The soybean is one of the oldest foods known to human kind, and has been a staple of the Asian diet for centuries.

The Basics of Soy
The soybean belongs to a large family of plants called legumes. Legumes are generally higher in protein than other plant foods - the mature soybean is about 42 percent protein, 33 percent carbohydrate, 20 percent oil, and 5 percent hull.

Protein Power
Among legumes, the soybean stands apart. Both mature and green soybeans are protein powerhouses. Compare the protein content of green or mature soybeans to other familiar plant foods, including other legumes like pinto, Lima, and kidney beans, black-eyed peas, and English peas. Not only does the soybean contain more protein than other plants, the protein it contains is higher quality. The soybean is the only plant source of protein to be considered a complete protein. This means it not only provides all the essential amino acids that your body can only get from food, but these essential amino acids are also in the right balance to meet human needs.

From Soy Bean to Soy Shake
For many Westerners, eating soybeans or traditional soy foods regularly would mean drastic changes in eating habits. Fortunately, today's soy protein ingredients allow people to get all the benefits of soy - in a wide variety of favorite foods like soy "burgers", drinks and shake mixes, soy protein bars and more.