THE JOYS OF SOY

With the vegan lifestyle enjoying a boom, supermarket shelves are packed with plant-based alternatives to burgers, mince and convenience foods. Take tofu: originally seen on Chinese restaurant menus as a nod to vegetarians, tofu and its cousin tempeh have moved into the mainstream and we now find lots of different versions in the refrigerated aisle, including plain, marinated, smoked, firm and silken to name just a few.

One important reason why tofu is so high on the list of plant-based alternatives is its origin – it is derived from soybeans. The pressed curd from soya milk, it originated in China and is still the star of many dishes in Chinese, Japanese and South Korean cuisine. Tempeh is made from cooked and slightly fermented soybeans and widely used in Indonesian cooking.

The green bean

Soybeans have been the focus of heated debate. On one

Myth Buster

hand they are paraded as an alternative to meat that is healthy both for us and for the planet. Soybeans require less water and land to cultivate and create fewer greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, sustainability goes out the window when soya is used to feed animals (ie the meat on our plates), and it tends to be grown in very vulnerable habitats in South America. So soya is a viable alternative if we are indeed using it to reduce our meat intake, even more so if the beans have been grown organically.

Inside info

What is so special about soya? It is the nutritional profile that we are interested in. Soybeans contain many essential amino acids that our bodies cannot make themselves, and are a rich source of protein. They also contain compounds called isoflavones, which can be good for the heart and help ease menopause symptoms. Soya mince, mature soybeans and their younger (immature) siblings, edamame beans, are also rich in fibre – 80g of

Let’s zoom in on the liver and try to unravel some common misconceptions about this fascinating organ

You can live without your liver

False. Unlike some other organs, such as the appendix, we cannot survive without our liver. The liver is responsible for many critical functions that are essential for life, including filtering toxins and producing important proteins. In fact, liver failure is a life-threatening condition that can result in serious health consequences or even death.

A liver ‘cleanse’ will detoxify your body

There is no evidence to back this up. While many products and diets claim to cleanse or edamame beans counts as one of your fivea-day and holds a number of B-vitamins and minerals. Not to mention they are delicious and work very well with herbs and spices! When buying soya products it is best to go for those that contain as few additional ingredients as possible. Go for ‘purer’ forms such as unflavoured tofus and tempehs and soya mince to use in your own cooking rather than the ready-to-cook versions. This way you are avoiding ultra-processed foods that tend to be high in sugar, salt, fat and additives. Why not start by trying a tofu dish in your favourite restaurant? detoxify the liver, there is little scientific evidence that they work. The liver is already designed to filter and remove toxins from the body. Eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption are the best ways to support your liver’s natural detox process.

The human liver can regenerate itself True. After injury or partial removal the liver can grow back to its original size within weeks, as long as enough healthy tissue remains. This is due to the unique properties of the liver cells, known as hepatocytes, which can rapidly divide and replace damaged tissue. However, chronic or repeated injury to the liver can lead to scarring and cirrhosis, which can eventually impair its regenerative capacity and lead to liver failure.