“Power is a neutral energy source like tofu. It's what you do with it that gives it flavor.” (Elizabeth Gilbert)

Tofu (bean curd) is made by curdling soy milk (from soybeans), and then pressing the resulting curds into soft, white blocks. The process of making tofu is relatively similar to the way that cheese is made from milk.

Tofu is an element in East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines. Tofu can be used in savory and sweet dishes. It is versatile in cooking contrary to popular belief. Below is what you need to know about the fascinating world of tofu:

1. Don’t have tofu if you have kidney and gallbladder stones It is true that the tofu doesn’t cause stones in the kidney or gallbladder. But if you do have stones, tofu should be avoided. Tofu has oxalates that are found in other soya products too. Oxalates have a tendency to get concentrated in the fluids of the body. They form crystals, which cause further problems for existing stones.

2. If you are allergic to soy, you will be allergic to tofu There is no direct correlation between the processing of tofu and allergies. You can get an adverse reaction even if tofu is being eaten in its own form. You may get an allergy from tofu custard or even a soy milk based dessert.

3. Male hormones aren’t affected by eating tofu It is a myth that eating tofu results in men getting female like hormones. But that is technically not possible. No matter how much tofu a man eats, he will not become a she.

4. Meat eaters do need tofu A lot of red meat lovers believe that tofu is only for vegetarians. Since they are getting their share of proteins and nutrients from meats, they can avoid tofu. What they don’t know is that red meat can lead to multiple kinds of cancer along with cholesterol issues. Tofu works here because it has a texture that goes well with meat based dishes. You can gradually reduce your meats and opt for tofu.

5. There is more than one type of tofu available You must be assuming that there is just one kind of tofu available in the market. Like cheese, there is more than one variation available. And the most popular is silken tofu, which is basically Japanese style. It isn’t pressed or drained and is rather custard like in texture and very soft. Regular tofu too comes in different textures like extra soft, firm, medium and extra firm too. There is also a super firm variety available that has very little water content.

6. Tofu helps you shed off weight Half cup of tofu contains only 94 calories, as compared to the 300 calories in the same amount of beef. It is low in saturated fat. This makes tofu perfect to fill the stomach, without useless calories. It helps you shed off excessive water, thus prevents water bloating and weight gain. Tofu also improves digestion and helps flush out toxins and lose weight.

7. Tofu is bland until flavors are added Tofu is kind of bland, but so is milk. When you make it into ice cream or cheese sauce, it’s delicious. Tofu is something that you should get experimental with. There are so many flavors in tofu that will amaze you. Be it spicy Asian sauces, grilled barbecue or even in a burger, you can add tofu to any cuisine of the world and it will seem that tofu originated from that part of the country.

8. Tofu is nutritious Tofu contains 8 essential amino acids. It is rich in magnesium, phosphorus and selenium (which help to trigger happy hormones). Tofu has a low calorie count, contains copper, protein, magnesium, vitamin B1, calcium and iron. It is low in fat but high on nutrition. Research shows that regular tofu eaters get enhanced protection against different kinds of cancer and heart diseases too.

9. Tofu is one of the oldest foods in the world It is said that almost 2000 years ago tofu was discovered accidentally by a Chinese cook, who curdled soy milk using nigari seaweed. It was then introduced to Japan and called okabe.

10. Tofu is perfect for dessert Due to different forms of tofu, you can use it for many kinds of dessert. The silken tofu is excellent for custards and pie. The firm ones are good for frying (think fritters) and having with some sweet sauces.

11. Tofu is vegan Some individuals believe that soy milk is an animal form. Soy milk is not an animal product. It is completely vegan and so the tofu made from coagulated soy milk is vegan too. For all the new vegans out there, eat all the tofu that you want.

12. Tofu reduces the risk of cancer Amongst other Asian countries, tofu is consumed in Japan on regular basis, where the risk of breast cancer is the lowest, as compared to other western countries. The reason being all kinds of soy products along with tofu are a part of everyday meals here. Tofu contains isoflavones, which reduces cancer risk.

“By itself, tofu is like wet foam rubber, but you'd no more eat it by itself and expect fine dining than you would stare at a blank canvas and expect to see fine art.”(Victoria Moran)[i]