For many years, soy meat has been overshadowed by other foods. Recently, however, more and more people are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, adhering to a balanced diet. The demand for dietary products such as soy meat has increased dramatically.
The Chinese have been using soy for hundreds of years to prepare various dishes. Europeans were able to appreciate soybeans only after they got meat from it, which happened in the twentieth century. Soy meat (vegetable textured protein) is a natural product that is derived from a plant. This product is obtained from defatted soy flour, which is mixed with water by extrusion. Then the raw material is dried, then the finished product is packaged.
To prepare a dish from soy meat, it must first be soaked in water or boiled in salted water. Such actions replenish the liquid in the product, the pieces swell, triple in size. During cooking, it is recommended to use spices that convert the neutral texturate. After that, you can cook the soy product like natural meat. It is used for cooking azu, goulash, pilaf, beef stroganoff, schnitzel. The dry product is stored for a year; it is better to keep the finished meat in the refrigerator for no more than three days.
The benefits of soy meat
Soy meat has been subjected to numerous studies more than once. Thanks to the results, we can say that such a plant product is not inferior in its nutritional properties to natural meat, and even surpasses it in some respects. The composition of soy meat contains a colossal amount of protein, without which the proper functioning of the body is impossible. This product does not contain cholesterol, therefore it is a good alternative to natural meat - the main source of protein.
Soy meat included in the diet plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, regulation of brain activity. This is possible due to the ratio of polyunsaturated Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids. Soy meat contains a significant amount of lecithin, which regulates fat metabolism and lowers cholesterol levels. This product is rich in a complex of biologically active compounds, trace elements (phosphorus, iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium), vitamins (E, B1, B2, P, B and D).
It is recommended to use soy meat for people with the following diseases: allergies, obesity, hypertension and ischemic disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus. It is useful for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Soy meat is an integral part of the diet of people who prefer to eat exclusively plant foods. It occupies a leading position in the nutrition of vegetarians.
Contraindications and harm
You should stop consuming soy meat for people who have an individual intolerance to soy products. It should be used with caution in the nutrition of pregnant women and children, since genetically modified soy is often used in production.
