Can You Eat Tofu Raw?

Can You Eat Tofu Raw?

Tofu is a sponge-like cake that is also known as bean curd. It is prepared from soy milk pressed to form solid white blocks that can be soft, firm, extra firm, or silken. Tofu is believed to have originated from china back in 2000 years ago. Today, tofu is consumed by people from across the world due to its health benefits.

So, can you eat raw tofu? Yes. Tofu is a precooked food that is safe to eat in its raw form. It’s rich in nutrients and can also be cooked with little preparation with other dishes. You can add your favorite seasonings while eating tofu.

If you’re wondering how you can use tofu in your meals, you have many options. You can blend into smoothies and ice-cream, especially the silken tofu, which is best for pudding. You can grill and stir fry the firm and extra-firm tofu. Lastly, you can use soft tofu to make thick soups as it makes it creamy and sweet.

How to Store Raw Tofu

Tofu is a good source of protein for many vegetarians and vegans. It is therefore important to ensure that you keep your tofu fresh until you’re ready to use it. It’s fulfilling to eat a healthy meal that is not contaminated.

How do you store raw tofu? So, if you plan to cook tofu within a week, place it in an airtight container, cover it in water and then refrigerate it. Change the water often to ensure that it’s fresh and moist until your next meal. If you plan to preserve for a longer time, say 2-3 months ensure that you freeze it first.

What is the Nutritional Value of Raw Tofu?

Tofu is rich in nutrients and proteins that are good for you. It’s low in calories and provides your body with a variety of vitamins and minerals. 

For a 100- grams serving of tofu contain the following: 

  • Fiber: 1 grams
  • Proteins: 8 grams
  • Carbs: 2 grams
  • Fat: 4 grams
  • Manganese: 31% of the RDI
  • Calcium: 20% of the RDI
  • Selenium: 14% of the RDI
  • Phosphorus: 12% of the RDI
  • Copper: 11% of the RDI
  • Magnesium: 9% of the RDI
  • Iron: 9% of the RDI
  • Zinc: 6% of the RDI

Tofu also contains isoflavone contents that have many health benefits. Isoflavones are believed to reduce heart diseases by reducing blood vessel inflammation, which helps in blood flow. It also improves blood fats in your body that can prevent the risk of heart diseases.

Is Raw Tofu Bad for You?

Tofu has numerous nutritional benefits and thus safe for people to consume. However, it might cause some problems to some people like pregnant women, babies, older persons above 65, and people with weak immune systems. They should be cautious while eating raw tofu.

Contamination can happen while in preparation, manufacturing, or packaging, making it risky to eat raw for such people.

People with thyroid diseases should also avoid raw tofu due to its goitrogen content that may interfere with thyroid glands. Women with breast tumors are also advised to avoid tofu as it is high in soy contents that affect estrogen levels.

So, is tofu bad for you? Yes, tofu is bad for some people. As such, people with low immune issues, pregnant women, the elderly or babies should eat in moderation. However, it poses no harm for people with no underlying conditions.

Are there Health Benefits of Eating Tofu?

Yes. Tofu is a good source of essential proteins and nutrients. It contains calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, and vitamin B1. All these play a big role in your body. It’s ideal for people trying to manage their weight as it contains low cholesterol and low-fat contents. 

As they say, a key to good health is by observing a healthy lifestyle, and you can therefore add tofu to your salads and sandwiches. In the long run, you minimize your chances obesity and other lifestyle diseases. 

Tofu can reduce the chances of getting some cancers such as breast, prostate, and digestive cancer. Isoflavones contain antioxidants that hinder the growth of cancer cells. They also help in blood estrogen levels that play a part in overall health in both men and women. High levels of estrogen are known to cause problems such as erectile dysfunction and infertility. Adding tofu to your meals can help keep your body healthy.

It also contains protein contents that help in renal functions to control lipid levels in your blood. This can help people with kidney diseases and play a part in people undergoing dialysis and kidney transplantation. A serving of tofu can help reduce your risks of diabetes and boost your blood sugar controls. It will help to improve your insulin sensitivity hence reducing heart diseases.

Soy contents in tofu will help in improving your skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles. This will give you flawless skin and keep you looking fresh and young. You should therefore ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle by adding tofu into your diet.