As a result of processing soybeans, Tofu contains vegetable protein because it has a complete amino acid composition (up to 8 amino acids) and believed to have a high digestibility (by 85% -98%). When compared with other food sources, nutritional content in Tofu is still less than the egg, meat, and fish. However, with prices relatively cheaper, people tend to prefer to consume Tofu as a substitute for animal protein foods to meet their nutritional needs.
Tofu have various kinds of nutritional value, such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, calories and minerals, phosphorus, B-complex vitamins, potassium, and calcium. And most importantly, with a content of about 80% unsaturated fatty acids, Tofu does not contain cholesterol, so it is safe for heart health. In fact, because the content of carbohydrate and calorie is low, Tofu is a low-calorie diet menu.
The Nutrition Facts in 100gr of Tofu
Besides well-known in Indonesia and some countries of Asia, tofu itself has become typical foods commonly consumed by the people of China. In China, it known as doufu. While the people of Japan and some other countries recognize Tofu as tofu. Name Tofu is usually known by the people who live in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
From this article, you will know:
The benefits of tofu for health, beauty, during pregnancy and for livestock. Read carefully because it may be useful for you. Let’s continue reading!
Health Benefits of Tofu
With a fairly complete nutritional content, Tofu has several properties that are beneficial to health.
One of the causes of heart disease is high cholesterol. In general, increased cholesterol levels caused by the intake of food that containing fat and cholesterol such as meat. Tofu is low in cholesterol, and the cholesterol may even lower cholesterol in fried Tofu. But you better dont fry the tofu for the fat content is not too low.
Tofu is a good source of iron. Every 100 grams of Tofu provides 30% of daily needs. Tofu’s iron along with the hemoglobin in the body will help the process of rotation and the release of oxygen to the entire body and then generates new energy. Tofu also contains 10% copper body’s need for substance. These minerals is your body needs for iron can be worked well in the red blood cells.
High cholesterol levels are one cause of heart-related diseases. Many people try to avoid the kind of fatty foods, such as cooking oil or fat is widely used in the family of meal. Tofu can reduce cholesterol levels in the body because the tofu will absorb oil and other fluids that accumulate in the body that can cause disease. Compared with meat such as beef, Tofu has a low level of saturated fatty acids than the levels of unsaturated fatty acids. Tofu is also a good source of lecithin and linoleic acid, that which helps the body’s metabolism and scrape cholesterol stored in the body.
Tofu contains isoflavones compounds that can help to reduce the risk of cancer. Isoflavones are substances that are common in processed foods soybeans. Isoflavones are often also called phytoestrogens. This substance is a type of flavonoids that protect the body from toxins.
Based on research about cancer, the isoflavone content in Tofu can not only help prevent breast cancer but also slows the aging process in women. Isoflavones are also very effective for lowering bad cholesterol.
Beside it, Tofu can be a rich source of calcium who helps to protect our bones from bone loss, weakness, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Research also suggests that isoflavones in soy food can strengthen the bone density.
Diabetes can cause the complications, one of which is kidney failure. A study showed that all men who were diagnosed with kidney disease associated with diabetes, found that protein by soy can reduce until 10 percent of the proteins found in urine.
The content of soybeans, which is the main ingredient of making Tofu are isoflavones that can mimic estrogen so it will be very helpful during the pre-menopause where the body tends to experience an imbalance of estrogen.
Isoflavones also help women to feel hot flashes during menopause. Moreover, thanks to the high calcium content in Tofu, indirectly aids in minimizing the risk of the risk of bone loss during menopause.
The human body needs protein to function properly. Protein not only is obtained from meat, lots of vegetable protein, can we be like the Tofu. Vegetarians can get the right amount of protein Tofu, or soy products and other vegetables. Tofu also contains amino acids needed for optimal health becomes. Eating red meat may have health implications that can cause various diseases. However, by consuming Tofu, these conditions can be avoided.
Research show that Tofu is a good source of protein, especially for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or gout that have high levels of uric acid. However, people with rheumatic gout Tofu should not be consumed in excess and the results of other processed soybeans.
Tofu is also very potent to help maintain bone health because Tofu is rich in potassium and calcium that play an important role in supporting bone formation. Tofu can help to prevent bone diseases such as weak bones and osteoporosis if consume regularly
The results of pharmacological studies conducted by J. Chen claimed that the isoflavones contained in Tofu can work as an anticancer potential to kill tumor cells that cause bone disease osteosarcoma. However, these properties still need to be investigated further.
For those of you who have problems with weight, Tofu can be an alternative to your snacks. Tofu can be a low-calorie diet for carbohydrate content and low calorie. Although diet, you can still meet your protein needs of comestible Tofu.
Tofu is very suitable for the diet because it is rich in vegetable protein which can give the effect of fuller longer so you will not feel hungry. Additionally, you can also process the Tofu into a healthy snack to replace a snack that not good for your health.
Because Tofu is rich in iron and copper levels, which is why Tofu can assist in making your blood becomes more healthy. While iron is the main part of the hemoglobin that helps in energy production and release the oxygen in the body.
However, hemoglobin can’t be made without copper and because Tofu contains rich iron and copper, which can help deliver oxygen to the body and makes you feel more energetic and healthy.
Beauty Benefits of Tofu
Keratin is a type of protein that is needed by your hair. Because Tofu is very rich in protein, which makes it extremely helpful in hair growth so that makes it more healthy.
You do not need to spend a lot of money by using hair products or to the salon for growth and maintenance. You only need to consume Tofu to get healthy hair.
Tofu helps to maintain the elasticity of the skin so it will help in delaying the aging process. Besides other benefits of Tofu for skin, Tofu also can tighten your muscles are sagging due to age. The content of minerals, vitamins, and proteins on Tofu become a big part to nourish the skin.
Your skin also can get the benefit from Tofu mask that can be made by crushing Tofu up into a paste and apply it on your face.
Benefits of Eating Tofu During Pregnancy
Tofu is rich in manganese, copper and iron should be required by your pregnant body. Copper and iron play a role in the synthesis of hemoglobin in your body and is a good source of energy as well.
Tofu is abundant in calcium, which helps bone development in unborn babies. 4 ounces of Tofu contains 10% of daily needs.
Tofu is a food source that is rich in fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids help to prevent blood clots and prevent cholesterol from clogging your arteries.
Tofu Benefits For Livestock
Utilization of tofu is very effective in cattle meat that makes the weight gain will be faster. In addition to faster the growth, it can reach 53% of the weight of live cattle. It usually mixed with rice bran by water and even better if mixed with cassava which has been in the count then the increase or growth will be optimized. Tofu is an easy source of protein are degraded in the rumen degradation rate of 9.8% per hour and the average speed of the net production of N-ammonia amounted to 0.677 mM per hour. The use of protein tofu is expected to be higher when protected from degradation in the rumen
Utilization of tofu is very effective on the goat’s weight gain will be quicker and also the goat hair more shiny and smooth. Growth of body posture is also faster. With the nutritional intake of tofu, the production of meat or goat’s milk repetition improvement.
Tofu dregs for feeds the Rabbits also have a considerable weight and optimum size. Especially for rabbit meat, the meat that produced is much, it also becomes more shiny fur and feed more practical treatments. Also there are no side effects from the use of tofu.
On the dregs duck administration can be given instead concentrate, in addition to low prices tofu also accelerate the growth of duck which then also produce meat and eggs.
In the early growth period, quail growing so fast. So at the age of 6 weeks the quail reaches 90-95% of the body weight of adult sex. The quail were given with a ratio as much as 20% protein level, the metabolizable energy (2900 kcal / kg) will provide production, fertility and optimal hatchability compared to those quail that rationing in different levels.
Giving pulp up to 10% does not affect the palatability of the feed and not lose weight. Freshnes, palatability and energy levels in the diet determines the amount of consumed food. The eggs were produced, regardless of weight increases with age parent.
Negative Effects of Tofu in General and During Pregnancy
Eating too much food is not good for you, and this is also applies to Tofu. Despite the many benefits, you may experience some negative effects if you consume too much Tofu. Those negative effects is:
Here are some side effects that you need to consider if you eat too much Tofu during pregnancy:
However, keep in mind that you will suffer a negative effect only when you consume Tofu excessively. If it consumed in normal quantities, then Tofu is the ideal food for the pregnant women!