Health Check; Tofu
Tofu is also known as bean curd, and is created by pressing coagulated soy milk into flat white blocks. This power-packed food substitute is ideal for vegetarians and vegans all around the world because it contains no traces of animal products of any kind – it is a pure organic food that supplies a wealth of nutritive value in a variety of delicious ways.
The name itself comes from the Japanese word “tofu”, but it is widely enjoyed in many countries for its extremely nutritious composition, despite being somewhat simple in appearance. It has a very low calorie count, but is packed with various nutrients and important organic compounds necessary for human health. It is not a complete protein, so it cannot completely replace those proteins lost by maintaining a vegetarian diet, but when coupled with a responsible amount of other healthy food, tofu can be an essential element of the human diet.
It can be used on either sweet or savory dishes, and can be prepared in a wide variety of ways. It became popular due to religious reasons of not eating meat in the Buddhist religion, but religious and non-religious people alike now turn to tofu to complete their healthy diet.
The reason tofu is so widely popular is because of the impressive amount of nutrients it contains, despite its relatively simplistic structure and composition. Tofu contains a very small amount of fat, but a large amount of protein, which is necessary for proper bodily functions. The low calorie count also makes it an attractive option for people attempting to lose weight. Furthermore, tofu has very low levels of sodium and almost no cholesterol, both of which mean that tofu is beneficial for heart health.
In terms of vitamins and minerals, tofu is a rich source of iron, magnesium, copper, phosphorous, selenium, and it also has good amounts of calcium and manganese. There are even trace amounts of zinc and potassium, more essential minerals for human health. The organic compounds found in tofu mainly consist of isoflavones, which have a wide impact on human health.
Vitamin Content of Tofu
On the vitamin side of nutrition, tofu has significant levels of vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and folate. It also contains smaller amounts of pantothenic acid and niacin. This combination of vitamins, in conjunction with the essential minerals found in tofu, make it one of the healthiest choices for your diet.
Caloric Content of Tofu
One of the best things about tofu is its impact on obesity and the prevention of weight gain. There are only 70 calories found in 100 grams of tofu, while the calories from fat are 35 (50%). There are 4 grams of fat in 100 grams of tofu, but only 1 gram is saturated fat.
Health Benefits of Tofu
Besides being the ideal food source for many vegetarians and vegans, it also packs an enormous amount of health benefits into those thin white blocks. Tofu has been turned to as a healthy food option for a number of reasons, including its ability to increase the blood circulation in the body, thanks to its iron and copper content. This prevents symptoms of anemia and keeps the organs running smoothly due to proper oxygenation. Copper and manganese, when combined, also create an enzyme that seeks out free radicals in the body, thereby preventing diseases like cancer, premature aging, and heart disease.
The low “bad” cholesterol content and moderate “good” cholesterol content mean that heart health is protected and the accumulation of plaque on the walls and arteries is eliminated, thereby reducing the chances of heart attacks and strokes. Calcium, along with other minerals like copper, zinc, selenium, and manganese are all important components in the creation of bone matter, so tofu helps to protect against osteoporosis and arthritis in various forms. Selenium is very important for the health and balance of the thyroid gland, which controls hundreds of processes in the body and ensures a high-functioning metabolism.
The health benefits of losing weight, which tofu helps with due to low sodium, calories, and fat, include higher energy levels, reduction in heart disease, increased cognition, and a lowered chance of developing chronic diseases.
The organic compounds in tofu, namely isoflavones, are instrumental in helping manage the symptoms of menopause in women, and they have also been associated with a reduction in breast and prostate cancer. Furthermore, they stimulate a reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol and an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol, further protecting the heart from a variety of cardiovascular conditions.
The name itself comes from the Japanese word “tofu”, but it is widely enjoyed in many countries for its extremely nutritious composition, despite being somewhat simple in appearance. It has a very low calorie count, but is packed with various nutrients and important organic compounds necessary for human health. It is not a complete protein, so it cannot completely replace those proteins lost by maintaining a vegetarian diet, but when coupled with a responsible amount of other healthy food, tofu can be an essential element of the human diet.
It can be used on either sweet or savory dishes, and can be prepared in a wide variety of ways. It became popular due to religious reasons of not eating meat in the Buddhist religion, but religious and non-religious people alike now turn to tofu to complete their healthy diet.
The reason tofu is so widely popular is because of the impressive amount of nutrients it contains, despite its relatively simplistic structure and composition. Tofu contains a very small amount of fat, but a large amount of protein, which is necessary for proper bodily functions. The low calorie count also makes it an attractive option for people attempting to lose weight. Furthermore, tofu has very low levels of sodium and almost no cholesterol, both of which mean that tofu is beneficial for heart health.
In terms of vitamins and minerals, tofu is a rich source of iron, magnesium, copper, phosphorous, selenium, and it also has good amounts of calcium and manganese. There are even trace amounts of zinc and potassium, more essential minerals for human health. The organic compounds found in tofu mainly consist of isoflavones, which have a wide impact on human health.
Vitamin Content of Tofu
On the vitamin side of nutrition, tofu has significant levels of vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and folate. It also contains smaller amounts of pantothenic acid and niacin. This combination of vitamins, in conjunction with the essential minerals found in tofu, make it one of the healthiest choices for your diet.
Caloric Content of Tofu
One of the best things about tofu is its impact on obesity and the prevention of weight gain. There are only 70 calories found in 100 grams of tofu, while the calories from fat are 35 (50%). There are 4 grams of fat in 100 grams of tofu, but only 1 gram is saturated fat.
Health Benefits of Tofu
Besides being the ideal food source for many vegetarians and vegans, it also packs an enormous amount of health benefits into those thin white blocks. Tofu has been turned to as a healthy food option for a number of reasons, including its ability to increase the blood circulation in the body, thanks to its iron and copper content. This prevents symptoms of anemia and keeps the organs running smoothly due to proper oxygenation. Copper and manganese, when combined, also create an enzyme that seeks out free radicals in the body, thereby preventing diseases like cancer, premature aging, and heart disease.
The low “bad” cholesterol content and moderate “good” cholesterol content mean that heart health is protected and the accumulation of plaque on the walls and arteries is eliminated, thereby reducing the chances of heart attacks and strokes. Calcium, along with other minerals like copper, zinc, selenium, and manganese are all important components in the creation of bone matter, so tofu helps to protect against osteoporosis and arthritis in various forms. Selenium is very important for the health and balance of the thyroid gland, which controls hundreds of processes in the body and ensures a high-functioning metabolism.
The health benefits of losing weight, which tofu helps with due to low sodium, calories, and fat, include higher energy levels, reduction in heart disease, increased cognition, and a lowered chance of developing chronic diseases.
The organic compounds in tofu, namely isoflavones, are instrumental in helping manage the symptoms of menopause in women, and they have also been associated with a reduction in breast and prostate cancer. Furthermore, they stimulate a reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol and an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol, further protecting the heart from a variety of cardiovascular conditions.
Culled and edited. Images: Google.
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