Soybean meal is a byproduct of soybean oil extraction and is used to feed livestock and fish, as well as in human diets. It is high in protein and amino acids, making it a complete protein. It is also used in the manufacturing industry to make rubber and plastic products. Some concerns have been raised about the use of soy in human diets, including the introduction of toxic hexanes and phytoestrogens.
Soybean meal is a grainy, flour-like substance made from leftover soybean fragments that have already been processed into oil. The extraction of oil from soybeans, whether by chemical solvents or mechanical effort, leaves behind the mush, which typical producers call bean chips, bean flakes, and bean cakes. These remains are then ground into a powder which is prized by some for its high non-animal protein content.
Soybean meal is often used to feed farmed livestock and fish, but it has made its way into human diets as well. First introduced to China in the 11th century, soy contains high amounts of amino acids, which promote higher levels of energy and muscle development. Heat and solvents such as hexane are used to dry the bean mash to make soybean meal, which is typically 44 to 80 percent protein and less than 1 percent fat. It has trace amounts of phosphorus, little fiber and no carbohydrates. The primary amino acids in soybean meal include tryptophan, lysine and treronine; all nine amino acids, however, are found in significant amounts in soybean meal, making it a complete protein.
Traditionally, soybean meal was mainly used by farmers to feed chickens and cattle. The rise of the protein bar industry, however, combined with the abundance of soy crops has created a growing interest in using soy meal in health-conscious convenience foods. Protein shake powders, cereals and packaged protein bars often have soy flour as an ingredient. Many baby products also contain soybean meal.
Soy meal packets can be purchased at many health food stores and food markets for making baked goods at home. Meal is often substituted for flour in bread recipes to reduce carbohydrates and increase protein content. Muffins, tortillas and cookies are among the most popular homemade soy flour products.
The use of soy in humans has raised occasional concerns among some physicians. While some nutritionists promote soy for humans, saying it can help prevent heart disease and prostate cancer, others warn that processing soy can introduce too many toxic hexanes into human diets. Detractors also often express concern that too much soy exposes consumers to too many phytoestrogens. Soy contains daidzein and genistein, which mimic the female hormone estrogen and, according to some doctors, can create hormonal imbalances in high doses, particularly in men. Vegetarian supporters of soy, however, welcome it as a cheap and beneficial substitute for beef, pork and chicken.
Besides food, soybean meal has also been used in manufacturing industry. It is often mixed with rubber, polymers and plastics to make rubber bands, films and tubes. The inclusion of soybean meal in rubber and plastic products makes the final product more water resistant and elastic.
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