8 health benefits of eating edamame

Edamame is the immature soybeans which are usually used in Asian and vegetarian cooking. Here are the 8 ways in which regular consumption of edamame can benefit our health.

You can find many varieties of edamame in stores but the ones which are fresh are the best ones to be picked for consumption. Edamame can be consumed by boiling the immature beans while still in the pods and seasoning the boiled beans to enjoy maximum nutrition from it.

Edamame is nutritionally very rich as it contains almost all the essential vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of protein, energy, fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, copper, sodium, manganese, almost all B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E. It contains a low amount of fats and sugar.

Following are the health benefits that edamame offers to us.

Healthy skin. Edamame contains antioxidants that maintain the skin health and repairs any damage caused to the skin. Isoflavones present in edamame are beneficial to manage any age related skin change in post menopausal women.

Enhances immunity. Being an impressive package of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants edamame helps to strengthen the immune system. A strong immune system is vital to protect our body against constant attack of harmful microorganisms.

Strong bones. Certain minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are essential in maintaining healthy bones. Regular consumption of mineral rich edamame bean helps to maintain the bone density and strengthen bones. In fact, it has been reported that this bean helps to lower the risk of fractures in post menopausal women and prevents osteoporosis.

Maintain lungs. Edamame contains genistein that has been studied to improve the functioning of lungs in people with asthma.

Manages weight. Edamame contains less fat content and has high proteins, which is beneficial to manage a healthy body weight. You may steam or boil edamame beans and eat it as a healthy snack or a filling side dish.

Improves digestion. It is a very good source of dietary fiber that facilitates digestion and lowers the cholesterol level in blood. So, a diet containing edamame eases digestive problems such as bloating and constipation.

Anti cancer properties. There are studies that support the role of soy products such as edamame beans in inhibiting and reducing the growth of tumor cells.

Cardiovascular health. Another group of studies supports the role of edamame in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, apart from providing better control of blood glucose and insulin levels.