You may or may not be familiar with edamane, which is the green immature form of the soybean. However, you may want to get on the edamane bandwagon because it has a lot to offer with its extra rich source of preserved nutrients that its mature soybean counterpart lacks for numerous health benefits. With this in mind, here is why you may want this legume in your life.
Many of us are stressed and overwhelmed with anxiety more than ever thanks to COVID-19, but edamane is among mood-boosting foods that can help our natural ability to better kick those negative feelings to the curb. Since it contains more folate than mature soybeans, edamane can stop the destructive levels of homocysteine, which is an amino acid in the blood that potentially blocks serotonin, the chemical in the brain for happiness. It also has other B vitamins that help the nervous system to assist with that sense of calm such as thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine. As a result, it shows promise for helping with age-related memory issues as well.
Women especially should appreciate edamane for all its extra calcium and magnesium than a mere soybean for bone strength and help with osteoporosis. At the same time, those same minerals also can help with increasing your chances of fertility to problems related to menopause.
Edamane also should be credited for being a healthier protein source over traditional meats for cardiovascular health problems. This form of soy protein can lower the body’s bad cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels to improve blood pressure and prevent atherosclerosis.
Here’s another great thing about edamane for those watching their weight. One half of a cup of it boiled just has 172 calories. Of course, you are not going to eat your edamane just like that, but probably in a recipe with other ingredients that will boost up the calorie count. Nonetheless, the portion that you dish out for your plate will be lower than the same dish with animal protein.
There also have been studies testing edamane with how it works for people with type 2 diabetes that typically may have issues with how their kidneys function. This immature legume seems to assist the body from excreting protein. Though it helps in that area, it may also can cause problems with the digestive system. Other studies need to happen to really understand how edamane works for this group.
If you feel sluggish and tire too easily, you may find the iron in edamane can give you that needed energy to feel like yourself again.
Edamane also has an ample supply of vitamin K, which can help blood clotting and wound healing as well as your bones. However, if you are on a blood thinner such as coumadin (warfarin) then you need to be careful of your intake of vitamin K.
Even though you may be on the fence about edamane and what it can do for your health, it has many things going for it that make it worthy of your attention.
