Article By: John Fontana

I have recently become addicted to a dish by one of my new favorite LA restaurants called M Cafe.  It is the Curried Tempeh Salad and honestly tastes so good that you would never guess it is good for you. I am a big fan of curry foods because they usually feature tumeric which is one of the healthiest spices you can eat. My focus here is not on the turmeric but instead on the tempeh. While I am normally not a big fan of soy products, tempeh is one acceptation I will make, especially when it tastes this good.

Tempeh, made from fermented soybeans, has been an Indonesian staple for around 2,000 years. The fermentation process gives the soybeans more health qualities than when they are raw and has shown to produce an antibiotic-like effect, helping the body to resist infections. Though I don’t normally endorse soy products, these great health benefits have encourage me to give tempeh a shot.

Why So Good?

Good For Men

Soy is usually not liked by men because it actually increases estrogen levels in the body, however, genistein is an isoflavone that has been linked to reducing chances of prostate cancer. Genestin has also shown to inhibit certain inflammatory free radicals from causing damage to the cell walls. This is one case where soy products are actually very beneficial to men.

Great For Women

Soy has become a go-to aid for a lot of women in dealing with menopause. When natural estrogen levels begin to drop, the isoflavnoes that I mentioned in the last paragraph help by binding to estrogen receptors. Saponins are another part of the soybean that has shown to be very beneficial to health. Saponins have shown some link to being cancer-fighting and cancer-protective.

Protein Power

The protein in tempeh is very good for those who suffer from type-2 diabetes. Many diabetic patients struggle with animal-source proteins but do well with soy based proteins, especially when fermented. Those who are vegetarian or vegan can look to tempeh as a good replacer of protein that one would normally get from animals.

The Facts

Just four ounces of tempeh can provide you with 20 grams of protein as well as high levels of manganese, phosphorus, vitamin B2 and magnesium.

How To Eat?

Although I love to cook, I have yet to cook tempeh. Usually I eat it when i decide to go vegan for a meal or buy it pre-made in stores. The good thing is that tempeh does not have strong flavor but instead absorbs other flavors such as seasonings and spices. I would recommend sautéing it with other foods because I am not a huge fan of the texture unless it is cooked. When it comes down to it, you can replace any meat (especially chicken) with tempeh as a substitute.

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