Tofu

Key Nutrients

Key nutrients in Tofu
Nutrient Amount DV% Rating
calcium 774.51 mg 77% Excellent
manganese 1.34 mg 58% Very Good
copper 0.43 mg 48% Very Good
selenium 19.73 mcg 36% Very Good
protein 17.89 g 36% Very Good
phosphorus 215.46 mg 31% Very Good
omega-3 fats 0.66 g 28% Good
iron 3.02 mg 17% Good
zinc 1.78 mg 16% Good
magnesium 65.77 mg 16% Good
vitamin B1 0.18 mg 15% Good
tryptophan 0.14 g 43.8% Excellent
omega 3 fatty acids 0.36 g 15% Good

calcium

Excellent
774.51 mg 77% DV

manganese

Very Good
1.34 mg 58% DV

copper

Very Good
0.43 mg 48% DV

selenium

Very Good
19.73 mcg 36% DV

protein

Very Good
17.89 g 36% DV

phosphorus

Very Good
215.46 mg 31% DV
0.66 g 28% DV

iron

Good
3.02 mg 17% DV

zinc

Good
1.78 mg 16% DV

magnesium

Good
65.77 mg 16% DV

vitamin B1

Good
0.18 mg 15% DV

tryptophan

Excellent
0.14 g 43.8% DV
0.36 g 15% DV

View full nutrient profile →

About Tofu

What’s new and beneficial about tofu

  • A meta-analysis of 28 studies on Chinese adults found that tofu and soy miso intake reduced stomach cancer risk more than soy consumption in general. Researchers at Soochow University’s School of Radiation Medicine and Public Health reached this conclusion after analyzing studies conducted between 1998-2008. Whether these findings extend to U.S. populations remains unclear, but they suggest something distinct about tofu and miso among soy foods that may relate to stomach cancer prevention.
  • Fermentation duration directly affects the antioxidant capacity of tofu. Tofus fermented for nine days showed up to double the free radical-scavenging activity of those fermented for three days. Multiple fungi were used in this study, including Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus sojae, Aspergillus awamori, Actinomucor taiwanensis, and Rhizopus oligosporus. No single optimal fermentation time has been established; the increased activity likely reflects the combined metabolic output of these organisms over a longer growth period.

Nutritional profile

A wide range of unique proteins, peptides, and phytonutrients contained in soy foods, including tofu. Examples are flavonoids and isoflavonoids (daidzein,genistein, malonylgenistin and malonyldaidzin); phenolic acids (caffeic, coumaric, ferulic, gallic and sinapic acids); phytoalexins (glyceollin I, glyceollin II and glyceollin III); phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, beta-stigmasterol, campestrol); unique proteins and peptides (defensins, glycinin, conglycinin, and lunacin); and saponins (soyasaponins from group A and group B, and soyasapogenols).

Four oz (113.4g) at 164 calories provides calcium (77% DV), manganese (58% DV), copper (48% DV), tryptophan (43.8% DV), selenium (36% DV), protein (36% DV), phosphorus (31% DV), omega-3 fats (28% DV), iron (17% DV), zinc (16% DV), magnesium (16% DV), vitamin B1 (15% DV), omega 3 fatty acids (15% DV).

Pressing tofu removes excess water so it absorbs marinades and crisps properly when cooked. The Tofuture Tofu Press does this evenly and without the paper-towel hassle.

Recipes with Tofu

Full Nutrient Profile

View detailed nutritional breakdown →

Related Articles

References

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  2. Hang M and Zhao XH. Fermentation Time and Extraction Solvents Influenced in vitro Antioxidant Property of Soluble Extracts of Mao-tofu Fermented with Mucor sp. Biotechnology. 2011;10(1): 60-69 . 2011. https://doi.org/10.3923/biotech.2011.60.69
  3. Hara A, Sasazuki S, Inoue M et al. Isoflavone intake and risk of gastric cancer: a population-based prospective cohort study in Japan. Am J Clin Nutr January 2012, vol. 95, no. 1, pages 147-154. 2012. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.111.020479
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  5. Ikeda Y, Iki M, Morita A et al. Intake of fermented soybeans, natto, is associated with reduced bone loss in postmenopausal women: Japanese Population-Based Osteoporosis (JPOS) Study. J Nutr. 2006 May;136(5):1323-8. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/136.5.1323
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  12. Zhang W, Tang FY, Yeo MC et al. . Fermentation of group B soyasaponins with probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Journal of Food Biochemistry, published online, 12 December 2011: doi: 10.1111/j.1745-4514.2010.00524. 2011.
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