHow did aging appeared?If mechanism of Death was chosen by... Read More
Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More
Media coverage of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has incited... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
The above foods contain high antioxidant capacity. These foods were... Read More
What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to... Read More
At any grocery store in North America right now, there... Read More
For decades science has been looking for the answers to... Read More
Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
About 12.6 million Americans currently have heart disease.1.1 million Americans... Read More
Dieters who dejectedly complain they are figuratively "stuck" with their... Read More
shuttle from Midway Morris ..Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
You've heard that old saying: True beauty comes from within.... Read More
Salt was used long before recorded history began. One of... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
How did we cure ourselves of many aches pains and... Read More
The nutritional support in critically ill patients can be explained... Read More
The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More
Protein is one of the basic building blocks of the... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
Following these simple nutrition guidelines will allow you to lose... Read More
There are a number of common food mistakes that costs... Read More
Having a large amount of such "visceral fat" is associated... Read More
Liquid vitamin mineralThe liquid vitamin mineral dietary supplement is a... Read More
Because all of us have been brought up eating junk... Read More
First of all you have to have a bucket. You... Read More
According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with... Read More
Nutrition is extremely important for any young person, especially an... Read More
You say you don't know what glyconutrients are? You are... Read More
Some people say to themselves, junk food is not that... Read More
The cry of "I have no willpower!" often emerges from... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
Nutrition |