Did you know that April is National Soyfoods Month? Well, it is...and though we're already halfway through the month of April, it's not yet too late to learn about soyfoods and how they can be incorporated into our everyday meals. I'm certain that many are familiar with soy and eat soy products on a regular basis, but for sure, there are some who haven't even heard of it and its benefits.
Soy is a versatile bean native to East Asia that's known as "the meat of the field" because of its high protein content. It is also low in saturated fat and contains other essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, folate, fiber, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, and several of the B vitamins. Soy can be eaten as a replacement for dairy and meat. Soy foods include soy milk, tofu, tempeh, soy flour, soy yogurt, miso, soy beans and soy nuts. Eating more soyfoods in place of animal-based protein sources lowers saturated fats, cholesterol, and calories in our diets which can help lower risk of hypertension and certain types of cancer.
The Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) provides information about the health benefits and nutritional advantages of soy. SANA also offers fun recipes and convenient ways to incorporate soy into our everyday meals.
