Edama-mazing!

So I was recently trolling through the vast array of health articles posted on one of my favorite natural health websites – NaturalNews.com – and found an article discussing the health benefits of Japanese cuisine.

I love Japanese food, so I was delighted – but not altogether surprised – to see that miso, tempeh and tofu among the handful of examples the fine author gave as healthy options. Even the condiments that come with your average roll of sushi were among the list of flavorful Japanese fare (wasabi and ginger).

What I was surprised by was what I didn’t see in the list. What, you ask? Edamame – one of the tastier varieties of soy you’ll ever eat.

Edamame (pronounced ED-uh-MAY-may), which translated literally means “beans on branches,” looks very much like snow peas while in the pod, only they’re soybeans. They’ve been grown, harvested and enjoyed in East Asia for thousands of years and more recently, enjoyed by country star luminaries like Faith Hill, mentioned as a Japanese fare favorite by ESPN’s Around the Horn host Tony Reali and put to music by nationally-syndicated radio talk show host Dennis Prager (Singing to the tune of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” – “Buy me some tofu and edamame”).

Like snow peas, you can eat edamame with the pods on or shelled. They’re excellent as a side dish or as an alternative vegetable-type snack to carrot and celery sticks.

Nutrition-wise, edamame really packs a punch. But in a good way. Just a half-cup of these balled beauties – that is to say without the pod – yields 11 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fat (the good, polyunsaturated and unsaturated fat kind) a healthy dose of iron and a measly 120 calories. They’re also packed with fiber – nine grams – but keep the branched beans in the pod if you’re looking for a real fiber kick.

Of course, you don’t have to go to your local Japanese restaurant to get edamame. Most grocery stores carry them frozen (According to edamame.com, edamame are quickly flash frozen when harvested to preserve their freshness. Therefore, you’re not likely to see them in the fresh produce section). Preparing edamame is done simply by boiling the edamame until they’re tender (five minutes should do the trick) and eating them as is. But if you’re looking to spice up you’re edamame with some other ingredients, there are a host of great recipes online simply by googling “edamame recipes” in the search bar.

There’s lots of debate over whether or not soy is good for you. With me, there is no debate: soy has been proven time and time again and again to be a great protein source and one that is especially heart-healthy. Why do I say “especially”? Because if the scientific studies weren’t already enough, the fact that the Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world at 82.2 years has me “especially” convinced.

I write this piece with no ill will toward the fine author who neglected to mention edamame as a health staple in Japanese cuisine. It’s merely an abettor to a fine article that’s become even finer with edamame in tow.