15 Important facts that you must know about Soybean

Soybeans are called as “vegetarian meat without bones”, as they contain high amount of protein, similar to the protein in meat, egg and dairy products. And soybean plant is one of those few plants which provide essential amino acids that are responsible for formation of protein.

In this article, we are providing you with 15 important and interesting facts that you must know about soybean:

• Soybeans are a good source of vitamins and minerals including molybdenum, folate, copper, phosphorus, manganese, and vitamin K.

• Soybeans create some of their own fertilizers; they have the ability to take nitrogen from the air. Microorganisms present on soybean roots can convert that nitrogen taken from air into the usable form of plants.

• Soy-based oils are used as lubricants and can withstand higher temperatures than petroleum-based oils.

• Soy oil is the second most important vegetable oil, after palm oil.

• Soybeans grow from seed as an annual crop; they produce and die in a single growing season. And take 90-120 days from the day of sowing to harvesting.

• The main countries growing soybean are the United States, Brazil, and Argentina.

• Soybeans are native to East Asia and, were the vital crop there even before the written documentation started.

• Fully grown mature soybean plants are of a height of 20-50 inches.

• Soybeans provide many health benefits including protection against cancer, improving heart health, healthy weight gain, and decreasing the risk of diabetes.

• Common soybean food products include soy-oil, tofu, soy-milk, soy-butter, soy-yogurt, soy-flour, and tempeh.

• To remind everyone about including soybean in their diet, April is called soy-foods month.

• Chinese consider soybeans as one of their essential five sacred grains along with wheat, rice, barley, and millet.

• Soybean is the major natural source of dietary fiber.

• Soy-seeds can be yellow, green, black, brown or bicolored in color.