Health Benefits of Tofu
By Madhusudhan Tammisetti
Tofu is considered a superfood due to its wide range of health benefits. It may help in lowering cholesterol levels, heart disease, and promote liver function.
Good for Kidneys
Consumption of a high-protein diet has long been suspected of causing kidney failure, leading to dialysis, resulting in a transplant.
Protein, in reality, aids in proper renal function. Thus this misconception is largely false. Tofu is a good soy protein source, which seems more suited to supporting kidney function by lowering blood lipids than other protein sources.
Reduces Cholesterol Levels
Saponins are chemicals found in tofu that may help lower LDL cholesterol levels. These chemicals aid in the evacuation of body's bile acids, thus boosting the use of blood lipids.
This leads to better heart health and lowers the risk of heart disease.
Lowers the Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a severe bone disease that affects postmenopausal women at an increasing rate. The rapid and severe drop in estrogen levels that occurs after menopause is responsible for most of this inherent risk.
Because of its isoflavone concentration, tofu may assist in protecting bone tissue from mineral leaching. Isoflavones have been found to have a pseudo-estrogenic effect, which aids in bone preservation.
Lowers the Risk of Heart Disease
Soybeans are legumes, a kind of food that has been linked to heart health benefits. Tofu, which is produced from soybeans, maintains this heart-healthy quality and is linked to lower heart disease markers.
Tofu's isoflavones assist in decreasing inflammation in blood vessels, allowing them to retain their flexibility and minimizing problems associated with high blood pressure.
These isoflavones are also thought to have cardioprotective properties, similar to how estrogen affects heart function.
Helps in Weight Loss
Tofu is very beneficial for weight loss since it includes fiber, protein, and calcium, which play key roles in appetite control.
Tofu in a meal may help suppress hunger for many hours, making it ideal for preventing snacking between meals. Furthermore, tofu is low in calories, so you won't be putting a lot of calories into the body by eating it.
Helps in Liver Function
Tofu consumption has been shown to improve liver function, owing to its antioxidant properties. This may assist in alleviating external stress on the liver, allowing it to continue to cope with the metabolism of different substances without interruption.
Furthermore, because of its cholesterol-lowering properties, tofu may aid in the prevention of fatty liver disease.
Good for Brain Health
The impact on cognitive retention is particularly noticeable in women under 65 years who have not yet undergone menopause. Much of tofu's ability to sustain brain health is due to its lecithin content, which aids in synthesizing essential phospholipids that keep the brain neurons healthy.
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