What is Soy?
Have you ever eaten a soy product? Soy products are 
made from soybeans, which are grown in Asia, South America, and North America. Soy products, such as tofu and miso, are often associated with Asian cuisine, but there are many ways to eat soy. You can eat immature green soybeans as edamame or the mature brown soybeans, which are used for most processed soy products.
Soy products come in many forms. S
oymilk is thick and creamy like animal milk, and comes in sweetened and unsweetened variations. Soy coffee creamers and cheese are other dairy alternatives. Soy is frequently used as a meat alternative. Common brands to look for in your freezer section include Boca and MorningStar. Burger patties, crumbles similar to ground beef, soy hotdogs, and soy “chicken” are available. In general, tofu and soy meat products will typically absorb the flavor of whatever you decide to season it with.
Soybeans are high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and are low in carbohydrates, saturated fats, and are cholesterol free. Edamame will have less calories and fats than a mature soybean, but a mature soybean will be higher in iron, calcium, and various vitamins. Soybeans are very low on the glycemic index, may contribute to reducing blood cholesterol levels, and are rich in soluble fiber to keep your colon healthy. -HM
