Edamame: Vegetable, Protein or Both?

More and more people are turning to vegetarian and vegan diets and with that comes the infamous question: "Where do you get your protein?". This isn't going to be all about the fact that we, as humans, don't need nearly the amount of protein as some believe, but I'm going to write about various ways that we, as vegans, can get our protein. One of those ways is edamame.


Some call edamame the super or wonder vegetable because it is the only vegetable that contains all nine essential amino acids. This makes edamame a complete protein source, similar to meat or eggs. Edamame also contains isoflavonoids. They are found in all soy products and are being studied for their health benefits.


Image via WikipediaYou can find edamame in the frozen section of most grocery stores now and it is quite easy to make. As a matter of fact, most is found already cooked and all you need to do is defrost or lightly steam it. It is also fun for the kids to eat, because they get to play with their food!


Here are the nutritional facts for edamame:

Calories	125.0
Protein	12.1
Carbohydrates	13.1
Fat	3.6
Ash	1.7
Calcium	9.3
Phosphorus	180.0
Iron	2.7
Sodium	5.0
Vitamin A	130.0
Vitamin U1	0.31
Vitamin C	40.0

So, as you can see, it is an excellent food choice, for vegans and non-vegans alike. The only thing to consider is purchasing it non-GMO and organic, if possible.


Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to answer them!


~Rebecca Ingham
www.RebeccaInghamFitness.com