Foods with soy protein have been around for over 5,000. Soy is a versatile food that can serve many purposes. The plant-based soy protein is equivalent to animal-based foods as far as the quality of the protein it contains, states the National Institutes of Health. Incorporating soy protein into your diet will reap many nutritional and health benefits.
Soybeans
Soy beans have soy protein as the main nutrient. Classified as a legume by the USDA, soybeans fall within the bean family. Soybeans have a history of versatility and ease of usability. You can purchase these beans in dried form and make into soups, stews and casseroles as you would any other dried bean. Or, you can soak them and snack on them as a high-protein snack.
Soybeans can also go by the name of edamame, states soyfoods.com. The soybean starts its harvest process while still green and sweet tasting. You can enjoy these vegetables after boiling them for 15 minutes. Eat them as a snack or main vegetable dish to get your soy protein. You can purchase edamame either in frozen or fresh form. Both provide the same nutritional value.
Roasted soybeans can make for a high-protein snack. Food manufacturers market this form of soybeans as soynuts. Soynuts provide you with a food you can enjoy instead of other fattier, high calorie snacks. Eating a one-cup serving of soynuts will supply you with 61gms of soy protein. This same serving size will give you 136% of your daily recommended nutritional allotment of protein, states nutritiondata.com. You can purchase soynuts either plain, salted or flavored.
Soy Protein Isolate
Soybeans can undergo processing until a powdered form known as soy protein isolate results. Soy protein isolate will provide you with a highly digestible source of amino acids that contains 92 percent protein, states soyfoods.com. Infant formulas might contain this powdered form of soy. Or, processing might find the soy protein isolate as the main ingredient of soybean burgers or other vegetarian dishes. You can buy the isolate in powdered form and add it to your drinks. Soy protein isolate can find its way into energy, or nutritional, drinks as the main ingredient. Soy protein isolate contains the largest amount of soy protein out of all soy foods, states both soyfoods.com and nutritiondata.com. A one-ounce serving of soy protein isolate will supply you with an impressive 23gms of protein. This same serving size will satisfy 45% of your daily nutritional allotment of protein.
Soy Milk and Products
Soy milk contains soy protein. To arrive at soy milk, the soybeans will undergo soaking, drying, grinding then straining as part of the process that arrives at soymilk, states soyfoods.com. You may find soy milk a good substitute for cow's milk. If you have any lactose-intolerance, soy milk provides a viable alternative. The plain version of soymilk contains rich amounts of B-vitamins and protein. You can purchase soy milk in powdered form, also. Start adding some powdered soymilk to water or your favorite juice to get some soy protein.
Start eating soy milk-based foods. Choose from a wide variety available on the marketplace. Start purchasing soy milk puddings, tapioca, custards and yogurt. Soy ice cream might show up on your store's shelves marketed as nondairy frozen dessert. Soy cheeses including cottage, sour cream and hard cheeses will supply you with needed protein. Substitute soy cheeses for animal-based cheeses in any recipe.
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