Veggie Fact of the Day

Edamame, or fresh green Soybeans in the pod, is a East-Asian and Hawaiian preparation. The pods are boiled in water and sprinkled with sea salt. The USDA calls edamame a snack with a nutritional punch! Edamame, and all soybean preparations are rich in a protein, fiber and most importantly Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids. A 100g serving of edamame has over 350 mg of omega-3 and close to 1800 mg of omega-6 fatty acids. Similar to other legumes, edamame, with their high isoflavone and phytoestrogen content may help alleviate the symptoms of menopause. Certain legumes contain isoflavones that mimic the female hormone estrogen in the body. While Asian women, who tend to consume significant quantities of legumes, have much higher blood levels of phytoestrogens compared with most American women, it does not mean that men who eat edamame or other legumes have any risk of feminization. The 'Soy myth' has overrun our media and there are several good articles showing the health benefits of edamame and other soybean products such as tofu, tempeh and soy sauce. Here's one such example - Soy and your Health. 

Edamame are a nutritional powerhouse. In a half-cup serving of shelled edamame, one gets 11 g of complete protein i.e. containing all of the essential amino acids. It also provides 9 g of fiber and 10% of the RDA for Vitamin C and iron, 8% of the RDA for Vitamin A and 4% of the RDA for calcium. It also serves as a source of vitamin K and Folic Acid (Vitamin B9). So eat up!!! Its yummy!