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Soybeans are a lucrative cash crop in the southeastern United States, with over 4.7 million bushels produced in Alabama alone in 2005. Soy is a versatile plant used to make a variety of products, including milk, tofu, flour, and more. It is popular among those seeking a healthier diet and is a staple in many Asian diets. Soy has non-food uses as well, including in lotions, candles, and diesel fuel.
Many people think that the southeastern United States is the cotton capital of the country. Farmers there grow a lot of cotton, but another cash crop is just as lucrative: soybeans. In Alabama alone, more than 4.7 million bushels of soybeans were produced in 2005. Soy is a complex plant that contains the basic building blocks for a variety of products. Hence, it is a very versatile plant.
With Americans choosing healthier diets, soy foods have increased in popularity. This is because it can be used in many ways and contains a complete protein profile. It has all the essential amino acids and is the closest plant protein to meat.
Soy is used to make milk, tofu, flour, yogurt, textured vegetable protein, tempeh, miso and many other foods. The flour and soy milk can be used for baking or making tofu, and the milk can also be drunk plain or flavored.
Many people also like soy because it doesn’t have a strong flavor. Flavoring can be added to products to make them taste the way the cook wishes. Some products, like tofu, also take on the flavors of whatever they’re cooked. Soy powder can be purchased and added to smoothies and other foods to improve protein quality and quantity.
Soy has been the staple of many Asian diets for centuries. They are easy to grow and, with their uses in so many products, have enabled poor people to make the most of their limited farmland by relying on soybeans as their primary source of protein, rather than cows or chickens, which cost more to keep.
Vegetarians and vegans have long relied on the versatility of this plant to help them eat balanced, meat-free diets. Medical studies have also shown that soy can help lower cholesterol levels, as well as ease menopausal symptoms and help prevent cancer and heart disease.
There are many non-food uses for this plant as well. It can be used in products as diverse as lotions, candles, detergents, crayons, diesel additives, fabric softener, ink, stain remover and shampoo. Since soy is a renewable source, it is also becoming popular as a diesel fuel.
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