Edamame

I chose edamame (soybeans) as my first post because it is the foundation of many vegan meals, as well as many products we use everyday!

Ever eaten tofu or tempeh? What about washed your hands, or filled your car with gasoline? Maybe you like to burn candles, use household cleaners, or enjoy the warmth of an insulated house. Chances are you have done one of these things, and by doing so you have harvested the power of this magic little bean.

In addition to its uses in everyday products "Soybeans are regarded as equal in protein quality to animal foods. Just one cup of soybeans provides 57.2% of the Daily Value (DV) for protein for less than 300 calories and only 2.2 grams of saturated fat. Plus, soy protein tends to lower cholesterol levels, while consuming protein from animal sources tends to raise them, since they also include saturated fat and cholesterol. In addition to healthy protein, some of soybeans' nutritional high points include a good deal of well-absorbed iron: 49.1% of the DV for iron in that same cup of soybeans; plus 37.0% of the DV for Nature's relaxant, magnesium; and 41.2% of the DV for essential omega-3 fatty acids." (www.whfoods.org)

Enjoy as a snack, or in the tasty dishes that will be listed here soon. Eat up vegans and non-vegans alike!