What is soy? I am a vegetarian and I get most of my protein through soy but I don't know exactly what it is..?

Answer 1

However, there are two types of soy beans. The natural and the genetically modified. No one knows what is a genetically modified soy bean, but in USA there is a chance you've already tried it at least almost all of the times you've eaten soy.

Answer 2

First, you should realize that "soy" is not a real official word. Perhaps it is in the USA, the land of strange spellings etc.

But, typically, anyone using this word "soy" is using a non-word, since it is a colloquialism. So, it's very easy for people, so-called experts especially, to say "soy is good" or "soy is bad" because technically speaking, there is no such word -- perhaps they mean highly processed extracts or the whole bean, who knows?!

One could assume that they are referring to the bean itself, but that would be the readers assumption. The word "soy" is actually slang. Soya is the proper term, but does not refer to the bean. The bean is definitely "soybean". "Soya" came from the Dutch Soja (said "soya"), and they got that from the Japanese sho-yu who got that from the Chinese shi-yu which both mean soy-sauce, not the actual bean.

Remember this when reading about "soy" and "soya" etc. They must refer specifically to the bean, or better yet, the Latin spelling of the specific bean, as there are many types of soybeans.

See, most soybeans grown are not really edible and are fed to cattle. Soy, yes, sure you could say that soybeans are bad, but which soybeans? It would be like saying, "Berries are bad", but hey, some are deadly poisonous and others are tasty and healthy. The tasty ones that are grown for humans are a different type of bean. Same goes for corn and other things fed to cattle.

Also, soybean derivatives are just processed extracts etc. They are not so healthy compared to the actual bean. The further you get away from the natural product, the worse it gets; same goes for wheat... white flour is just crud and basically should be used for glue, not eating. Same goes for soybean flour, or protein powder, or textured soyprotein, etc. It's all highly processed and no better or worse than other processed products.

Answer 3

The soybean (U.S.) or soya bean (UK) (Glycine max) is a species of legume native to East Asia. It is an annual plant that may vary in growth, habit, and height. It may grow prostrate, not growing higher than 20 cm (7.8 inches), or even stiffly erect up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) in height. The pods, stems, and leaves are covered with fine brown or gray pubescence. The leaves are trifoliate (sometimes with 5 leaflets), and the leaflets are 6–15 cm (2–6 inches) long and 2–7 cm (1–3 inches) broad. The leaves fall before the seeds are mature. The small, inconspicuous, self-fertile flowers are borne in the axil of the leaf and are white, pink or purple. The fruit is a hairy pod that grows in clusters of 3–5, with each pod 3–8 cm (1–3 inches) long and usually containing 2–4 (rarely more) seeds 5–11 mm in diameter.

Like some other crops of long domestication, the relationship of the modern soybean to wild-growing species can no longer be traced with any degree of certainty. It is a cultural variety (a cultigen) with a very large number of cultivars. However, it is known that the progenitor of the modern soybean was a vine-like plant that grew prone on the ground.

Beans are classed as pulses whereas soybeans are classed as oilseeds. The word "soy" is derived from the Chinese word 醬油 for soy sauce/soya sauce.

Answer 4

Soy bean. Beans are naturaly high in protein so any bean will do. I am guessing they use it because it has less of the typical "bean" flavor so it can be broken down into a powder or paste and flavored to taste like just about anything.

Answer 5

I'm sry but how are you a vegetarian and not know what soy is. Soybean. I live in Indiana so I guess that explains why I'm so surprised. I have a field across the street. It's cool that your vegetarian though, more meat for me. jk

Answer 6

Its from the soy bean

Answer 7

Soya beans are the root of many vegan and vegetarian foods. They are full of protein and can be processed into a myriad of food stuffs from sauces to fake fish to tofu. Basically, a bean.

Answer 8

soy bean

Answer 9

it comes from soy beans if you haven't ate them they are good its looks like a small peanut

Answer 10

they mean like, soy milk, tofu, soy bean, soy cheese, stuff made from soy :)