TEMPE AND HEALTH

Tempe -Gaining popularity due to its unique benefits.

Tempe is widely consumed in Indonesia.  Historical evidence shows that Tempe was originally made by Central Javanese people and appeared in their food pattern around the 1700s. Recently, several food trends suggest that the time is right for this fermented soybean product to gain greater acceptance outside of Indonesia.

One trend unrelated to the impact of food on our health that favors Tempe is the growing influence that environmental concerns influence food purchases.  Soyfoods, including Tempe, are environmentally-friendly sources of protein. Another trend favoring greater consumption of Tempe is the desire to consume more plant protein.  The soybean is higher in protein than other legumes.  One serving of cooked Tempe provides approximately 20 g protein (per 100 g product), which compares favorably with other soy products such as tofu (6 – 11 g protein) and soymilk (~8 g protein per 250 ml).  The protein from soyfoods are also easily digested, with the digestibility of protein from Tempe exceeding 90%.

Fermented food is also one of the hottest food trend.  This interest is closely linked with consumer interest in both pre- and probiotics. Tempe certainly qualifies as a probiotic food.

A third food trend that favors Tempe is the consumer desire to increase fiber intake.  A serving of Tempe provides approximately 5 g fiber, much higher than those from tofu or soy milk.

In addition,  the type of carbohydrate present in the beans, the oligosaccharides are metabolized by Rhizopus sp. mould, especially Rhizopus oligosporus, during the fermentation process of Tempe, the amount of gases produced in response to the consumption of Tempe has thus been shown to be reduced by more than 75% in comparison to lima beans and by more than 50% in comparison to tofu.

Like all foods utilizing the whole soybeans, Tempe is a rich source of isoflavones, therefore providing many health benefits including reduction of the risk of several chronic diseases including heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain forms of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer.  Tempe represents and especially desirable way to incorporate soyfoods into the diet.  In comparison to other soyfoods, it has a unique taste and texture and may also provide several unique nutritional and health advantages like other soyfoods.

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