Table of Contents Show
These days, more people are concerned about their fitness and health. They try to maintain a healthy weight. People who are vegetarian are much into dairy products and veganism has also become pretty common.
Now, the question is whether one can get health benefits from dairy products or if it can be substituted for paneer which is one of the most well-known dairy products.
Tofu has gained fame in these recent years. Before including tofu in their diet, the main question that arises in people’s minds is about the benefits one can get from tofu.
Now, before determining is tofu keto-friendly or not, let’s understand the meaning and benefits of tofu first.
Meaning Of Tofu
The source of tofu is dried soybeans. Much like cheese high in carbohydrates, tofu is a substitute for those who want to enjoy the taste of dairy products but with the constraints of their diet.
Carbs in tofu are low, especially since they are high in proteins. This makes them more suitable for people doing low-carb diets. Tofu is an astounding option for people who intend to follow a healthy diet.
Tofu is rich in protein and fat-free as well. But here, the major concern of people who are indulge in the keto diet should be to know is tofu keto-friendly.
Meaning Of Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet is totally against carbs and is protein friendly. People who are doing a ketogenic diet are supposed to include a high source of protein in their diet.
These diets are more encouraged by people who are not big fans of food which contains high fat. There are various questions regarding including tofu in the diet. People are still perplexed is tofu keto friendly or not.
Types Of Tofu
Mainly there are 5 types of Tofu:
1. Silken
It is a type of tofu known for its silky and creamy consistency. It looks similar to Burrata. This Japanese-style tofu should be cooked while it is wet, for best results. It is easy to chop and it gets cooked because of its firm consistency.
2. Regular
This type of tofu is used more in Asian dishes. This soft tofu, a bit like the silken tofu, is not compact as well. It can easily immerse the flavors of any food.
3. Firm
This kind of tofu is also used as a substitute for feta. It is compact and is stored with water. Firm tofu is widely available in markets. But before cooking, one should make sure that they are using dry tofu, and not wet.
4. Extra Firm
These are firm and compact in texture. They can’t be marinated easily. The water density is less in extra-firm tofu.
5. Super firm
These are extremely compact in texture. They don’t require further marination. They just need to be pan-fried and ready to eat.
Is Tofu Friendly For Ketogenic Diet?
Yes, since tofu is a rich source of protein, it can be included in the ketogenic diet.
Eating tofu can be good for your bone density as well as your skin. Eating fermented tofu is better than the ones which are not fermented.
Also, another disadvantage is that phytoestrogens are present in tofu which may lead to hormonal imbalance. So taking tofu depends on your body requirements and body type.
Click here to read more about whether tofu keto friendly or not.
Is Tofu allowed in a Plant-Based diet?
A plant-based diet is a diet mostly comprised of foods whose sources are plants. It tends to be a pure vegetarian diet with less or no source of animal-based foods.
Now, many people who follow the keto diet are vegetarian or vegan, For them, it is important to know whether tofu is keto-friendly or not. So, including tofu in your diet can give you tremendous results. It is safe to include tofu if you are following a vegetarian or even vegan diet.
Tofu- A Rich Source Of Protein
Tofu can provide you with high protein benefits. People who go to the gym and work out regularly can include tofu in their diet for better results and consumption of an adequate amount is healthy for your body.
In 100 grams of tofu, you can get 8 grams of protein which is really impressive. It has some essence of calcium, and magnesium with it. So, it can claim double benefits.
Tofu is keto-friendly and doesn’t have any side effects on your body if it is taken as much as required.
Conclusion
Tofu can give you some staggering health benefits. They can provide you with an adequate amount of nutrients, and it is also delicious in flavour. This good taste factor is a complement to its stupefying benefits.
Excess intake of tofu may not lead to any side effects as it is a plant-based food. But it still may disturb your diet, as tofu is low in carbs but not carbs-free. In order to take in its full benefits, you should know how much is needed by your body.
So, it totally depends on people who are adopting the keto diet and how much quantity of protein is needed by their body, keeping their workout routine into consideration. Because workout or yoga plays a pivotal role in every diet and weight loss program.
So, is tofu keto-friendly can be concluded by saying that it is keto-friendly and can give you some amazing benefits if used properly as required by your deficiencies of protein.
FAQs:
- Tofu is a low-carbohydrate food. A half-cup serving contains just 3.5 grams of carbs, most of which come from fiber. There are 2.9 grams of fiber in a half-cup serving.
- Tofu contains around double the number of carbohydrates when compared to paneer, so the latter is certainly a better option for those people following a low-carb or keto diet or for people with diabetes looking to minimize their intake of carbs.
- Similarly, the American Cancer Society sees no dangers in eating soy. For the vast majority of people, it should be reasonable to incorporate tofu in their daily diet without any issues,
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
Author
