If it walks like a legume, and talks like a legume, it must be a…..soybean?!!
Many people get confused with the difference between legumes- such as chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils, and soy beans (or edemame).
Edemame are high in protein, just like other legumes, and therefore make a great snack to keep you feeling full.
The major difference between soybeans and legumes is in their fat content- where soybeans are significantly higher in fat, particular mono and poly unsaturated fats. These mono and poly unsaturateds are the fats which can be beneficial in the management of high cholesterol, leading to the recommendation that people who have elevated cholesterol should consume soy products daily.
The benefit of consuming soy foods are even higher for people who replace higher SATURATED fat proteins (such as red meat and other animal proteins) with soy foods containing unsaturated fats, like tofu and edemame.
Choosing soy proteins (edemame included) more often can also increase intake of important minerals such as calcium and Iron. This higher intake has been cited as a potential reason why countries in which individuals consume a larger amount of soy products have a lower incidence of osteoporosis!
There are many ways to increase your intake of soy products.
1. Make a vegetarian chili with Yves imitation ground meat instead of real beef.
2. stir fry broccoli and tofu to serve over brown rice
3. Snack on some edemame in the shell for a high protein snack that will keep you full (and preoccupied) for a while!
4. OR pop over to the recipe page to see Ahuva’s recipe for Wasabi ginger edemame chummus. a nice twist on a classic “legume” treat.
