What Is Edamame? Healthy
By Paul Rothbart
You may have heard of edamame but perhaps are not sure what it is. It's often served in Japanese and Chinese restaurants and most supermarkets carry it in the frozen section. But what is it? Edamame is soybeans that have not yet matured. They grow in pods and must be shelled like peas. They are usually used in salads, soups, and stews, but they can be salted and eaten as a snack. Edamame has become more popular in recent years. As it turns out, it also provides several health benefits.
High in Vitamins and Minerals
Edamame contains several important nutrients and is loaded with some of them. A 3.5-ounce serving contains 78 percent of the recommended daily allowance of folate and 51 percent of the recommended manganese. It also has 33 percent of Vitamin K1 and significant amounts of copper, iron, thiamin, and riboflavin.
High in Protein
Protein is essential to good health. It builds muscle tissue and contains amino acids that the body needs. Meat is the most common source of protein, but for vegans or people who try to eat a more vegetable-based diet, protein can be hard to get enough of. Edamame is an excellent plant source of this vital nutrient. There are 18.5 grams of protein in a single cup of cooked edamame. Most plant protein does not contain all of the essential amino acids. Edamame does and this is one of its greatest health benefits.
It May Reduce Cancer Risk
Like other soybeans, edamame contains high amounts of isoflavones. These compounds tend to bind to the receptors of the hormone estrogen. As estrogen is thought to be a potential cause of breast cancer, isoflavones can help lower the risk of this disease. Eating edamame is a great way to ingest isoflavones.
Studies have also shown that isoflavones may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Edamame would then seem to have cancer-protection benefits for men as well.
It May Lower Cholesterol
High levels of cholesterol in the blood can cause heart disease by clogging arteries with plaque. This can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Research has discovered that consuming 47 grams of edamame a day can lower bad cholesterol by nearly 13 percent. The fiber, antioxidants, and Vitamin K content of edamame can help improve heart health. The FDA has approved the claims that soy foods reduce cholesterol.
Edamame may seem like a rare and exotic food. But it's just soybeans and you can get it in your supermarket. However you eat it, edamame has some nice health benefits that make it a good choice to add to your diet.
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