Background
- This fact sheet focuses on the use of soy by adults for health purposes.
- Soybeans have long been cultivated in Asia. ...
- In addition to its food uses, soy is available in dietary supplements. ...
- Soy products are promoted for menopausal symptoms, bone health, improving memory, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.
Is soy really bad for You?
Spoiler alert: Soy isn't bad for you. With the explosion of plant-based diets, soy can be a high-quality protein for those trying to cut back on animal foods. Why the Soy Controversy? Soy is rich in nutritional compounds called isoflavones. These isoflavones are at the root of the soy controversy.
Why soy is not healthy?
Soy is one of the top allergenic foods in part because it resembles gluten on a molecular level. If you have a gluten sensitivity, your body can’t distinguish between gluten and soy. Your body could react to each food with the same immune response.
Are you eating too much soy?
There is no set amount of soy that is considered “too much.”. Soy can be eaten in any amount depending on your taste and diet. However, there are some exceptions to this rule– if you have kidney disease or thyroid problems then it’s best not to consume more than 50-200 grams per day as recommended by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Is soy bad for Your Heart?
Soy is also a good source of protein, fiber, and heart -healthy omega-3s (though not the same kind that you get in salmon or tuna). Plus, soy is naturally cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat. Soy sauce and soybean oil don’t have soy protein, even though "soy" is part of their name.
What is soy and where does it come from?
What are soy foods? Soy foods are made from soybeans. The soybean is a legume, named so because it grows in pods containing seeds (or “beans” as we call them).
Is soy native to Japan?
Soybeans are harvested after the plants have dried. It is not certain when soybeans were brought to Japan from China, but it is known that their cultivation had begun in Japan no later than 1,300 years ago.
Who invented soy?
Soybean domestication has been traced back to China in the 11th Century B.C. It wasn't until 1804 that American literature mentioned the word, “soybeans”, however it is thought that soybeans were introduced to the American colonies in 1765 as “Chinese vetches.” The first reference of soybeans being tested in an ...
Is soy sauce Chinese or Japanese?
Soy sauce was developed in China over 2000 years ago, and later introduced to Japan. Since then, Japanese and Chinese styles of making soy sauce have diverged a bit.
When did Japan get soy?
around 1,300 years agoA Brief History of Soybeans in Japan Soybeans have been cultivated in Japan for many thousands of years. However, their prominence in Japanese cooking wasn't established until around 1,300 years ago, when tofu and “hishio” (the precursor to miso and soy sauce) were introduced to Japan by monks from China.
Does Japan grow soybeans?
Japan itself grew 19,500 metric tons of natto soybeans that year. Dealing with Japanese buyers is quite a bit different from selling commodity soybeans to Americans.
Where does Japan get its soybeans?
Nearly 75% of the 2018-19 imports came from the United States, followed by Brazil at 15% and Canada at 10%. Brazilian soybeans have higher crude protein content than US soybean imports for crush, and Japan has a high-protein soybean meal requirement of 47.5% crude protein.
Do Japanese eat soybean?
Soy is found, in some form, in nearly all Japanese meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The most common ways people in Japan eat soy are: tofu, edamame, natto, miso and perhaps most common, shoyu, or soy sauce. Each type of food is made and eaten in a different way.
Is soy safe to eat?
When taken by mouth: Soy is commonly consumed in foods. Dietary supplements containing soy extracts are possibly safe when used for up to 6 months. Soy can cause some mild stomach and intestinal side effects such as constipation, bloating, and nausea. It can also cause allergic reactions involving rash, itching, and breathing problems in some people.
Is soy milk safe for breast feeding?
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if soy is safe to use in the larger amounts found in medicine when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Does soy protein help with kidney disease?
Long-term kidney disease ( chronic kidney disease or CKD). Taking soy protein by mouth seems to reduce protein in the urine and other measures of kidney function in people with CKD.
Is soy good for PMS?
Soy is used for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, symptoms of menopause, premenstrual syndrome ( PMS ), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses. The active ingredients in soy are called isoflavones.
Is soy good for estrogen?
Large amounts of soy might have some of the same effects as estrogen. But soy isn't as strong as estrogen pills. Taking soy along with estrogen pills might decrease the effects of estrogen pills.#N#Some estrogen pills include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and others.
Does fermented soy sauce contain tyramine?
Fermented soy products such as tofu and soy sauce contain tyramine. Tyramine is an amino acid that is involved in blood pressure regulation. Tyramine is broken down by monoamine oxidase. Some medications for depression (MAOIs) can decrease the breakdown of tyramine. Consuming more than 6 mg of tyramine while taking one of these medications can increase the risk of serious side effects such as blood pressure getting too high. The amount of tyramine in fermented soy products is usually small, often less than 0.6 mg per serving; however, there can be variation depending on the specific product used, storage conditions, and length of storage. Storing one brand of tofu for a week can increase tyramine content from 0.23 mg to 4.8 mg per serving. If you take one of these medications, avoid fermented soy products that contain high amounts of tyramine.#N#Some of these medications include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.
Is soy protein safe to eat?
When taken by mouth: It is LIKELY SAFE to eat foods or products containing soy protein. Dietary supplements containing soy extracts are POSSIBLY SAFE when used for up to 6 months. Soy can cause some mild stomach and intestinal side effects such as constipation, bloating, and nausea. It can also cause allergic reactions involving rash, itching, and anaphylaxis in some people. Some people might experience tiredness. Soy might also affect thyroid function. However, this seems to occur primarily in people who are iodine deficient.#N#Long-term use of high doses of supplements containing soy extract is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. There is some concern that this might cause abnormal tissue growth in the uterus. However, eating large amounts of soy does not seem to have this effect.
Where is the most soy produced?
The majority of the increase in soy production in the last decade has been in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, where production has contributed to deforestation in important biodiversity hotspots. Vulnerable species in these places—many of which are found nowhere else in the world—are at high risk of extinction.
Which countries produce soy?
The United States, Brazil, and Argentina together produce about 80% of the world’s soy. Around the world, there is a surging demand for soy—the “king of beans.”. Soy is a globally traded commodity produced in both temperate and tropical regions and serves as a key source of protein and vegetable oils. Since the 1950s, global soybean production has ...
How does the soybean industry affect the environment?
Without proper safeguards, the soybean industry is causing widespread deforestation and displacement of small farmers and indigenous peoples around the globe. To ensure that soybean expansion does not further harm natural environments and indigenous communities, WWF is encouraging the development of better production practices. We call for transparent land-use planning processes and promote responsible purchasing and investment policies.
What are the problems associated with soybean cultivation?
Soil erosion, degradation, and compaction. High rates of soil erosion associated with soybean cultivation have been reduced in recent years, though the rate is still several times greater than is sustainable.
Which country imports the most soy?
The United States, Brazil, and Argentina together produce about 80% of the world’s soy. China imports the most soy and is expected to significantly increase its import of the commodity. Soy is pervasive in our lives.
Is soybean meal a vegetable?
Soybeans also reach our tables as oil—which represents around 27% of worldwide vegetable oil production. While its most common oil-based form is table oil, soy is increasingly used for biodiesel production.
What is soybean food?
Soybeans are a high protein plant food that people can prepare and eat in a variety of ways. They belong to the pea family.
What is yellow soybean?
Yellow soybeans: Producers typically use yellow soybeans to make soy milk, tofu, tempeh, and tamari. They also play a role in the production of soy flour for baking.
What can you use soy beans for?
Soybeans also provide soy oil, which people can use for cooking or as an ingredient . After removing the oil from soybeans, people can use the remaining material to make food for farm animals and pets.
What is soybean protein isolate?
Soy protein isolates are proteins from which manufacturers have removed the rest of the bean. Textured vegetable protein is a soybean product with the fat removed.
Does soy reduce cholesterol?
They found that consuming soy significantly reduced levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the arteries. LDL cholesterol is also known as “bad cholesterol,” as it can lead to clogging in the arteries.
Is genetically modified soybeans safe?
There are many concerns around the health impacts and environmental safety of genetically modified crops. According to the USDA, in 2014, farmers used 94% of soybean farmland in the U.S. to grow genetically engineered soybeans. In one review, researchers suggest that eating GMOs could lead to illnesses. Trusted Source.
Is soybean a good food?
Soybeans are healthful and rich in protein, giving them numerous nutritional uses. People can eat them, drink them in milk alternatives, and take them in the form of supplements.
Where is soy grown?
This fact sheet focuses on the use of soy by adults for health purposes. Soybeans have long been cultivated in Asia. Since the 1950s, they have also been produced in other parts of the world, including the Americas. In addition to its food uses, soy is available in dietary supplements.
What are the side effects of soy?
The most common side effects of soy are digestive upsets, such as constipation and diarrhea.
Does soy protein help with hot flashes?
Soy isoflavone supplements or soy protein may help to reduce the frequency and severity of menopausal hot flashes, but the effect may be small. Observational studies indicate that among Asian women, higher dietary intakes of soy during childhood and adolescence are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer later in life.
Is soy a protein?
In addition to its food uses, soy is available in dietary supplements. Soy supplements may contain soy protein, isoflavones (compounds similar in structure to the female hormone estrogen), or other components.
Does soy reduce breast cancer?
Soy products in supplement form have not been shown to reduce breast cancer risk. Current evidence suggests that soy isoflavone mixtures probably have a beneficial effect on bone health in postmenopausal women, but the evidence is not entirely consistent.
Is soy safe to eat while pregnant?
The use of soy in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods may be unsafe during pregnancy because estrogen-like substances from soy could be harmful to the fetus. Little is known about whether it is safe to use soy in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods while breastfeeding.
Does soy protein lower LDL?
Blanco Mejia S, Messina M, Li SS, et al. A meta-analysis of 46 studies identified by the FDA demonstrates that soy protein decreases circulating LDL and total cholesterol concentrations in adults. Journal of Nutrition. 2019;149 (6):968-981.
Where does soy come from?
Most of the world’s soy comes from only two countries: the US and Brazil. Combined, they account for more than two-thirds (69%) of global soy production. 2 In fact, they produce almost exactly the same amount: in 2018 the US produced 123 million tonnes, and Brazil 118 million tonnes.
Where is soy grown in Brazil?
It’s also the case that the Amazonas region in Brazil gets most of the attention. But most soy is now grown in other regions of the country. In 2015, only 13% came from the Amazon, while 48% came from the Cerrado region. 11 Some researchers therefore make a strong case that interventions such as the ‘Soy Moratorium’ need to be extended to cover regions beyond the Amazon if they are to be effective. Without wider implementation of these policies, we will continue to see deforestation simply shift elsewhere.
How has demand for soy changed over time?
Global soy production has exploded over the past 50 years. Global production today is more than 13 times higher than it was in the early 1960s. Even since the year 2000, production has more than doubled.
What are the three categories of soybeans?
In the chart we see the allocation of soybeans to three categories. Processed products include all animal feed from soybean cake (i .e. 70% of global demand); soybean oil; and industrial products such as biofuels. Direct human food includes all non-animal-sourced foods from soy excluding oils. Direct animal feed is soybeans fed directly to livestock (rather than been processed into soybean cake first).
What is soy used for?
More than three-quarters (77%) of global soy is fed to livestock for meat and dairy production. Most of the rest is used for biofuels, industry or vegetable oils. Just 7% of soy is used directly for human food products such as tofu, soy milk, edamame beans, and tempeh.
What is soybean oil used for?
Soy can also be used for industrial purposes. Around 4% is used for biofuels, lubricants and other industrial processes. Biodiesel alone accounts for 2.8%. We might therefore conclude that the increased demand for soy has been driven by a growing appetite for meat, dairy and soybean oil.
How many tonnes of soybeans were produced in 1961?
1 Back in the 1960s, we were producing 20 to 30 million tonnes per year. This is now 350 million tonnes.
What Is Soy?
Soy is a protein-rich legume native to East Asia. The earliest archaeological evidence for the consumption of soy comes from China around 7000 BC. The soy plant was fully domesticated at some point in the first millennium BC, possibly across several locations in Korea, Japan, and China. As a result of this long heritage, East Asians continue to be the largest per capita consumers of soy, which features prominently in their cuisine.
What Foods Contain Soy?
Edamame are green soybeans that are traditionally served whole, in their pods, with a pinch of salt. People have been eating edamame for centuries. The first recorded instance of the word “edamame” comes from 1275. They are a conventional bar snack in East Asia, and their popularity is growing in the West.
What Is Soy Lecithin?
Lecithins are a group of fatty substances found in plant and animal tissues, including soy. Soy lecithin is often used as an emulsifier and added to numerous products, like dietary supplements, infant formulas, bread, and ice cream. There is no cause to be wary of soy lecithin, as its health benefits are numerous and verifiable. It is a source of the essential nutrient choline, can lead to the decrease of unhealthy cholesterols, and can be consumed by most people who otherwise have soy allergies, save the extremely severe cases.
What Is a Soy Allergy?
Soy is an allergenic food, and around 0.3 percent of people are allergic. Soy allergies tend to be mild, with symptoms like itchiness on the lips or in the mouth, some facial swelling, wheezing, abdominal pain, or red skin. Severe allergic reactions to soy are rare but do exist. If you are allergic to soy make sure to check products like cereals and bread, which sometimes contains soy. There are numerous healthy plant-based sources of protein if soy is not an option.
How is soy sauce made?
Soy sauce is made using a detailed process that can take years. Soybeans are first cleaned and soaked before being steamed, mixed with wheat flour, and a yeast culture before being fermented for up to two years before filtration and bottling. There are different varieties of soy sauce, and Chinese and Japanese soy sauces come in differing forms and have unique flavors and strengths. Tamari, a Japanese soy sauce, deserves a mention because wheat flour is omitted from the manufacturing process, making it suitable for gluten-free consumers.
What is soy nuts?
Soy nuts are ripe soybeans that have been soaked in water, drained, and either roasted or baked, making a crunchy nut-like texture . Their versatility makes them an excellent way to consume soy. They can be put into salads, smoothies, cereal, stir-fries, and pasta dishes.
What is yellow soybean?
Yellow soybeans are standard soybeans when fully ripe. These are perhaps the most ubiquitous variety used in cooking and form the basis of soy milk, soy sauce, tempeh, tofu, tamari, and meat alternatives.
What is the amino acid in soybeans?
Soybeans and foods made from them are generally rich in arginine, an amino acid believed to help regulate blood pressure levels ( 20 ).
What is the difference between soy and processed food?
Generally, the less processed a soy food is , the more vitamins, minerals, and beneficial compounds it may contain. On the other hand, the more processed a soy food is, the more salt, sugar, fat, and unnecessary additives and fillers it likely contains.
How many isoflavones are in a boiled soybean?
Boiled soybeans contain 90–134 mg of isoflavones per 3.5 ounces (100 grams), depending on the variety ( 7. Trusted Source. , 11.
How much lower risk of stroke with soy diet?
A recent review further links soy-rich diets to a 20% and 16% lower risk of stroke and heart disease, respectively ( 18 ).
What are soybeans good for?
In addition to their vitamin and mineral content, soybeans are a natural source of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that may help protect your body against cell damage and conditions like heart disease ( 7, 8, 9, 10 ).
What are the nutrients in soybeans?
Soybeans are naturally rich in protein and contain all of the essential amino acids your body needs. They’re also rich in plant fats, fiber, and several important vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds . Various soybean-derived products exist.
Does soy help with blood pressure?
Soybeans are also rich in isoflavones, another compound believed to offer blood-pressure-lowering benefits. In one study, eating 1/2 cup (43 grams) of soy nuts daily was found to reduce diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of a blood pressure reading) by around 8% in some, but not all women ( 21. Trusted Source.
Where did soybeans come from?
The soybean arrived in the Caribbean in the form of soy sauce made by Samuel Bowen in Savannah, Georgia, in 1767. It remains only a minor crop there, but its uses for human food are growing steadily.
What is the food that is made from soybeans?
Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk, from which tofu and tofu skin are made. Fermented soy foods include soy sauce, fermented bean paste, nattō, and tempeh. Fat-free (defatted) soybean meal is a significant and cheap source of protein for animal feeds and many packaged meals.
What is the biological value of soybean protein isolate?
Soybean protein isolate has a biological value of 74, whole soybeans 96, soybean milk 91, and eggs 97. Graded se ed. All spermatophytes, except for the grass - cereal family, contain 7S (vicilin) and 11S (legumin) soy protein -like globulin storage proteins; or only one of these globulin proteins.
What are the phytosterols in soybean oil?
Within soybean oil or the lipid portion of the seed is contained four phytosterols: stigmasterol, sitosterol, campesterol, and brassicasterol accounting for about 2.5% of the lipid fraction; and which can be converted into steroid hormones. Additionally soybeans are a rich source of sphingolipids.
How long does it take for soybeans to flower?
Flowering is triggered by day length, often beginning once days become shorter than 12.8 hours. This trait is highly variable however, with different varieties reacting differently to changing day length. Soybeans form inconspicuous, self-fertile flowers which are borne in the axil of the leaf and are white, pink or purple. Depending of the soybean variety, node growth may cease once flowering begins. Strains that continue nodal development after flowering are termed " indeterminates " and are best suited to climates with longer growing seasons. Often soybeans drop their leaves before the seeds are fully mature.
How tall is a soybean plant?
The final characteristics of a soybean plant are variable, with factors such as genetics, soil quality, and climate affecting its form; however, fully mature soybean plants are generally between 51–127 cm (20–50 in) in height and have rooting depths between 76–152 cm (30–60 in).
How big are soybeans?
The fruit is a hairy pod that grows in clusters of three to five, each pod is 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) long and usually contains two to four (rarely more) seeds 5–11 mm in diameter .
News briefs
The FDA wants to pull its support of the health claim that eating soy protein may help reduce the risk of heart disease. The agency proposed the change last fall, citing evidence that questions whether there's any real benefit to heart health.
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