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Tofu vs. Soybean — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Article author photo Elen Khachatrian by Elen Khachatrian | Last updated on December 23, 2024
Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel Article author photo Igor Bussel
Tofu
vs
Soybean

Summary

Soybeans are higher in ironfiber, vitamins B2, B9, K, B6, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, while tofu is higher in calcium, selenium, and manganese.

Soybean and tofu have similar glycemic indexes and protein and fat amounts. However, tofu has lower sodium and sugar content.

Introduction

We'll discuss the main differences between soybean and tofu, focusing on their nutritional content and health impact

Is Soybean the Same as Tofu?

Soybeans are a type of legume rich in protein and used in many food products. Tofu, also called bean curd, is made from soybeans by turning soy milk into a solid form using coagulation.  

Tofu is made from soybeans, a coagulant like calcium sulfate or magnesium chloride, and water. These ingredients give tofu its smooth, firm texture, making it easy to cook. Soybeans can be eaten whole or processed into products like soy milk, but tofu is a specific food created from them. 

Usage and Preparation

Soybeans can be consumed wholeroasted as a snack, or cooked in soups and stews. They are also processed into soy milk, flour, protein, and fermented products like miso, soy sauce, and tempeh. Tofu, made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds, is a staple in many dishes. It can be eaten raw, stir-fried, grilled, baked, or blended into smoothies. 

Soybeans are valued for their high protein and fiber content, while tofu offers a softer texture and adapts well to diverse flavors, making both staples in plant-based diets (1).

Nutrition

The food types discussed in this article are cooked soybeans without salt and tofu prepared with calcium sulfate.

Calories

Soybeans have a slightly higher calories than tofu. They contain 172 calories per 100g, while tofu has 144 calories per 100g.

Vitamins

Soybeans are a winner in the vitamin category. They contain three times more vitamin B2 and more vitamins C, E, B5, B6, K, folate, and choline

However, tofu has 10 times higher vitamin A content than soybeans.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Tofu
0
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0.67% 0% 0% 0% 40% 24% 7.1% 8% 21% 0% 0% 22% 0%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 5.7% 0% 7% 0% 39% 66% 7.5% 11% 54% 0% 48% 41% 26%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +750%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +179.4%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +34.6%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +154.3%
Contains more FolateFolate +86.2%
~equal in Vitamin A ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin B1 ~0.155mg
~equal in Vitamin B3 ~0.399mg
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0µg

Minerals

Soybeans have more magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and sodium, while tofu contains more calcium (due to preparation steps), zinc, manganese, and selenium.

Both have a similar amount of copper.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Tofu
4
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 41% 205% 21% 100% 126% 43% 81% 1.8% 154% 95%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 61% 31% 45% 193% 136% 31% 105% 0.13% 107% 40%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +569.6%
Contains more ZincZinc +36.5%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +43.3%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +138.4%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +48.3%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +117.3%
Contains more IronIron +93.2%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +28.9%
Contains less SodiumSodium -92.9%
~equal in Copper ~0.407mg
 

Fats

Both foods contain similar amounts of fat; however, the types of fat are different in each. Soybeans, in particular, have more polyunsaturated fat (5g).

Protein

The amounts of protein in soybeans and tofu are almost equal: soybeans contain 18.21g, and tofu has 17.17g of protein per 100g. Both contain essential amino acids, such as lysine, histidine, and phenylalanine.

Carbs

Soybeans have almost 4 times more carbs than tofu. Due to the tofu preparation process, much of the soybean’s fiber and carbohydrate content is removed.

Soybeans have 8.36g of carbs per 100g, while tofu has only 2.78g of carbs.

Oxalates

Soybeans have 37 times more oxalates than tofu. Again, tofu has lower oxalates due to its making process, which is when many of the oxalates are removed. 

Soybeans have 224mg of oxalates per 100g, while tofu offers only 6mg of oxalates. Tofu can be a good choice in low-oxalate diets.

Glycemic Index

Tofu and soybeans have similar glycemic indexes, 14 and 15, accordingly.

Health Benefits

Cancer 

Isoflavones in soybeans and tofu are plant-based compounds with antioxidant properties that may help reduce cancer risk. Studies suggest that soy isoflavones modulate estrogen activity, potentially lowering the risk of hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer (2).

Diabetes

Soybeans and tofu are low in carbohydrates and high in protein, which helps maintain stable blood sugar levels. Phytochemicals have been linked to improved insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. A meta-analysis in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2019) concluded that soy protein intake positively affects glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity (3).

Cardiovascular Health

According to FDA, 25 grams of soy protein daily as part of a low-saturated-fat diet may reduce heart disease risk. Soy protein can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol. Isoflavones in soy also improve arterial elasticity and reduce inflammation, key factors in cardiovascular health. A study in The Journal of Nutrition (2020) found consistent cholesterol-lowering effects with soy protein consumption (4).

Article author photo Elen Khachatrian
Education: Nutrition & Microbiology at YSU
Last updated: December 23, 2024
Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel

Infographic

Tofu vs Soybean infographic
Infographic link

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Tofu Soybean DV% diff.
Calcium 683mg 102mg 58%
Iron 2.66mg 5.14mg 31%
Selenium 17.4µg 7.3µg 18%
Vitamin K 19.2µg 16%
Manganese 1.181mg 0.824mg 16%
Fiber 2.3g 6g 15%
Vitamin B2 0.102mg 0.285mg 14%
Vitamin B6 0.092mg 0.234mg 11%
Choline 47.5mg 9%
Potassium 237mg 515mg 8%
Phosphorus 190mg 245mg 8%
Magnesium 58mg 86mg 7%
Folate 29µg 54µg 6%
Zinc 1.57mg 1.15mg 4%
Copper 0.378mg 0.407mg 3%
Vitamin E 0.35mg 2%
Carbs 2.78g 8.36g 2%
Protein 17.27g 18.21g 2%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 1.7mg 2%
Sodium 14mg 1mg 1%
Polyunsaturated fat 4.921g 5.064g 1%
Vitamin B5 0.133mg 0.179mg 1%
Calories 144kcal 172kcal 1%
Fats 8.72g 8.97g 0%
Net carbs 0.48g 2.36g N/A
Sugar 3g N/A
Vitamin B1 0.158mg 0.155mg 0%
Vitamin B3 0.381mg 0.399mg 0%
Saturated fat 1.261g 1.297g 0%
Monounsaturated fat 1.925g 1.981g 0%
Tryptophan 0.235mg 0.242mg 0%
Threonine 0.785mg 0.723mg 0%
Isoleucine 0.849mg 0.807mg 0%
Leucine 1.392mg 1.355mg 0%
Lysine 0.883mg 1.108mg 0%
Methionine 0.211mg 0.224mg 0%
Phenylalanine 0.835mg 0.869mg 0%
Valine 0.87mg 0.831mg 0%
Histidine 0.431mg 0.449mg 0%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Tofu
1
17% 9% 3% 70%
Protein: 17.27 g
Fats: 8.72 g
Carbs: 2.78 g
Water: 69.83 g
Other: 1.4 g
18% 9% 8% 63% 2%
Protein: 18.21 g
Fats: 8.97 g
Carbs: 8.36 g
Water: 62.55 g
Other: 1.91 g
Contains more WaterWater +11.6%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +200.7%
Contains more OtherOther +36.4%
~equal in Protein ~18.21g
~equal in Fats ~8.97g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Tofu
1
16% 24% 61%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 1.261 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 1.925 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 4.921 g
16% 24% 61%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 1.297 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 1.981 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 5.064 g
~equal in Saturated fat ~1.297g
~equal in Monounsaturated fat ~1.981g
~equal in Polyunsaturated fat ~5.064g

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References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. Tofu - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172475/nutrients
  2. Soybean - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/174271/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.