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Food for Fitness: Edamame

posted by ChickSpeak
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 1:10pm CST

A couple of years ago, I went to my favorite Asian restaurant with one of my best friends and her fiancé.

There I ordered the best rice bowl ever created in this western world, and my friend’s fiancé ordered a big bowl of edamame as an appetizer. This is where I was first introduced to this little green soy bean.

Edamame means “twig bean” or “beans on branches,” and they are picked just before they have ripened. They are boiled in salt water while still in the pod. After that they are ready for consumption.

Edamame are becoming easier to find. They are available on many college campuses, most grocery and health food stores, as well as many Japanese and Chinese restaurants.

The exciting thing about this firm podded bean, is the astonishing amount of healthful benefits contained within its tiny casing.

Whenever you pop one of these beans into your mouth, you are about to ingest a food that contains all nine of the essential amino acids that your body cannot produce thus making it an incredible source of protein.

Not only are edamame high in protein, they only contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol reducing the risk of heart disease. In a half cup serving there are only 125 calories, which make this quick and easy snack completely guilt-free.

The good fat content are not the only things about edamame that help contribute to the lowered risk of heart disease, in a half cup serving there are 9 grams of fiber which also donate to lowered cholesterol. Think of it this way, you can get about that much fiber by eating around four slices of your favorite whole wheat bread. Fiber also leaves you feeling full so you will not be reaching for a candy bar or other quick snack foods.

Edamame also possesses a high storage of vitamins and A and C which are both exceptional antioxidants, as well as incomparable levels of iron which is unusual for a plant type food.

Foodnetwork has a few simple edamame recipes that are absolutely amazing. My favorites are the edamame hummus and the edamame dip both of which are great spread over some pita bread.

If you have never tried this little power-packed legume, you are certainly missing out. Like many healthy foods you may have to acquire a taste for edamame. Try them fresh out of the pack, and try them in a recipe, you are bound to find some way or another that you will like them if not every way you prepare them.

Fatima Meadows attends Appalachian State University. She enjoys learning about the healthy properties of the foods she loves. She also has an adventurous palette and will try any food once.