Many people think of the Southeastern United States as the cotton-producing capital of the country. Farmers do grow a lot of cotton there, but another cash crop is just as profitable: soybeans. In Alabama alone, over 4.7 million bushels of soybeans were produced in 2005. Soy is a complex plant that contains the basic building blocks for a variety of products. Hence, it is a very versatile plant.

With Americans choosing healthier diets, soy-based foods have risen in popularity. This is because soy can be used in so many applications. Soy is a healthy food, since it contains a complete protein profile. It has all the essential amino acids and is the closest vegetable protein to meat.

Soy is used to make soy milk, tofu, soy flour, soy yogurt, textured vegetable protein, tempeh, miso and many other foods. Soy flour and soy milk can be used for baking or for making tofu. Soy milk can also be drunk plain or flavored.

Another mark in soy’s favor is that products made with soy do not have much flavor of their own. Flavoring can be added to the products to make them taste as the cook wishes. Some soy products, like tofu, also take on the flavorings of whatever they are cooked with. Soy powder can be purchased and added to smoothies and other foods to boost protein quality and quantity.

Soy has been the base of many Asian diets for centuries. Soybeans are easy to grow, and with their uses in so many products, they allowed poor people to make the most of their limited farmland by relying on soy as their primary protein source, rather than cows or chickens. Soybeans do not cost as much to maintain as animals.

Vegetarians and vegans have long relied on soy’s versatility to help them eat balanced, meat-free diets. Medical studies have also shown that soy can help lower cholesterol levels, as well as ease symptoms of menopause and help prevent cancer and heart disease. The versatile soy plant also has non-food uses. Soy bases are used in products as diverse as lotions, candles, cleaners, crayons, diesel additives, fabric conditioner, ink, paint remover and shampoo. Since soy is a renewable source, it is becoming popular as a diesel fuel, as well.