Is Soybean Good for Pregnancy?

Health Benefits of Soybeans for Pregnant Women

Navigating dietary choices during pregnancy can be a challenging task. With your body experiencing many changes, you must adopt a balanced diet to support your baby. Expectant mothers often question whether soybean is the right addition to their diet.

The good news is, you can enjoy soy products during pregnancy, but in moderation.

Nutritional Profile of Soybean

Let us gauge the nutritional content of soybeans with an example. A bowl of 100g boiled soybeans contains the following:

• Calories: 446
• Cholesterol: 0
• Fat: 20g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Protein: 36g
• Potassium: 1797 mg
• Sodium: 2 mg

As you can see, soybean contains a great amount of protein, which amounts to 72% of your daily intake. Along with this, it contains 27% of calcium and 87% of iron. Thus, soybeans are packed with nutrients essential for your well-being.

Therefore, you can easily incorporate half a cup of soybeans into your diet to facilitate foetal growth.

How Soybeans Help in Pregnancy?

Now that we know the nutritional contents of soybeans, let us see how they can benefit you during your pregnancy:

• Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids : These act as the building blocks of your baby’s brain and eyes. Additionally, pregnant women are susceptible to perinatal depression. Omega-3 fatty acids in soybeans help prevent and manage it.
• Carbohydrates Increase Energy Levels : For an expecting mother, having the proper energy levels is crucial. The carbohydrate content in soybeans accounts for 10% of your daily intake, keeping you energised.
• Rich Source of Protein : Soybean, being a rich source of protein, helps in the formation of the baby’s brain and other organs.

Disadvantages of Soybean During Pregnancy

Although it contains necessary nutrients and minerals, soybeans still possess some disadvantages for pregnant women. They are as follows:

• Soybean Contains Phytic Acid : Phytic acid can be beneficial as it blocks the absorption of harmful minerals such as lead and mercury. However, they also block calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. This proves harmful for your growing foetus as it requires these minerals for proper growth.
• Isoflavone Content in Soybeans : These are phytoestrogens, sharing similarities with estrogen found in humans. However, since your body is already going through various hormonal changes, too much isoflavone can hamper your baby’s growth.
• Estrogen Content in Soybeans : Along with isoflavones, it also increases estrogen production in your body. This increases your risk of developing breast cancer.
• Soybeans Often Contain Pesticides : To avoid eating contaminated food, make sure to thoroughly wash the soybeans. You should not consume it without washing, as pesticide residues are often found.

How to Incorporate Soybeans into Your Diet?

If you are new to soybeans, here are some tricks to incorporate them into your diet easily:

• Stir-fried Soybeans: Take some soya chunks and toss them in oil. Add your favourite vegetables to make a hearty meal.
• Soy Milk Cereal: If you do not have soybeans, you can still incorporate soy into your diet. Just add soy milk to your favourite cereal and have a hearty breakfast.
• Grated Soybeans: You can grate soybeans and toss them in your favourite sauce or curry to make a delicious, nutrition-rich dinner.

Make sure to consult a doctor about how many soybeans you should consume in a day. This figure varies depending on your overall health condition. If you consume them in moderation, soybeans could be nutritious and healthy.