Edamame Soybeans

The edamame soybean has been used by Eastern Asian societies for well over two thousand years now as a valuable and important protein source. The name literally means ‘beans on branches’ due to the way they appear as their pods grow on the branches of a bushy plant.

Health benefits are still being studied and although little to no concrete conclusions have been made about these edamame soybean studies, it is quite clear that there is no harm in recommending it for a heart healthy diet. Like whys, it should be looked at for preventing serious health problems that have become more prevalent in today’s society, especially in the United States where high blood pressure and obesity has become the norm.

One half cup of shelled edamame soybeans, or one cup and an eighth of edamame pods, will increase your daily diet’s fiber, protein vitamin and mineral content, which are all vital to maintaining a healthy body. Here is a list of edamame soybean nutrients for every one half cup:

120 of membrane building calories
11 grams of muscle building protein
9 grams of fiber, equivalent to eating four slices of whole wheat bread or up to four cups of water steamed zucchini!
1.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat, that’s the healthy kind of fat your body desires containing 0.3 grams of plant omega-3 fatty acids
0.5 grams of monounsaturated fat
13 grams of healthy energizing carbohydrates
15 milligrams of sodium needed to maintain a body fluid homeostasis

Mineral wise, the edamame soybean contains essential amounts of your ideal daily values of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium. As a matter of fact, the 10% daily value of iron found in one half cup of edamame soybeans is equivalent to consuming a quarter pound chicken breast! This is high for any plant food.

As you can see the nutritional benefits of consuming edamame soybeans can be a healthier substitute for other high protein sources like meats, which are overall higher in fat and cholesterol.

Although the conclusions from studies done on the health benefits from consuming edamame soybeans are not solid, they suggest nothing but positive outcomes. Its effects on diabetes, for example, include reducing insulin resistance of individuals with kidney damage and a fatty liver. Overall reduction of “bad” cholesterol has also been noted for women and men soybean consumers alike, including an increase in levels of “good” cholesterol.

Studies have shown that the edamame soybean contains isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen, which work with your body’s proteins to protect individuals from heart disease and osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women in one study noticed an anti-inflammatory effect after consuming soymilk, another product of soybeans, which according to experts is an important way to prevent bone loss and cancer for postmenopausal women.

Seapoint Farms have a large variety of healthy edamame soybean products available at most grocery locations near you. Take advantage of its health benefits now and don’t wait for so called solid evidence to arise because solid evidence only comes from long-term studies, which are expensive to complete and will only yield results years from now if they are ever undergone.

Edamame Pods | Buy Frozen Edamame | Dry Roasted Edamame