Health Benefits of Soybeans – The Powerhouse of Nutrition

Pakistan is importing a large number of food items, including wheat, which is a threat for a country that is known for its agriculture.

Health Benefits of Soybeans – The Powerhouse of Nutrition

According to the recent economic survey of Pakistan, about $2.4 billion is spent on soybean imports for their benefits like use as an oilseed crop, the manufacture of a number of products, poultry feed, etc., but here I am writing about the health benefits of soybeans, the powerhouse of nutrition.

In the current situation of the world, along with Pakistan, malnutrition is a big issue, so to overcome this issue, biofortification is used in agricultural crops like wheat, rice, corn, and other vegetable crops.

Pakistan is currently dealing with a number of issues, the most pressing of which is a lack of nutritious food. Pakistan is importing a large number of food items, including wheat, which is a threat for a country that is known for its agriculture.

Nutrients included in soybean

There are a number of nutrients present in soybeans, a powerhouse of nutrition like protein, zinc, folic acid, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins and dietary fiber, ,carbohydrates, manganese, copper, etc.

Health benefits

From the nutrient profile, you must have an idea of how nutritious it is for our health. It provides the most care to our body parts, including our bones, brain, teeth, skin, nails, and hair, and gives us protection against many deadly diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular problems, etc.
So let’s sneak deeper into the amazing health benefits of eating soybeans.

Protects your heart

A healthy heart is important for healthy living, and you can achieve that with proper consumption of soybeans. Soybeans contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that prevent cholesterol transport in the system. This reduces the concentration of bad cholesterol, LDL, and increases levels of good cholesterol, HDL, in the body.

Soybeans also contain two other fatty acids, namely linolenic and linoleic acids, that regulate the smooth function of heart muscles and maintain blood pressure in your body, thereby giving a further boost to your cardiovascular health.

Boost digestive health

Eating an adequate amount of soybeans, the powerhouse of nutrition, is highly beneficial for the digestive system. because soybean is loaded with dietary fibers that add bulk to your stool and promote smooth elimination of excrement.
Moreover, it also has peristaltic effects that further aid in the smooth contraction of muscles that push the food out of the system. Therefore, it is important for you to eat soybeans frequently and protect yourself from various digestive problems.

Helps maintain body weight

A perfect figure means being neither too fatty nor too skimpy, and that is what eating soybeans helps you achieve. Soybeans have an anti-obesity effect in the human body. If you consume soybeans, you will remain full for a long time, which will automatically reduce food cravings and calorie intake, thus helping prevent being overweight.

On the other hand, if you are too thin and desperately want to gain a few extra pounds, then eat high amounts of soybeans, the powerhouse of nutrition, as they contain proteins and fiber that enable weight gain. Moreover, weight gain neither leads to unhealthy fat accumulation nor increases bad cholesterol levels in the body, which is good for health. So, for a perfect figure, consume soybeans as per calorie requirements.

Improve metabolism and blood circulation

Soy proteins are important to maintain a healthy metabolism in the body. They are the building blocks of blood cells and vessels. Proteins help in the repair and growth of cells and promote good health. In fact, not just proteins , but also soybeans contain zinc and copper, which aid in the formation of red blood cells. This enables good circulation of blood and oxygen to every corner of the human system and increases metabolic rates.

Helps prevent diabetes

Diabetes another leading killer that must be prevented earliest. The pinitol present in soybeans, the powerhouse of nutrition, helps in the reduction of postprandial blood glucose in type II diabetes patients. Therefore, soybean is good for diabetic patients, but always avoid trying sweetened soy items and instead go for unsweetened, non fried soy items.

Good for pregnant mothers

Soybeans are very nutritious and are often recommended for pregnant women. Because the main nutrients like vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper help in the development of the fetus, The vitamins, along with folate, also help in the production of red blood cells in the foetus.

Helps prevent ageing

Now a days, everybody wants to look young and glowing, and maintaining a youthful look is easy with soybean consumption. It is very effective in preventing premature ageing.

Prevents cancer

In recent times, cancer has led to several deaths, so it must be prevented, and soy will help with that. The levels of antioxidants that we get from soybeans are efficient at preventing the onset of various cancers. Soybeans are involved in the prevention of colorectal cancer. The primary reason is the presence of soy isoflavones. The dietary fibre that is loaded in soybeans also lowers the risk of gastric cancer.

Precautions regarding soybean consumption

Instead of their benefits, a few precautions must be taken before eating them.

Here are a few tips

These are good for pregnant women, as I have already mentioned, but they must be taken in normal amounts. Excessive soybeans can harm the foetus. Little children must be given an adequate amount of soy to enable good health.

Because their immune system is not that strong and any abrupt change can harm. If anybody is allergic to cow’s milk, he or she must avoid eating soybeans.

Antithyroid compounds can disrupt the functioning of the thyroid gland, resulting in goitre. Oxalates in soybeans cause kidney stones with increased consumption.

Asthma patients should avoid soybeans because they are allergic to them. Because soybeans contain an estrogen-mimicking compound, males who consume large amounts of them may experience hormonal imbalances in their bodies.

So for a healthy lifestyle, soybeans should be preferred, but keeping in mind the risks of overdosing and precautions to avoid any type of trouble.