TAK SHING HONG Soy Bean 16oz

TAK SHING HONG Soy Bean

Description: While not the most widely cultivated of all beans (that distinction goes to Phaseolus vulgaris, also know as the "common bean"), soybeans are a traditional part of diets in China, Japan and Korea and are currently grown in countries across the world including Brazil, Argentina, India, Paraguay, Canada, and the United States. At present, the United States plants and produces more soybeans than any other country in the world—approximately 83 million metric tons grown on 75 million acres of land. However, nearly 99% of all soybeans grown in the U.S. are processed for production of soil meal (to be used in animal feed) and soy oil. In countries where soybeans are consumed in whole food form rather than undergoing processing into meal and oil, these legumes often serve as an important and relatively inexpensive source of protein. Other whole food forms of soy include full fat soy milk, tofu, natto, and miso. Processed forms of soy such soybean oil, defatted soy flour and soy protein concentrates such as TVP (texturized soy protein and SPI (soy protein isolate) abound. We always recommend whole food forms of soy (for more detail on these different forms of soy see WHFoods Recommendations above).

Benefits: Soybeans have long been recognized as a plant food that, when compared with other plants, is relatively high in protein. Protein is the reason that soybeans have historically been called "meat of the field" or "meat without bones." But only recently have researchers taken a very close look at the protein content of soybeans and arrived at some fascinating conclusions. Even though soy protein is a plant protein and typically lower in certain amino acids (protein building blocks) than animal proteins like those found in chicken eggs or cow's milk, once adjustments have been made for digestibility and other metabolic factors, soybeans turn out to receive a protein quality rating that is equal to the ratings for egg or cow's milk. Along with this increasing interest in soy protein has come the discovery of very small and unique proteins in soy, typically referred to as "peptides." Examples of unique peptides in soybeans include defensins, glycinins, conglycinins and lunasin, and all are now known to provide us with health benefits, including benefits in the areas of improved blood pressure regulation, better control of blood sugar levels, and improved immune function.