Choose the right companion for your tofu.

Tofu is a beloved food, but is it better to eat it alone or to cook it in combination with other foods? Recently, experts believe that tofu should not be "single" and it's best to find a "partner."

Nutritionists believe:

The nutritional value of protein in food depends on the types, quantities, and ratios of the amino acids that make up the protein. If a protein contains a complete variety of amino acids in large quantities with appropriate ratios, then the biological value of that protein is high, meaning its nutritional value is high. Otherwise, even if the food is high in protein, its nutritional value is not high.

Shitake and Minced Meat Tofu

Although tofu is high in protein, its nutritional value is significantly reduced because it is low in methionine, an essential amino acid. How can we maximize its strengths and minimize its weaknesses? The solution is simple: just cook tofu with other animal or plant foods. For example, by adding various types of minced meat to tofu, or by pan-frying tofu coated in egg, you can make better use of its rich protein content and enhance its nutritional value.

In addition, although tofu is rich in calcium, if eaten alone, the body's absorption and utilization rate of calcium is quite low. If tofu is cooked with a food high in Vitamin D, the absorption rate of calcium by the human body can be increased by more than 20 times with the help of Vitamin D. For example, braised fish head with tofu. This dish is not only delicious but also very scientifically balanced. Because the Vitamin D in the fish head can improve the body's absorption and utilization of the calcium in tofu.

Some experts also recommend pairing tofu with kelp or other seafood high in iodine. Because tofu contains a substance called saponin, which, while preventing the production of oxidized lipids that can cause arteriosclerosis, can also lead to the excretion of iodine from the body. If consumed for a long time, it can easily lead to an iodine deficiency. Therefore, cooking kelp and tofu together is a perfect combination, achieving the best of both worlds.