History Of Soybeans

articles that claim soy products have wonderful health benefits: prevents cancer, reduces menopausal symptoms, and lowers risk of heart disease. At the same time you can find differing research that claims soy causes brain damage, breast and prostate cancer, thyroid disorders, and disrupts endocrine function. What is the History of Soy? Where did it come from and how did it get here?

History Of Soy: What Was Soy Used For Originally?

Soybeans have been used for 5,000 years. Originally, it is thought soybeans were not eaten in China, but used as a crop rotation to fix nitrogen into the soil. The soybean did not serve as a food until the discovery of fermentation techniques, some time during the Chou Dynasty. The first soy foods were fermented products like tempeh, natto, miso and soy sauce.

History Of Soybeans: Entry Into the United States

In our country, soybeans were introduced to America in 1765 by Samuel Bowen, a sailor who had visited China. He grew soy in Georgia and even made soy sauce for export. Soy grew in importance during the great depression. Dust bowl regions of the United States were able to replenish their soil because of the soybean's ability to 'fix' nitrogen into the soil.

The Magic Bean, The Beginnings Of Manufacturing

Henry Ford of Ford Motor Company was a great leader in the soybean industry. He spent over one million dollars on soybean research. By 1935, every Ford car had soy involved in its manufacture. For example, soybean oil was used to paint the car and used as fluid in the shock absorbers. Ford promoted the soybean, both in industrial and food uses. His interest led to soy-based plastics used to make auto body panels, as well as the first commercial soy milk, ice cream and nondairy whipped topping.

Manufacturing Soybean Processes

Soy products are not something you can 'whip-up' in your kitchen. The unprocessed soy bean contains substances that are poisonous to humans. To create a food product from soy beans, the beans are mashed and alkalizing agents are added. The fiber is removed, then the beans are washed in acid in large, aluminum vats. The resulting mixture is subjected to very high temperatures. A centrifuge is used to separate the solids from the liquid and the resulting protein powder is used as an ingredient in cake mixes, baby food, salad dressings, ice cream, pet food, smoothies, and anywhere a stabilizer and texture enhancer is needed.

History Of Soybeans: Expansion and Modification

During World War II, soybeans became much more important in the U.S. as a substitute for protein foods, a source of edible oil and a fertilizer for crops. In the 60's, the U.S. exported 90% of the world's soybeans. Today, the U.S is one of 5 top producers of soybeans in the world. The bulk of today's crop (80%) goes to the feeding of farm animals on a huge industrial scale never seen before.

History Of Soy: Genetic Modificathon

Soybeans are one of the "biotech food" crops that have been genetically modified. In 1995, Monsanto Company introduced Roundup Ready soybeans that have been genetically modified to be resistant to Monsanto's herbicide Roundup. In 1997, about 8% of soybeans produced in the United States were genetically modified. 13 years later, 93% of soybeans commercially harvested are genetically modified. This directly led to a problem with export to some regions. For instance, the European Union will not accept foods genetically modified. This has caused shipments to be rejected and has put a premium on non-GM soy.

Conclusion:

Soy beans have a long history of cultivation. They've only recently (in the last 100 years) been the subject of intense scrutiny for a cheap and plentiful food source. From the fermented soy products used as flavor enhancers in the orient, to a major protein source in the west, soy can be found in many processed foods packaged in the US. In my next article, I talk about some of the recent research done with the safety of soy products in our food supply.

Cynthia Simmons is a Weight Management Consultant. She recently found a wonderful solution to her long term weight problem. She has personally helped many people manage their weight loss safely without drugs or being hungry. Her long-term goal is to build a team of happy, healthy people to share this life-saving information with others suffering from the same weight problems she had.To find out more about Cynthia, see History Of Soy.