Here Are the Phytochemical Properties of Soybean Oil

Here Are the Phytochemical Properties of Soybean Oil

Soy is vital to the global food supply and economy. Soy consumption has a long history in Asian countries such as China and Korea, while the United States accounted for more than 30% of global production in 2013. 

Following the United States Food and Drug Administration's decision in 1999 to allow health claims of soy protein's protective effect against heart disease, the popularity of soy foods in the West skyrocketed. The retail soy food industry in the United States grew from $1 billion in 1996 to $4.5 billion in 2013. 

The nutritional/health-promoting value of soy and soy food was the major contributing factor to rising demand, with 26% of U.S. consumers expressing interest in soy foods specifically for the reported health benefits. 

Soy phytochemical use can be encouraged with the help of scientific information on health-promoting effects. These phytochemical properties of soybean oil are of great economic and societal significance.

Health benefits of soybeans

1. Soybean May Help Manage Diabetes

Eating soybeans can help you manage and prevent diabetes. Several U.S. Soy articles have found that soybean can increase the number of insulin receptors in the body.

As a result, it can help prevent diabetes from occurring in the first place or effectively manage the disease if you already have it. Furthermore, soybean has a shallow carbohydrate content, making them an excellent anti-diabetic food.

According to a review of fermented soybean relevance in Asian diets, soy may help prevent the progression of type 2 diabetes. Eating soybean will keep your blood sugar levels in check and prevent them from rising due to the isoflavones in soy. Isoflavones help the body control its glucose levels and reduce insulin resistance. This slows the process and benefits diabetics.

2. Aids Healthy Weight Management

One of the main reasons soybeans are a popular food worldwide is that they can help you lose weight. Its high protein content promotes the development of leaner muscles. Additionally, protein keeps you fuller for longer, preventing you from snacking on unhealthy foods at odd hours. Moreover, it aids in regulating insulin levels, thereby healthily reducing obesity. Several studies have found that soybean contains anti-obesity properties.

3. Soybean Essential for Pregnancy

Soybean is high in folic acid and vitamin B complexes, which are critical for pregnant women. Pregnant women are advised to consume soy-based organic products because folic acid in soybean helps prevent neural tube defects in infants, ensuring a healthy delivery and a healthy baby.

Congenital disabilities are common if the mother-to-be does not meet her nutritional needs. As a result, it is critical to consult with your gynecologist and make a list of foods to avoid while pregnant.

4. Soybeans Aids Healthy Digestion

Soybean contains a high amount of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is essential for overall body function and is especially important in the digestive system. Fiber helps to bulk up your stool, allowing it to move smoothly through your intestines and out of your body.

Fiber promotes peristaltic motion in the body, which is the contraction of the digestive system's muscles that push food through the system. Fiber-rich foods are recommended for constipation sufferers because they aid in proper bowel movements.

Soybean is a fiber-rich food source that also contains oligosaccharides, a carbohydrate known to stimulate the growth of healthy gut bacteria and thus act as a prebiotic.

5. Soybean Improves Heart Health

Soybeans are high in healthy unsaturated fats (with 2 grams of MUFA and 5.06 grams of PUFA), which can help lower cholesterol levels in the body. People with high LDL cholesterol are more likely to develop coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. These conditions have a bad reputation because they can result in strokes and heart attacks.

According to health experts, certain fatty acids are required for a healthy cardiovascular system. Linolenic acid and linoleic acid, both of which are found in soybean, are omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and essential for brain and eye health. Soybeans can help boost your cardiovascular system by lowering harmful cholesterol levels while protecting your brain and vision.

Soy Phytochemicals: Glyceollins

Biological activities of soy phytochemical glyceollins

1. Anti-inflammation

Glyceollins were tested for anti-inflammatory activity in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells. Glyceollins (0.3-3 g/mL) inhibited NO production and iNOS, IL-6, and COX-2 gene expression in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells induced by LPS. Glyceollins were found to suppress LPS-induced phosphorylation of NF-B p65 and to regulate NF-B activity.

2. Cholesterol-lowering effect

High blood cholesterol levels, or hypercholesterolemia, are a significant risk factor for the emergence of cardiovascular disease. In a 2013 study, the impact of glyceollins on lowering cholesterol was examined in a hamster model. 

3. Antioxidation

Soy extract is well-known for its antioxidant capacity, and several phytochemicals, including genistein and daidzein, have been identified. Glyceollins are structurally similar to genistein and daidzein. Glyceollins have also been linked to antioxidant activity.

Bottomline 

Numerous aspects of soy and soy foods’ health-promoting effects have been discovered over many years of research and investigation, including defense against cardiovascular diseases, obesity-related metabolic syndrome, several types of cancer, and other chronic diseases. Soy phytochemicals have often been linked to soy's health benefits. Adding soy to your diet can be very healthy for your body because of these benefits.