Edamame is a type of soybeans that is whole, immature, and sometimes it is referred to as vegetable-type soybeans.
Regular soybeans are typically light brown and beige, but edamame is green and differ in color.
Edamame is thought to have been around for approximately 2,000 years. It was first harvested in China, and then they were introduced to the Japanese people.
Food historians estimate that edamame was first planted in the United States at the dawn of the 20th century. The legume didn’t really become popular until around the 1970s. That was when American consumers’ attention was drawn to natural and organic food items.
Edamame is today found in most big supermarkets in the US. They are also found in health stores and served in many Japanese and Chinese restaurants.
Some people often wonder whether edamame on who you ask. Let’s take a look at the 5 basic health facts about edamame.
5 Superb Health Facts About Edamame
1. It is highly proteinaceous
It is necessary and important to get enough protein for good health.
People who rarely eat protein foods need to pay attention to what they eat daily. Many plant foods have low protein. However, few are excluded; one good example is beans.
155 grams of cooked edamame (that is a cup of edamame) provides approximately 18.5 grams of protein. There are many benefits of eating a protein-rich diet.
Moreover, soybeans are, of course, a whole source of protein. They are not like most plant proteins. In summary, edamame contains 12 proteins, and it also provides all the vital amino acids.
2. It lowers cholesterol
Studies revealed that eating 47 grams of soy protein daily can lower cholesterol levels by 9.3 percent. It also lowers TDM cholesterol by 12.9 percent.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms that protein from soybeans prevents heart disease.
Edamame is also rich in healthy fiber and vitamin K.
These plant nutrients help decrease the risk of heart disease and generously enhance the blood lipid profile.
3. Edamame may help reduce the imperilment of breast cancer
Soybeans contain high plant compounds called isoflavones.
Isoflavones mirror the female sex hormone estrogen and may be bound weakly to its receptors, which are situated in cells throughout the human body.
Estrogen is believed to promote some types of cancer, and one example is breast cancer. Some researchers believe that eating a large number of soybeans and isoflavones may be very risky.
Some studies have linked a high intake of soy products with increased breast tissues. And that may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Some similar studies have a different opinion, abd suggest that high consumption of soy products may delicately lower the imperilment of breast cancer.
They went ahead to point out that high consumption of rich foods in isoflavone early in one’s life may shield against breast cancer later in one’s life.
4. Edamame may help to reduce menopausal symptoms
Everyone knows that menopause is the stage when a woman stops menstruating.
It is often associated with adverse symptoms, which include hot flashes, excessive sweating, and mood swings.
Researchers pointed out that soybeans and isoflavones are likely to reduce adverse signs during menopause.
A study showed that intake of 135 mg of isoflavone supplements daily for a week reduced menopausal symptoms only in those who were equol producers. Edamame producers are more common in Asian countries than in Western countries. This is probably the reason why Asian women do not experience symptoms linked to menopause.
5. It lowers blood sugar
Like many legumes, eating edamame does not excessively increase blood sugar levels in the body. Edamame is very low in carbs, while being moderate in protein and fat. It also has a very low on the glycemic index. Glycemic index is a measure of the extent to which foods raise blood sugar levels, and it ranges from 1-100. The glycemic index of Edamame is 18.
Edamame is recommended for people with diabetes. It’s also an excellent food to add to your low-carb diet.
Bottom Line
Edamame is a vegetable type of soybeans. It is rich in protein, fiber, while being low in saturated fat, and nutrient-packed. Edamame is an excellent source of non-animal based protein. The health facts about Edamame are discussed in this article.