Tofu: benefit and harm

Cheese tofu is a soy product enriched with natural protein.Despite the fact that China is the birthplace of the product, many people attribute tofu the Japanese origin.

Interesting! There is a legend in the East that the old cook mistakenly added too much sea salt to the soy milk and it curtailed.So it turned out the first cheese not from animal milk, but from vegetable.

There are two types of tfu:

• soft - also called silk;
• solid - cotton.

The process of soy cheese preparation has been passed on from generation to generation for centuries.Now the world knows the three main ways of obtaining a delicious delicate product: with the addition of nigari, calcium chloride or calcium sulphate.Nigari - in China is called "bitter juice", thanks to which the milk turns off and turns into an elastic mass.

Tofu has a neutral taste, which is why it is widely used in cooking.Cheese is added to salads, side dishes, and also used as the main vegetarian dishes.

Energy value and chemical composition of tofu

Nutritional value 100 grams of tofu - 75 kcal. This miserable value has long been noticed by nutritionists and people who dream of losing a few extra pounds:

• Proteins - 8 grams;
• Fats - 4.8 grams;
• Carbohydrates - 1,9 grams.

Many Russians are skeptical about soy products, including the tofu cheese, believing that its benefit to the body is minimal.In fact, if you consider the chemical composition of the product, you can make many new discoveries. The table of elements that make up tofu can be represented as follows:

• Vitamins - A, D, E, C, PP, group B.
• Trace elements - iron, manganese, copper, selenium, zinc;
• Microelements - potassium, calcium, phosphorus, fluorine, sodium
• Amino acids.

Tofu contains up to 12% of plant proteins, which saturate the body with all essential amino acids.

Use of tofu cheese

Important! The main benefit and value of cheese tofu is its protein component.This product can easily replace all dairy products, which is especially true for people who are allergic to lactose and animal protein.

Soy protein regulates the level of cholesterol in the blood and does not allow its accumulation on the walls of the vessels.Due to this, the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular diseases is minimized.

Amino acids in the tofu cheese normalize the kidneys, promote the breakdown of gallstones, and normalize metabolic processes in the body.

A huge amount of vitamins and minerals strengthens the immune system and provides full protection against ARVI.Also active substances tofu remove from the body harmful substances - dioxins, which provoke the development of malignant neoplasms.

Tofu contains a huge amount of plant proteins, so necessary for the growth of muscle mass.Tofu is loved not only by athletes, but also by nutritionists, including its mandatory menu for people who have experienced severe physical trauma.

Iron in tofu increases hemoglobin, and calcium positively affects the condition of hard tissues.In combination with phosphorus and fluorine these elements improve the work of vessels and strengthen bones, tooth enamel, nail plates.

Possible damage to tofu

The damage to tofu cheese directly depends on its amount consumed in food.Abuse of this product can lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

Important! With diagnosed endocrine disorders and pathologies of the thyroid gland, as well as with insufficient iodine intake, the use of tofu cheese, like any other soy products, is strictly prohibited.Soy products contain strugogenic substances, which, with a lack of iodine in the body, interfere with the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.This was proved in 1933 by Dr. R. McCarrison( in the medical circles of his widely known book "Zobogenous action of soybeans and peanuts").

Cheese tofu in recipes for home cosmetology and medicine

Tofu at home

To prepare the cheese tofu of a solid consistency, the following ingredients will be needed: 200 grams of soy flour, 200 grams of warm water, 50 ml of lemon juice.In a small saucepan mix the flour with water and on low heat, constantly stirring, get a homogeneous mass.After 15 minutes, lemon juice is added to the mixture.The mass should settle, after which it is filtered through gauze.Keep the cheese in a sealed container.To preserve a soft consistency, it is allowed to pour the cottage cheese with cold boiled water.

Tofu whitening mask

Application of soy cheese tofu in home cosmetology is considered to be an exotic exotic.Nevertheless, this product produces a very effective whitening face mask.To make it, you will need: 1 tablespoon of soft tofu cheese, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, finely chopped parsley.All components are thoroughly mixed.Cosmetologists recommend to steam the face before applying the mask, so that the pores maximally open.The procedure time is 10 minutes.After such a mask, the skin looks perfect, without greasy shine, pigmented spots and pronounced irritation.