What are the health benefits of soy?

Soy is one of the healthiest foods on earth. A complete review of all the benefits could easily fill a large book. Soy's key benefits are related to its excellent protein content, its high levels of essential fatty acids, numerous vitamins and minerals, interesting phytochemicals such as isoflavones and saponins, and dietary fiber.

The soybean contains a wealth of nutrients and phytochemicals, that are tied to an impressive array of medical benefits:

Decreases symptoms of menopause

The soy isoflavones products appear to decrease the symptoms of menopause, especially hot flushes. More information about isoflavones and menopause.

Reduces risk of certain cancers

Using soy products appears to decrease the risk of breast cancer. Soy products may also decrease the risk of colon and prostate cancer. The anti-cancer action of tempeh is attributed to the isoflavones. The isoflavones have antioxidant properties and help to prevent to oxidation of DNA. Isoflavones also seem to reduce the growth rate of cancer cells.

Rich in healthy soy protein

Soy products are excellent vegetable sources of protein. Most current health recommendations suggest limiting animal protein, so substituting soy for chicken, beef, or pork makes sense. Compared to all other beans, soybeans have the highest amount of protein. In fact, 38% of the soybean's edible weight is soy protein, with the rest coming from carbohydrate and fats. The soy protein contain all the essential amino acids!

Free from saturated fat

Soy products are free of the saturated fat implicated in many health problems. Soy is also cholesterol free.

Builds stronger bones

Isoflavones in soy appear to increase the bone mineral content of post-menopausal women, decreasing the possibility of osteoporosis. More information about isoflavones and osteoporosis. The soy isoflavones are responsible for the bone protection but also, the recplacement of animal protein with vegetable or soy protein improves bone health.

Lowers cholesterol

Soy products appear to lower total blood cholesterol and LDL levels at about the same rate as decreasing fat in the diet. Twenty-five grams of soy protein is thee recommended daily consumption by the FDA. The approved health claim states: 25 grams of soy protein daily, in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Many food products containing soy protein advertise this claim on the label.

Mild for kidney

People with reduced kidney function--such as those with diabetes who have nephropathy--can benefit by replacing animal protein with soy protein.

Soy Saponins

Many health benefits of soybeans are attributed to their isoflavones but soy saponins, which are less studied, may also play an important role. Tempeh and other soy products, except soy protein extracted with alcohol, contain high levels of saponins. Raw soybeans contain between 2 and 5 g saponins per 100 g. Saponins are glycosides of steroids, steroid alkaloids or triterpenes found in many plants such as asparagus, soybeans, quinoa, olives, grapes and many herbs including ginseng and soapwort. When dissolved in water they form a stable soapy froth. This can easily be observed when you add water to soybean grits (see pictures above). Because of the presence of both a hydrophilic (sugar) and hydrophobic (steroid) they act as emulsifiers and foaming agents. Soy saponins are divided in 2 groups: group A saponins have and undesirable astringent taste, typical for some soy products, and group B saponins have the health promoting properties. The soybean germ contains most group A saponins, whereas group B saponins are found in the both the soybean germ and cotyledons. The soybean hulls, which are removed during the tempeh production, contain little saponins. Some types of saponins are poisonous but the ones found in soybeans and tempeh are eatable and actually possess health benefits.

Health Benefits of Soy Saponins

Soy saponins may contribute to cholesterol lowering by increasing bile secretion and may reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Cholesterol Reduction - Already in 1979 Potter et al discover the cholesterol lowering property of soy saponins. The ability of saponins to form emulsions or micelles with bile salt in the intestine probably explains their cholesterol lowering activity. Bile salt forms small micelles with cholesterol facilitating its absorption. Because soy saponins bind with bile salt, the absorption of cholesterol is reduced. Some saponins form insoluble complexes with cholesterol, resulting in inhibition of absorption cholesterol.

Anticancer - Scientific studies have illustrated that saponins can lower the risk of colon cancer. Cancer cells also need cholesterol to grow and saponins bind cholesterol rich cancer cell membranes, thereby limiting their growth. A study by Roa et al published in The Journal of Nutrition (1995, 125, 717s-724S) concluded that saponins may help to prevent colon cancer.

Inhibition of HIV - The Japanese study entitled "Inhibitory effect of glycosides like soy saponins on the infectivity of HIV in vitro" and published in AIDS (1989 Oct) concluded that soy saponins, especially saponin B1, may have inhibitory activity against HIV infection. It should be stressed that this was an in-vitro study using cultured cells and that the consumption of soy saponins is not a medicine to cure HIV.

Source : http://www.tempeh.info/health/soy-saponins.php

Isoflavones in Soybeans

What are isoflavones?

Isoflavones are phytochemicals, which are compounds found only in plants. They are also a type of phytoestrogen that resembles human estrogen in chemical structure yet are weaker. By mimicking human estrogen at certain sites in the body, isoflavones provide many health benefits that help you to avoid disease. Isoflavones are found in soybeans, chick peas and other legumes. However, soybeans are unique because they have the highest concentration of these powerful compounds.

Health effects of isoflavones

Lower cancer risk - Epidemiological studies have suggested that Asian diets may provide protection from several cancers, including those of the breast, prostate gland and colon. The action of isoflavones as weak estrogens allows them to bind to estrogen receptors and block some of the detrimental effects of estrogen - such as promotion of cancer cell growth. Tamoxifen, a prescription drug for treating breast cancer, is though to act as an anti-estrogen by binding to the estrogen receptor and "blocking" the growth-promoting effects of estrogen in cancer cells. Women using tamoxifen have a lower incidence of breast cancer and a 30-40% reduction in breast cancer cell growth rate. The isoflavones in soy are chemically similar to tamoxifen and, therefore, may also reduce the risk of hormone-dependent cancers via the same "estrogen-blocking" mechanism.

Improved bone health - Isoflavones consumption has been shown to reduce bone loss and slow calcium loss in an animal model of osteoporosis, suggesting a possible beneficial role in preventing osteoporosis in humans. In addition, soybeans contain a relatively high calcium content. It is also interesting to note that soy protein seems to cause less loss of calcium from the body compared to other dietary sources of protein, which may promote calcium loss and bone breakdown at high levels. Ipriflavone, a synthetic isoflavone drug prescribed in Europe, is metabolized in the body into daidzein, and has potent effects on reducing bone resorption in post-menopausal women.

Relieves menopause symptoms - Soyfoods which contain isoflavones may help in the treatment of menopause symptoms. In women who are producing little estrogen, phytoestrogens may produce enough estrogenic activity to relieve symptoms such as hot flushes. From an epidemiological point of view, it is interesting that in Japan, where soy consumption is very high, menopause symptoms of any kind are rarely reported.

Lowers cholesterol- Isoflavones possess anti-oxidant action, and not only help to decrease the bad LDL cholesterol, but also increase the beneficial HDL cholesterol.

ISOFLAVON, SENYAWA MULTI-MANFAAT DALAM KEDELAI

Oleh :
Sutrisno Koswara
Staf Pengajar Departemen Ilmu dan Teknologi Pangan
Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian
Institut Pertanian Bogor
Kampus IPB Darmaga PO BOX 220
Bogor Telp/Fax. 0251-626725

Hasil-hasil penelitian di berbagai bidang kesehatan telah membuktikan bahwa konsumsi produk-produk kedelai berperan penting dalam menurunkan resiko terkena berbagai penyakit degeneratif. Ternyata, hal tersebut salah satunya disebabkan adanya zat isoflavon dalam kedelai. Isoflavon merupakan faktor kunci dalam kedelai sehingga memiliki potensi memerangi penyakit tertentu.

Isoflavon kedelai dapat menurunkan resiko penyakit jantung dengan membantu menurunkan kadar kolesterol darah. Protein kedelai telah terbukti mempunyai efek menurunkan kolesterol, yang dipercaya karena adanya isaoflavon di dalam protein tersebut. Studi epidemologi juga telah membuktikan bahwa masyarakat yang secara teratur mengkonsumsi makanan dari kedelai, memiliki kasus kanker payudara, kolon dan prostat yang lebih rendah. Isoflavon kedelai juga terbukti, melalui penelitian in vitro dapat menghambat enzim tirosin kinase, oleh karena itu dapat menghambat perkembangan sel-sel kanker dan angiogenesis. Hal ini berarti suatu tumor tidak dapat membuat pembuluh darah baru, sehingga tidak dapat tumbuh.

Peranan isoflavon dalam membantu menurunkan osteoporosis juga telah diteliti. Konsumsi protein kedelai dengan isoflavon telah terbukti dapat mencegah kerapuhan tulang pada tikus yang digunakan sebagai model untuk penelitian osteoporosis. Studi yang lain menunjukkan hasil yang sama pada saat menggunakan genistein saja. Ipriflavone, obat yang dimetabolisme menjadi daidzein telah terbukti dapat menghambat kehilangan kalsium melalui urine pada wanita post monopouse.

Produk kedelai yang mengandung isoflavon dapat membantu pengobatan simptom monopouse. Pada wanita yang memproduksi sedikit estrogen, isoflavon (phitoestrogen) dapat menghasilkan cukup aktivitas estrogen untuk mengatasi simptom akibat monopouse, misalnya hot flashes. Suatu penelitian menunjukkan bahwa wanita yang mengkonsumsi 48 gram tepung kedelai per hari mengalami gejala hot flashes 40 % lebih rendah. Dari segi epidemologi, wanita Jepang yang konsumsi isoflavonnya tinggi jarang dijumpai simptom post monopousal.

Makanan yang terbuat dari kedelai mempunyai jumlah isoflavon yang bervariasi, tergantung bagaimana mereka diproses. Makanan dari kedelai seperti tahu, susu kedelai, tepung kedelai dan kedelai utuh mempunyai kandungan isoflavon berkisar antara 130 – 380 mg/100 gram. Kecap dan minyak kedelai tidak mengandung isoflavon. Produk kedelai yang digunakan sebagai bahan tambahan pangan, seperti isalat dan konsentrat protein kedelai mempunyai kandungan isoflavon yang bervariasi, tergantung bagaimana proses pengolahannya. Misalnya, hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan alkohol dalam proses ekstraksi menghasilkan kadar isoflavon yang rendah.

Kedelai telah menjadi makanan sehari-hari penduduk Asia. Pada sebagian besar negara Asia, konsumsi isoflavon diperkirakan antara 25 – 45 mg/hari. Jepang merupakan negara yang mengkonsumsi isoflavon terbesar, diperkirakan konsumsi harian orang Jepang adalah 200 mg/hari. Di negara-negara Barat konsumsinya kurang dari 5 mg isoflavon per hari.

Selengkapnya, silakan download di : http://www.ebookpangan.com/ARTIKEL/ISOFLAVON,%20ZAT%20MULTI%20MANFAAT%20%20DALAM%20KEDELAI.pdf

Health benefits of isoflavones

Research in several areas of healthcare has shown that consumption of isoflavones may play a role in lowering risk for disease. They can fight disease on several fronts. The following potential health benefits are attributed to isoflavones:

• Ease menopause symptoms - The benefits of soy go beyond reducing long-term cancer risk. Recent studies have found that soy isoflavones can reduce menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and increase bone density in women. Indeed, many menopausal and post-menopausal health problems may result from a lack of isoflavones in the typical Western diet. Although study results are not entirely consistent, isoflavones from soy or red clover may be helpful for symptoms of menopause. A study carried out by "Health Test" in 2004 investigated the prescription behaviour of 27 doctors for women with menopause symptoms. It showed that isoflavones were recommended twice (44%) as often as hormonal treatment (22%). The prescribed supplements were mainly based on the following plants: soy, black cohosh and hops.
  
  
• Reduce heart disease risk - Soy isoflavones also appear to reduce cardiovascular disease risk via several distinct mechanisms. Isoflavones inhibit the growth of cells that form artery clogging plaque. These arteries usually form blood clots which can lead to a heart attack. A review of 38 controlled studies on soy and heart disease concluded that soy is definitely effective for improving cholesterol profile. There is some evidence that isoflavones are the active ingredients in soy responsible for improving cholesterol profile.
  
  
• Protect against prostate problems - Isoflavones may be benificial for men's health because they may protect against enlargement of the male prostate gland. Studies show isoflavones slowed prostate cancer growth and caused prostate cancer cells to die. Isoflavones act against cancer cells in a way similar to many common cancer-treating drugs.
  
  
• Isoflavones improve bone health - Soy Isoflavones help in the preservation of the bone substance and fight osteoporosis. This is the reason why people in China and Japan very rarely have osteoporosis, despite their low consumption of dairy products, whereas in Europe and North America the contrary happens. Unlike estrogen, which helps prevent the destruction of bone, evidence suggests that isoflavones may also assist in creating new bone. Other studies are not entirely consistent, but evidence suggests that genistein and other soy isoflavones can help prevent osteoporosis.
  
  
• Reduce cancer risk - Isoflavones seem to be protect agains tumors because thet act against cancer cells in a way similar to many common cancer-treating drugs. Population-based studies show a strong association between consumption of isoflavones and a reduced risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Women who ate the most soy products and other foods rich in isoflavones reduced their risk of endometrial cancer by 54%.

Isoflavones are natural plant hormones

Isoflavones can be found in many foods but the best known source is the soy bean (Glycine max). The soy isoflavones are responsible for most of the soy health benefits. The Soy bean is a plant cultivated as foodstuff whose health properties have recently been discovered. Thorough studies have revealed that the consumption of the soy beans have favourable effects on people's health. Another source of isoflavones is red clover. As opposed to soy beans, red clover is normally not eaten but the isoflavones are extracted in industrial processes and used to make isoflavones supplements.

Isoflavones are natural antioxidants

A recent study has demonstrated that isoflavones have potent antioxidant properties, comparable to that of the well known antioxidant vitamin E. The antioxidant powers of isoflavones can reduce the long-term risk of cancer by preventing free radical damage to DNA. Genistein is the most potent antioxidant among the soy isoflavones, followed by daidzein.

Source : http://www.isoflavones.info/

Kedelai dan Alpukat, Terapi Alami untuk Atasi Rematik/ Arthritis

Banyak sekali di antara kita yang menderita radang sendi/ encok. Bagi banyak orang, rasa sakit radang sendi ini sangat menyiksa, bahkan ada yang sampai tidak sanggup bekerja karena sakitnya radang sendi ini.

Dalam upaya untuk terapi sakit encok, banyak ahli kesehatan kini mendorong penggunaan makanan sebagai fokus untuk melengkapi dan suplemen obat tradisional. Sebagai penderita arthritis, Anda mungkin tidak menyadari bahwa ada makanan yang bermanfaat untuk terapi alami penyakit ini.

Alpukat dan kacang kedelai bila diblender dengan perbandingan 1:2, akan terbentuk minyak yang dikenal sebagai Unsaponifiables Alpukat-Kedelai (UAK). UAK dipercaya dapat mengurangi rasa sakit rematik dan membantu memperbaiki tulang rawan Anda. Anda dapat memperoleh manfaat terapeutik yang sama dengan makan dosis yang sehat alpukat dan kacang kedelai setiap hari. Cobalah setiap hari segelas Sari Kedelai dicampur dengan Alpukat, sehari sekali, selama tiga bulan akan memberikan manfaat terapeutik.

Namun selalu disarankan bahwa Anda juga perlu membicarakan terapi artritis alami ini dengan dokter Anda. Ketika obat tradisional sebagai pilihan untuk terapi artritis, mungkin Anda juga akan tetap disarankan untuk memakai obat-obat dari dokter Anda untuk saling melengkapi pengobatan.

Lihat juga di http://www.associatedcontent.com

Gizi dan Manfaat Kesehatan Kedelai

Kedelai mengandung makro-nutrisi yang dibutuhkan untuk pemenuhan gizi: protein lengkap, karbohidrat dan lemak, juga vitamin dan mineral, termasuk kalsium, asam folat dan zat besi.

Kedelai adalah makanan nabayi yang mengandung protein lengkap. Protein kedelai menyediakan semua asam amino esensial dalam jumlah yang dibutuhkan untuk kesehatan manusia. Profil asam amino dari protein kedelai hampir setara dengan kualitas daging, susu dan protein telur.

Minuman Sari Kedelai

Sari kedelai dapat dikonsumsi oleh orang yang sensitif susu atau orang yang merupakan vegetarian ketat yang tidak makan protein hewani. Sari kedelai merupakan sumber protein yang sangat baik, vitamin B dan zat besi, dan kalsium yang cukup. Sari kedelai bebas kolesterol dan rendah lemak tidak jenuh.

Lihat juga di http://www.nsrl.illinois.edu

Blog Baru untuk Chanalbumin

Untuk pengunjung Chanalbumin, Kapsul Ikan Gabus/ Kutuk (Channa Striata), silakan kunjungi : http://chanalbumin.blogspot.com.

Terima kasih.

Gebyar Produk Unggulan Daerah Prop DIY 2010

Bismillahirrahmannirrahim.

Disperindagkop Propinsi DIY mengadakan Gebyar Produk Unggulan Daerah Propinsi DIY 2010, dimulai tanggal 4 s/d 8 Oktober 2010, bertempat di Malioboro Mall, Yogyakarta. Gebyar kali ini diikuti oleh 30 UKM se-DIY. Ikut berperan serta pada Gebyar kali ini, Indo Natura dengan produknya Java Bean.

Bagi Sahabat yang tinggal dan sedang di kota Yogyakarta silakan kunjungi stand kami. Alhamdulillah, pada hari ke-2 semakin banyak permintaan keagenan mulai dari pulau Bali, Kota Bojonegoro, Bandung sampai Ibu Kota Jakarta. Banyak sekali permintaan untuk konsumsi perseorangan, keluarga, koperasi dan keagenan. Banyak yang menyimpan kartu nama Java Bean dan meninggalkan contact person untuk salah satu syarat keagenan.

Harapan kami sebagai produsen selalu mempersembahkan yang terbaik kepada pelanggan dan parter bisnis, sehingga menjalin hubungan yang harmonis dan saling memberikan manfaat. Kami juga saling sharing tentang manfaat dan kehebatan kacang kedelai dan kacang hijau, sehingga saling menambah ilmu. Kami mohon doa restu kepada semua sahabat yang selalu mendukung segala aktifitas Java Bean, Minuman Sehat Keluarga Bahagia. Salam super dan sukses selalu.

Alhamdulillah.

Testimoni Konsumen Java Bean Plus+

Pagi itu, Agustus 2010, setelah acara pengajian yang saya ikuti baru ditutup, telephon seluler saya berbunyi. Setelah saya terima ternyata dari Bu Kulsum, salah satu pelanggan yang baru merasakan minuman Java Bean kurang lebih 1 mingguan. Singkat kata saya segera pulang dan menemui tamu tersebut. Beliau datang berdua dan banyak bercerita tentang pengalamannya setelah minum Java Bean Plus+.

Salah satu ceritanya tentang putranya yang hobby olah raga tennis, belakangan mengeluh nyeri di bagian lutut. Ketika Bu Kulsum membawa pulang Java Bean Plus+, putranya menyambut gembira. Pada waktu itu dia hanya senang karena ada tambahan nutrisi, lesitin, protein dan vitamin B. Dengan semangat ia meminum Java Bean. Setelah merasakan rasanya yang enak semakin rajin meminumnya tanpa harus dibuatkan atau disuruh ibunya.

Selang beberapa hari, putra Bu Kulsum bercerita kalau berangsur-angsur nyeri di lututnya mereda. Bu Kulsum menyambut berita tersebut dengan senang. Esoknya dia membawa berita bahagia tersebut kepada teman sekantornya sekaligus sahabatnya, yaitu Bu Eli. Bu Eli ikut senang mendengar berita baik tersebut, karena beberapa minggu belakangan Bu Kulsum sering curhat masalah nyeri lutut pada putranya, sedangkan putranya sendiri tidak mau disuruh berhenti dulu olah raga tennis. Bu Eli bertanya ingin tahu obat apa yang dikonsumsi putra Bu Kulsum. Bu Kulsum menggelengkan kepala, merasa tidak ada obat atau suplemen yang diberikan kepada putranya, karena putranya paling enggan diajak ke dokter dan minum obat.

Karena penasaran kedua sahabat tersebut mencari-cari apa yang dikonsumsi putranya sehingga cepat sehat kembali. Mereka akhirnya ingat minuman tambahan yang semingguan ini mereka beli bersama di pameran. Java Bean Plus+, minuman sehat sari kedelai dan kacang hijau. Bu Eli juga bercerita kalau dia sendiri merasakan manfaatnya minum Java Bean Plus+. Bu Kulsum membenarkan karena putranya tersebut suka sekali minum Java Bean, tidak harus disuruh malah membuat sendiri katanya enak dan membuat gak capai waktu tennis.

Akhirnya mereka memutuskan untuk minum secara rutin dan ingin jadi pelanggan tetap. Bu Kulsum memutuskan menghubungi langsung dan silaturrahmi ke produsen Java Bean, yaitu Indo Natura, Jl Bandeng Raya No I-09, Minomartani, Sleman, DIY, sekalian membelikan titipan teman-teman untuk produk Java Bean, Minuman Sehat Keluarga Bahagia. Subhanallah dan Alhamdulillah... ucapan yang selalu mereka ucapkan atas anugerah ini. Semoga bermanfaat.