Let's talk about soy flour!

What is it?

Soy flour is derived from grounded whole soybeans. In order to get powdered, fresh beans have to be dried first. In our process, this means they will undergo a hot air heat treatment. This ‘toasting’ makes the taste will become a little more distinctive and ‘nutty’.

How do we use it?

Soy flour is used as one of the main ingredients in our Steady shakes.

Why do we use it?

First of all, we choose to include soy flour in our shakes because it’s a good source of macronutrients, carbohydrates and fats to be exact. Also, soy comes with a good range of micronutrients like folate, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Last but not least and just like the oat flour, soy flour has an overall neutral taste which makes the flavouring of our shakes an easier job to do.

Soy and its bad image.

From time to time we get a question from someone who is worried about the quantity of soy flour in Queal. Mostly, this is regarding a perpetuating myth that soy is supposed to reduce the body’s production of testosterone, or in some other way messing with the hormone levels of people.

It’s good to note that that myth is in reference to soy-protein, not soy flour. And aside from that: There is no scientific consensus on this effect at all.

The largest peer-reviewed meta-analysis constituting 15 controlled studies and 32 other reports did not show any statistically significant effect of soy protein on human reproductive hormone levels.

Where does it come from?

Soy is called ‘the king of the beans’ because of its worldwide demand and trade. Not only do we humans consume soy through food and beverages, but the largest amounts are also used as a protein source for cattle feed and for the production of vegetable oils. Because of this high demand, the production of soy has increased 15 times over the past 60 to 70 years. Unfortunately, this has not necessarily been a good thing when it comes to the environment, animal welfare and ethics overall. Especially in countries like Brazil and Argentina (which are - together with the United States - responsible for 80% of the worldwide production) this enormous expand has led to the displacements of small farmers, deforestation and animal extinction.

We as Queal do not want to contribute to this harming way of soy production and therefore choose to source it from within the European Union instead. Here it is held to the highest environmental- and safety standards by multiple organizations, like the ENSA. After the beans we use have been harvested, they are being processed into flour in the Netherlands.

Allergens.

Soy allergy is a common food allergy, usually occurring at a young age. Because of its abundance, soy on itself is marked as an allergen.