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Table Manners

 

 

 

 

Effects

About 30 years ago, no other drug than soybean paste was needed when children hurt their heads or when they were stung by a bee while playing. Their parents simply spread soybean paste on a pumpkin leaf, covered the wound with the leaf, and bandaged it tight. The wound healed quickly. Though the reason of this healing has not been discovered scientifically, Korean people learned the effects of soybean paste through experience.

Soybean paste is a traditional food of Korea handed down by ancestors. It is loved for its effects, as well as for its excellent taste. It seasons and adds flavor to foods. It also contains vegetable protein.


The soybean is drawing attention as one of the best health foods. The primary ingredient of soybean paste, the soybean, is so rich in protein and fat that some call it a garden meat. It is quite functional as well. In particular, patients suffering from cardiac disorder can safely eat soybeans because they contain plenty of vegetable protein free of cholesterol.

 

Soybeans also help blood circulation. Soybean paste helps keep people's diet in balance because it contains rich lysine, an essential amino acid, which can be deficient in those living on rice. Soybean paste is also low in cholesterol content because the fat contained in soybean paste is mostly in the form of unsaturated fatty acids. Soybean paste inhibits the accumulation of bad cholesterol, such as linoleic acid, and promotes smooth circulation of blood.

 

  Anti-cancer effect

Soybean paste exceeds most fermented foods in anti-cancer effects. This effect remains even after soybean paste is boiled. In a study, carcinogen was injected into mice, and part of the mice were given soybean sauce. The weight of cancer tissue decreased by about 80% in those mice that were given soybean paste. Having soybean paste every day is one of the 15 rules recommended by the Korea Cancer Organization. The anti-cancer effects of soybean paste are being proven at home and abroad. It was also found that soybean paste restrains cancerous cells from growing.

 

 Control of high blood pressure

Histamin-leucin and amino acids contained in soybean paste exhibit excellent physiological functions of protein. They help mitigate headaches and lower blood pressure. They also dilate blood vessels by eliminating cholesterol.

 

 Strengthening of liver functions

The Liver is one of the most important organs in our body. All nutrients we intake are distributed through the liver. Traditional Korean soybean paste is good at restoring liver functions to normal and detoxifying the liver. Research has proven that soybean paste reinforces liver functions by lowering the activity of amino-transferase, the liver toxicity index.

 

 Anti-oxidation effect

Soybean paste has an anti-aging effect thanks to isjlavins, such as dfaidzein and daidzin, which are yellow pigments contained in soybeans that belong to polyphenols. Another antioxidant is melanoidin generated through the interaction of saccharides and amino acids. These antioxidants make soybean paste a safe food by preventing the oxidation of lipids in soybean paste.

 

 Detoxication function

Soybean paste is excellent in neutralizing the poisons of sea fish, meat, vegetables, and mushrooms. It is also good at controlling snakes and insects.

 

 Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease

Lecitine contained in soybeans helps improve functions of the brain. Saponin in soybeans prevents aging and Alzheimer's disease by reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood and restricting the development of lipoperoxide. Soybean paste contains an antioxidant that retards aging, and its antioxidative function grows during the fermenting and maturing processes. Its browning is also found to be good at preventing aging.

 

 Digestive function

Soybean paste is an appetizer, and has a good digestive function. Its presence at the table means there is no worry about indigestion. According to folk remedies, one bowl of light soybean paste soup normalizes an upset stomach.

 

 Prevention of osteoporosis

Vegetable estrogen, a derivative of isoflavon, can prevent osteoporosis in women by forming bone while inhibiting bone reabsorption. Rich in vitamin D, mushrooms help calcium absorption and strengthen bones and teeth.

 

 Control of glycosuria

Melanoidin in soybean paste helps control glycosuria by stimulating insulin secretion.

 

 Prevention of obesity and constipation

The soybean sauce containing pumpkin, mushroom, and barley is rich in fiber and helps prevent obesity and constipation. This sauce also strengthens digestive organs by stimulating bowel movement.

 

 Prevention of heart disease and cerebral apoplexy

Protein contained in mushrooms purifies blood and prevents blood coagulation. It also prevents heart disease and cerebral apoplexy by lowering blood viscosity.

 

 Removal of flecks and freckles

Conjugated linoleic acid removes flecks and freckles by inhibiting the development of melanin pigment. Mushrooms and pumpkins help allergic, pimpled, or rough skins recover their healthy tone.