It is well-known that the population of Japan enjoys being one of the healthiest populations in the world. Much of this can be attributed to the Japanese diet, which typically consists of a large amount of fresh, healthy foods rich in important minerals. One of these foods is edamame. It’s a super-food that has grown in popularity recently in America partly because of the many edamame benefits.
What Is Edamame?
Essentially, edamame is soybeans that have not yet matured. Mature soybeans are a brownish color, while edamame soybeans are a vibrant green. You might already know that soybeans in general have a wide range of health benefits. Edamame is no exception.
Consuming it on a regular basis not only provides a good amount of nutrition but also several health benefits. It’s no wonder people in Japan consume edamame regularly but, many health advocates and nutritionists in America also tout edamame benefits and recommend it as a great source of nutrition and vegetarian protein.
Edamame Nutrition
The next time you patronize a Japanese restaurant and the staff places a bowl of edamame on the table as a complimentary snack before your meal, be sure to enjoy it! You usually see edamame still in the pod, much like peas, but the pods are inedible. Simply pop the firm, slightly crunchy soybeans out of the pods and into your mouth. You’ll be rewarded with plenty of nutrition—just a ½ cup of edamame contains the following:
- 9 grams fiber
- 11 grams protein
- 120 calories
- 10% Daily Value for Vitamin C
- 10% Daily Value for iron
- 8% Daily Value for Vitamin A
- 4% Daily Value for calcium
- 2.5 grams fat
- 1.5 grams polyunsaturated fat (0.3 grams plant omega-3 fatty acids)
- 0.5 grams monounsaturated fat
- 13 grams carbohydrate
- 15 milligrams sodium
