Image Source: Zeenews.india

What is so special about soya? What makes it so special among vegetarians? Soya is considered to be one of the best sources of proteins and fiber among vegetarian foods. Soya’s Asian origins have been long forgotten and it is grown almost throughout the world now. It is a legume, which is rich in fiber and proteins and is an alternative to many lactose products. Soy milk is a perfect alternative to cow’s milk and has been scientifically proven to be as effective and as rich as cow’s milk.

Soya beans are the most common forms of soya that we can see every day. Soya beans come in various colors like green, brown or black. Vegans consider this as an alternative to meat, due to its high content of proteins, carbs, and fibers.A few soya products are tofu, soy milk, tempeh, and soya protein. These products are very common and famous for their nutrition content. Soya beans can be used in a variety of Indian dishes as well. Soya side dishes are kids’ favorites.

Soya’s nutrition value is quite amazing and it can be seen in the exponential growth of soya throughout the world. The newest product additions to the list of soya products are soya sausages, soya cheese, and soya yogurts. Soya contains:

• Phytoestrogens- Soya is an essential part of a woman’s diet when she is entering menopause due to the presence of phytoestrogens. However, due to its organic nature and the conditions of growth, this has varied effects on different people.
• Proteins- Soya’s protein content is equal to that found in animal’s meat. However, the major advantage of soya over animal meat is that soya reduces cholesterol levels even while increasing the protein content in the body. Proteins are essential products in everyone’s day to day life.
• Phytosterols- As mentioned before, this is the component of soya that is responsible for blocking off cholesterol sites and reducing the cholesterol level in the body.

Soya products are abundantly available in markets in packets, which should be kept in a cool, air-tight place. Soya beans are best cooked and served if soaked beforehand and cooked soya beans can be stored in the refrigerator for around 3 days without these getting spoilt. Edamame beans are the soya beans, which are green in color and are called fresh soya beans. They are usually available in most supermarkets. Since, soya products are organic, their effectiveness varies from person to person.

Edamame Soya Beans

This soya bean is large and green and is harvested prematurely to maintain its green characteristic. They are sweet in taste and can be added to many salads, soups, and sometimes even rice varieties. These varieties of soya beans are available year round. Ideally, they should be used within 2 days of normal refrigeration. It is best served as an appetizer.

Mature Soya Beans

These soya beans are tan-colored and are harvested after completely maturing. They are sold out of the pod and are available throughout the year in Asian markets. Their ideal lifetime is a few days. They do not add any flavor to the food and hence must be used only with strongly flavored food. Mature soya beans should be made tender by boiling these out.

Dried Soya Beans

This type of soya bean is a small, pea-sized bean that requires long soaking. Available at most health stores, dried soya beans have an extremely high nutrition value. If stored in a dry, air-tight container, it can be stored for over a year. Robust seasonings are the best additions to this type of soya bean because their taste is mild and making them tender is quite a task.

Soya nuts are another type of soya beans. These are peanut sized nuts, which again have high nutrition values.

For more soya products at great prices, visit online sites, where you can find many such nutritious products, which are completely organic and natural. Nutrition and health is the main forte of these sites. Establishing a healthy lifestyle through the use of organic and natural products is the motto of these companies.