Become an Ayurvedic Clinician:Explore our Certification Courses
Carolina College of Natural Health Sciences

A Carolina College of Natural Health Sciences
Enroll Now
 
Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda & Greek Medicine

Carolina College of Natural Health Sciences


MORE OPTIONSDown Triangle

FIND RECIPES

FIND FOOD

AYURVEDA DIET 101

AYURVEDIC DIET FOR FEBRUARY

SEASONAL TIPS

MY SAVED INGREDIENTS

AYURVEDIC FOODS

Soy Beans Benefits (Ayurveda Insights)
Study Ayurveda

Print Soy Beans
Share on Social Media

Share Content with Friends & Clients

Click one of the buttons above, or cut and paste the following link to share this page with your network. This link will automatically track your referrals to Joyful Belly:

Share URL for Soy Beans

Copy Link

About Sharing Content & Referrals.

Compare with other beans-legumes
Sign in to review or comment 121 likes

Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CONSTITUTIONAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS

Soy bean dominates vast expanses of farmland in the American midwest, reflected the growing presence of soy products in nearly all process foods. Many people ask, is soy good for me? The answer depends upon the person. Soy nuts, like pea nuts are beans. Humans have dined on nuts since the dawn of time. Whole roasted beans, in contrast, are extremely difficult to digest. That's why Asian cultures ferment the beans, to make them more digestible. Fermented soy products like tofu are digestible by most people and provide a valuable protein source.

The natural phyotestrogens in soy can be useful for Vata women during menopause. For Pitta and Kapha constitutions, the estrongenic nature of soy products might cause tender breasts during menstruation and thickening of uterine tissue.

About Soy Beans

Soy bean is an ancient crop from East Asia that was domesticated as early as 6-7,000 B.C., almost 9,000 years ago!

Cooking Soy Beans

Our suggestion is to simply buy one of the fermented versions of soy - including tofu. See Jumping on Beans for different ways to enjoy beans. Learn how to reduce gaseyness in beans.

Learn about the health benefits of soy beans for FREE

You'll receive free access to our entire website including healthy recipes, nutritional diet plans, medicinal uses of ingredients, & ayurvedic health tips. Sign in once and you can use our website indefinitely..

Please register or sign in to continue.

first name
e-mail address*
confirm your e-mail*
enter a password*
Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips? Click YES to subscribe to our newsletter!
(
find out more
Frequency: You'll receive our most popular Ayurvedic health tips every day for a week, and then 1-2 emails a week ongoing.
).
Yes No
Register

Are Soy Beans a Good Match for My Body?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Soy Beans' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Take the Quiz

Constitutional nutrition is tailored to the individual. In the kitchen, especially during your family’s formative years, you shape your family's lifelong health.

Understanding your child's constitution is key to raising resilience, instead of wiring in disease. Study constitutional medicine to discover the keys to personalized nourishment.

Rooted in the insights curated from Ayurveda and Greek medicine, constitutional medicine teaches you which foods match your body, so you and your family have true vitality, strength, and balance. See How it Works.

Medicinal Effects of Soy Beans

Constitutional nutrition systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, herbs, lifestyle choices, your body, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

DIFFICULT

ABOUT DIFFICULT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other Health Virtues

Family:
Fabaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Soy Beans
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Bowel Health:
High Fiber Laxative

HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE

A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr

SEE ALL 'HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:
Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Lowers Thyroid

LOWERS-THYROID

Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Estrogenic

ESTROGENIC

Increases estrogen, helpful in menopause. Estrogen is anabolic and increases muscle growth, bone density, and moisture.

SEE ALL 'ESTROGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Alpha Linolenic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids,
Inositol

INOSITOL

Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.

SEE ALL 'INOSITOL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

,
Isoflavone

ISOFLAVONE

A type of naturally occurring isoflavonoid. Many have a phytoestrogen effect. Frequently found in the pea family (Fabaceae).

SEE ALL 'ISOFLAVONE' FOODS / HERBS

, Omega 3 Fatty Acids,
Phytates

PHYTATES

Phytates prevent absorption of nutrients. They are commonly found in all seeds, including nuts, grains, and beans. Sprouting greatly reduces phytate content, as well as long, slow cooking with vinegar.

SEE ALL 'PHYTATES' FOODS / HERBS

, Potassium, Protein,
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Soy Beans

  • Black-eyed Peas

    Black-eyed Peas has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Lima Beans

    Lima Beans has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Brown Lentil

    Brown Lentil has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

  • Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal)

    Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Beans

    Black Beans has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

  • Chickpea (Garbanzo)

    Chickpea (Garbanzo) has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Hypolipidemic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Pinto Beans

    Pinto Beans has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Butter Bean

    Butter Bean has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • White Navy Bean

    White Navy Bean has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Hypolipidemic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)

    Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Soy Beans

  • Maca

    Maca has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Lowers-thyroid, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Joint Balm

    Joint Balm has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Shatavari Ghee

    Shatavari Ghee has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Red Clover

    Red Clover has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Shatavari

    Shatavari has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginseng, Chinese

    Ginseng, Chinese has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Vidari

    Vidari has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Motherwort

    Motherwort has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Lowers-thyroid

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

    Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Licorice Ghee (9oz)

    Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Soy Beans may temper these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual and constitution. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Soy Beans may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Soy Beans. Please see your health care provider for more information.

View other ingredients
for Summer

Soy Beans is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer foods here.
VIEW ALL SUMMER FOODS MORE FOODS FOR PITTA / KAPHA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

Constitutional Nutrition: Strengthen Your Health Naturally

When your dietary choices align with your individual nature (constitution), it supports your metabolism, energy, and health naturally. A personalized diet, fitting to your constitution, leverages your natural strengths while gently supporting your body where it's vulnerable.

Constitutional nutrition is especially beneficial for digestion, a foundational pillar of health influencing your entire well-being. Balanced digestion fortifies your body's natural defenses against illness and enhances your resilience when illness does arise. A healthy digestive fire (*agni*) eases discomfort, speeds recovery, and naturally uplifts your mood.

By embracing constitutional nutrition, you will soon experience a profound sense of renewal, vitality, and inner strength.

CONTINUE READING

Clinical Tools & Resources

Give smart recommendations to your clients, and improve efficiency in your clinic with these tools.

Create a Diet for
your client

Clinical Tools &
Resources

Master Ayurvedic
nutrition

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle through constitutional nutrition (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine). His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John, his wife Natalie and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC

Learn More
Please update link

upcoming courses

About the College Apply for a Scholarship
Monthly payment plans available.

Fundamentals of Virtue Psychology

Enroll for $135 / month. Starts Aug 2026.

Ayurvedic Herbalist

Enroll for $225 / month. Starts Aug 2026.

Master Digestion & Nutrition 500 Hour Certification Program

Enroll for $205 / month. Starts Oct 2026.

What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Comments & Questions About 'Soy Beans'

Do you like 'soy beans'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'soy beans'?

121 likes
Sign in to review or comment

ENZYME DEFICIENCIES

ENZYME DEFICIENCIES

Free Sample Class
BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

GET YOUR FREE CHART
Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Enroll Today

Join Joyful Belly

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.