Eat-a-Edamame

One of my favorite appetizers at a sushi restaurant has always been Edamame.  You know, those green things that have some weird bean in them and are covered with salt?  Yes, so good!  For those of you who don't know, Edamame is also a soybean is that has not quite matured yet.  I know I know, soy has gotten a bad rap lately, but just listen. 
You may recall that soy is the main ingredient in tofu, which is a very popular meat-substitute and is high in protein.  Soybeans are also used to make soy milk, which is becoming more and more popular and also tastes wonderful.  Soybeans aren't just popular for their taste and protein, they have so many amazing nutritional benefits!  Some benefits include lowering LDL cholesterol (the bad one!), cancer prevention, bone health, reducing hot flashes (that's right, ladies!), obesity and type  diabetes prevention, and prevention for other diseases.  Those wonderful little beans also contain many vitamins and nutrients, such as vitamin K, flavonoids and isoflavonoids, phenolic acids, phytoalexins, phytosterols, proteins and peptides, and also saponins. 
Edamame, or soybeans, originated in China and have since been making their way into more types of foods.  Some farms produce genetically modified (GM) soybeans, but the US tends to select organically grown soy beans instead.  The bad rap of soybeans comes from processing and different parts of the world, east versus west.  When eating soybeans, it is recommended to eat them as a whole food product, rather than processed food.  Also, consider the fermented forms of tofu, because they also produce health benefits.  Legumes are a very healthy, important part of the human diet, and should be consumed in large amounts. Some people even eat soy products instead of meat, because of the great nutritional benefits that soy contains.
Now you know why soy is such a widely used source of protein and is favored among many.  I bet next time you get sushi you will have a big bowl of edamame to start yourself off!  Don't feel bad, it's a great appetizer that is sure to give you needed nutrients.

References:


http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=79

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/month/fresh_beans.html