Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Whats Tofu

Whats Tofu? In a nutshell, tofu is cheese made from soya milk. Tofu or bean curd is made by curdling fresh soya milk, pressing it into a solid block and cooling it afterwards. Tofu is gluten and cholesterol free and low in calories. It’s very popular with vegetarians and vegans as a source of protein. Tofu is also rich in calcium and phosphorus. It contains other minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc and folate.

Is tofu keto?

Yes, tofu is keto. There are only 1.9 grams of net carbs per half a cup of tofu (one serving).

Health Benefits of Tofu

  • Tofu is good for heart and blood vessels, it contains isoflavones which improve arteries functionality
  • Isoflavons also help to reduce frequency and severity of hot flashes during menopause
  • Stronger bones
  • Better brain function

Keto Tofu Curry Recipe

  • 450 grams of tofu
  • Small amount of butter to fry vegetables
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 zucchini
  • One carrot
  • 1,5 glass of coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons of keto protein powder Keto Protein Powders
  • Half of green bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons of curry paste
  • Two tablespoons of peanut butter
  • Vegetable stock
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  1. Slice bell pepper and garlic into thin slices. Fry garlic and pepper until both become tender with butter on a low heat.
  2. Add curry paste into the pen, mix and fry all together for a few minutes on a medium heat.
  3. Cut carrot and zucchini into small thin pieces.
  4. Add to a curry paste mixture carrot, zucchini, milk, protein powder, vegetable stock and peanut butter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring to boiling condition. Then lower the heat and cook on a low to medium heat for about 10 minutes.
  5. Add tofu cubes and cook for another 5 minutes.

Tofu Keto Lettuce Wraps

  • 300 grams of tofu
  • One head of iceberg lettuce
  • 85 grams of peanut butter 
  • One tablespoon of oil
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • Two teaspoons of keto-friendly sweetener
  • One tablespoon of grated ginger
  • 2 avocados
  • 6 cherry tomatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  1. Mix in a bowl peanut butter, soy sauce and keto-friendly sweetener.
  2. Peel and cut avocados into small pieces. Cut cherry tomatoes into thin slices.
  3. Mix avocados in a separate bowl with cherry tomatoes and olive oil.
  4. Fry tofu for about 10 minutes on a low heat.
  5. Add half of peanut sauce to tofu and fry together for about 5 minutes.
  6. Put lettuce leaves on a plate as a base. Add a layer of tofu and on top the remaining peanut sauce. You can also add salt, pepper to taste.

Interesting Information about Tofu

  • History of tofu begins around over 2,000 years ago, when a Chinese cook accidentally discovered it by curdling soy milk using nigari seaweed. 
  • Tofu helps to decrease the body’s water resistance and remove excessive water, which prevents water bloating and weight gain. 
  • Tofu improves digestion and helps to remove toxins out of the body.
  • Spread of tofu in China and Japan is connected with buddhism. Buddhism believes that killing animals has a negative impact on people’s afterlife. It explains the fact that many Buddhists are vegetarian.
  • The word “tofu” has Japanese and Chinese roots. It originally came from the Chinese word “doufu” meaning curdled bean. 
  • Tofu is sometimes used as meat or eggs substitute in soups and casseroles; it can be also used in desserts, such as puddings and custards

Whats Tofu Disadvantages?

  • Tofu has weak hormonal effects, so some doctors suggest that women with estrogen-sensitive breast tumors limit their soy intake.
  • Some doctors advise that people with poor thyroid function need to avoid tofu due to its goitrogen content. Goitrogens are substances that disrupt the production of thyroid hormones