Characteristics
Physical characteristics
- Soybean varies in growth and habit. The height of the plant varies from below 20 cm (7.9 in) up to 2 meters (6.6 ft.). The pods, stems, and leaves are covered with fine brown or grey hairs
- The leaves are trifoliate, having three to four leaflets per leaf, and the leaflets are 6–15 cm (2.4–5.9 in) long and 2–7 cm (0.79–2.8 in) broad.
- Before the seeds are mature leaves fall.
2. Chemical composition
- Together, soybean oil and protein content account for about 60% of dry soybeans by weight; protein at 40% and oil at 20%.
- The remainder consists of 35% carbohydrate and about 5% ash.
Chemical composition of the seed
Energy | 1,866 kJ (446 kcal) |
Carbohydrates | 30.16 g |
Sugars | 7.33 g |
protein | 36.49g |
Fat | 19.94 g |
Uses of Soybean
1. As Feed
- High protein content (40-45%) in terms of amino acid composition
- Adequate amount of vitamins & minerals
- As fodder & forage for animal use
2. Raw Materials for Industry
- Used as a solvent and in making dyes, synthetic resins, lacquers, glues, paper coating
- Soybean oil for foaming, dispersing and wetting agents (lecithin)
3. As Food
- Ingredients in traditional meal dishes
- Fermented products such as soy sauce (toyo), soy cheese, soy paste, etc.
- Soybeans milk
4. Soybean oil
- Soybean seed contains about 20 % oil.
- Oil is processed, mixed for various uses, and sometimes hydrogenated.
- Soybean oils, both liquid and partly hydrogenated, are exported to other countries, marketed as “vegetable oil,” and used in a wide range of prepared foods.
5. Soybean meal
- Soy meal is the material remaining after solvent extraction of oil from soybean flakes, with a 50% soy protein content.
- In Low-cost dog foods soybean meal also used
Health benefits
Cancer | Brain |
---|---|
Several large population studies have shown, that consumption of soy foods is associated with a reduction in prostate cancer risk in men. It is significantly associated with decreased risk of death and recurrence of breast cancer among women | Recent studies have shown improvement in cognitive function, particularly verbal memory, and in frontal lobe function with the use of soy supplements. |
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