During this time most of us know tempeh as food with low price. The price is far below the cost of chicken, fish, and red meat make it accessible to the community. With a little amount precisely tempeh crowned as one of the superfoods. Tempeh also has many benefits and essential nutrients for your health.
What are the benefits of tempeh and nutrients? Tempeh is a traditional Indonesian food with fermented soybeans. Not only delicious to eat, but tempeh also has tremendous benefits for health. The process of fermentation from tempeh to change something complex becomes more simple, such as carbohydrates and proteins. It makes tempeh more easily digested in the body. Tempeh is a nutrient-rich food and contains vegetable protein and amino acids. Tempeh also includes various types of B vitamins, iron, zinc, isoflavones, riboflavin, vegetable fats, phosphorus, carotene. Protein in tempeh can be a substitute for protein obtained from meat or animal protein. Moreover, tempeh including relatively inexpensive food that can be consumed by all people.
Proteins, vitamins, and minerals in tempeh are also beneficial for the children to grow. Tempeh is also recommended as a complementary diet of breast milk. No wonder if the tempeh is safe to be consumed by all age groups, ranging from infants to elderly. Isoflavones are antioxidants that can counteract free radicals that cause various diseases, such as cancer.
Tempeh benefits
Heart health
Soy protein is excellent to keep up heart health. Various studies have shown that soy protein can lower LDL by up to 40%. LDL usually forms hard plaques in the blood vessels, causing heart attacks and strokes. Other studies have shown that soy protein can raise HDL levels. Tempeh is also rich in fiber so it can bind fat and cholesterol in the diet.
Stabilizes blood sugar
Another benefit of tempeh is for diabetics, especially type 2 diabetes. Proteins and fiber in tempeh prevent high levels of sugar and keep blood sugar levels under control. People with diabetes are susceptible to atherosclerosis and heart disease, so keep cholesterol levels low. Eating tempeh can help diabetics get protein with low cholesterol levels.
Immunity
Tempeh also stimulates immune function against E. coli, a bacteria that causes diarrhea. Typically, this disease comes because of poor sanitation and mediocre food. To fix this, give first aid with eating tempeh. This method proved useful to overcome diarrhea and cholera when Japan was hit by a disease due to the outbreak of E. coli O-175 bacteria, in 1996. Tempeh became an alternative meal tried by the local community and expelled diarrhea.
Prevents free radical and cancer
Eating tempeh every day can protect the body from cancer, such as breast cancer, reproductive cancer, and so forth. Compounds in tempeh have anti-degenerative disease activity, including vitamin E, carotenoids, superoxide dismutase, and isoflavones. Vitamin E and carotenoids are non-enzymatic and lipolytic antioxidants that give hydrogen ions to free radicals so that free radicals are stable and not malignant anymore. Isoflavonoids in tempeh not only prevent the activity of cancer cells, but also improve the metabolism of steroid hormones, lower cholesterol, and triglyceride, and protect liver cells from exposure to toxic compounds.
Natural antibiotics
Rhizopus fungus produces natural antibiotic substances against some harmful organisms. Natural antibiotic materials in tempeh can be a cure for dysentery when eaten every day.
A low-salt diet
Unlike fermented soy products such as miso which tend to be very salty, tempeh is very low in salt, so it is safe to eat by people who should reduce salt intake.
Gastric ulcer
Tempeh contains proteins and anti-inflammatory compounds. The protein contained in the tempeh is ready to be absorbed by the body because fungi first digest it in tempeh. Also, tempeh also knew to improve gastrointestinally and overcome the problems mostly among gastric ulcer patients.
Eat tempeh every day
Some people believe, the benefits of tempeh will appear if eaten raw. You may eat fresh tempeh, but if you want cleaner, it must be steamed, boiled, or fried with a little oil. The primary raw material of tempeh is soybeans with high protein in it which provides health benefits.
There have been many studies proving tempeh is a healthy food. Compared to other foods made from soybeans, tempeh is made from whole soybeans. That’s what makes tempeh so unique. Not unique, but also useful. Tempeh is the best choice for a healthy protein source.