Ron T. Dummar DC, MAOM

Soybean:

The soybean, also known as china's beef because of its high concentration of protein, has a cooling nature, a sweet flavor and can assist in strengthening the function of the spleen and the pancreas.  It influences the colon; acts to  moisten dryness, and supplements the kidneys as well as cleanse the blood vessels and the heart thus improving circulation.  Most vascular compromise is the result of inflammation, therefore it is the cooling nature of the soybean that acts to reduce the inflammatory response in the vessels thereby preventing the build up of fatty plaque.

Additionally the soybean is quite alkaline, can eliminate harmful toxins from the body, and can even be used as a lactation aide to boost milk secretion in nursing mothers.  The Soybean has a mild diuretic affect and can be useful for women with excessive fluid retention or toxemia during pregnancy.  It provides a good source of lecithin which nourishes brain function.

Sounds like a great bean, but don't go out to buy just yet!

Unless well cooked soybeans inhibit the digestive enzyme trypsin, making them very difficult to digest.  Soy products such as tofu, miso, and soy sauce have undergone a fermentation process which eliminates the beans' anti-trypsin effect.  In addition, the soybean is not alone in its remedy ability, most all varieties of beans  have demonstrated similar protective qualities.

Soy sprouts may be used in a similar fashion as the bean but are limited as to the variety of ailments they benefit.  They may be used in cases of mild edema, spasms, arthritis, and constipation due to heat.  Most research demonstrating favorable results for soy has used fermented soy products.    

Soy Milks, infant soy formulas, and soy protein powders undergo processing that denatures the beans beneficial proteins leaving it without the nutrient cofactors for digestion and metabolism; therefore they generally do not promote enduring health and can even hinder digestion.

So if you are deciding between soy and another bean, price may be the deciding factor.  As with all food products, be sure to select high quality food that is of organic origin and growing process.  The farther a food has been shipped, the less likely the food is to contain the nutrients you need due to early picking, and the more likely the food is to have been treated with chemical preservatives to make the journey.