Home > Soybean

Soybeans ( US) or soya beans ( UK) (Glycine max) are a high- protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. The word soy comes from Japanese shoyu.

Soybeans may be boiled whole (in the green pod) and served with salt, often under the JapaneseThe Japanese language is a spoken and written language used mainly in Japan. The Japanese name for the language is Nihongo . History and classification Historical linguists do not all agree about the origin of the Japanese language; there are several comp name edamame. Soybeans prepared this way are a popular local snack in Hawai'iFor the 1959 novel and 1966 movie, see Hawaii (novel). Hawaii ( Hawaiian/ Hawaiian English: Hawai‘i with the ‘okina is the archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii constitutes the 50th state of the United States, and as of the 2000 where, like JapanJapan (, Nippon/Nihon literally "the origin of the sun") is a country in East Asia situated on a chain of islands east of the Asian continent on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido , Honsh, the bean and products made from the bean ( misoJapanese cuisine Miso is a thick paste made by fermenting soybeans with salt. Often grains and sometimes other ingredients are added. It tastes salty and, depending on the type of grain used as well as fermentation time, more or less sweet. Miso is often, nattoJapanese cuisine rice is always stirred before consumption Natto is a traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans, popular especially at breakfast. A rich source of protein, natto and the soybean paste miso formed a vital source of nutrition in, tofuTofu or bean curd is a food made by coagulating soy milk with calcium sulfate ( gypsum), nigari (a sea-salt derived compound rich in magnesium chloride), or other agents, and then pressing into blocks, similar to the way cheese is made from milk. It was f, etc.) are a significant part of the diet.

The beans can be processed in a variety of ways. Common forms of soy (or soya) include soy meal (often used as animal feed), soy flour, tofuTofu or bean curd is a food made by coagulating soy milk with calcium sulfate ( gypsum), nigari (a sea-salt derived compound rich in magnesium chloride), or other agents, and then pressing into blocks, similar to the way cheese is made from milk. It was f, textured vegetable proteinTextured vegetable protein (TVP) is a meat substitute made from de fatted soy flour, a by-product of making soybean oil. It is quick to cook, high in protein, and low in fat. TVP comes as small dry chunks when bought in bulk. It has no flavor of its own a (TVP, which is made into a wide variety of vegetarian foods, some of them intended to imitate meat), tempeh, soy lecithin and vegetable oil. Soybeans are also the primary ingredient involved in the production of soy sauce (or shoyu). Many traditional dairy products have been imitated using soybeans, and products such as soy milk, soy yogurt and soy cream cheese are readily available in most supermarkets. These products have the same texture and appearance as milk-based ones, however soybeans do not naturally contain calcium (though soy products may be fortified with it). Most soy products must not be fed to infants, although specially designed soy infant formula has also been made in recent times. This formula has extra vitamins and other nutrients added to it to make it compatible with the infant's needs. In some cases, infants fed normal adult soy milk on a long-term basis have become extremely malnourished and even died. In addition, soy allergies are one of the more common food allergies.

Soybeans are also used in industrial products including oils, soap, cosmetics, resins, plastics, inks, crayons, solvents, and biodiesel.

Soybeans are native to southeast Asia, but 45 percent of the world's soybean area, and 55 percent of production, is in the United States. The US produced 75 million metric tons of soybeans in 2000 of which more than one-third was exported. Other leading producers are Brazil, Argentina, China, and India. Much of the US production is either fed to animals or exported, though US consumption of soy by people has been increasing. Soy oil makes up 80% of the edible oil consumption in the U.S.

Soybeans are one of the crops that are being genetically modified, and GMO soybeans are being used in an increasing number of products. Currently, 80% of all soybeans cultivated for the commercial market are genetically modified. Monsanto is the world's leader in genetically modified soy for the commercial market.

Soybeans are considered a source of complete protein, i.e., protein that contains significant amounts of the essential amino acids that must be provided to the human body because of its inability to synthesize them.