Q: I am 29 years old and 165 cms in height and weigh 60 kgs. If I take soya beans daily, will I become overweight? I soak soya beans overnight and in the morning I fry them in oil with some salt and chilli powder. Do they loose any minerals by soaking it overnight?

A:Soya beans will not lose the minerals if soaked overnight. However frying them in oil is a rather unhealthy way to consume them. Here are some other ways that you can try out for using Soya in, more dense form.

• Roasted Soya nuts can be soaked in water and then baked until browned. Soya nuts can be found in a variety of flavours in both health food stores and some supermarkets. These nuts are high in protein and iso-flavones and taste similar to peanuts. Roasted Soya-nuts are great as a snack and require no preparation on your part; it is just like eating other nuts.
• Green vegetable soyabeans are very popular in some parts of the country. They are large soyabeans that are harvested when the beans are still green and have a sweet taste. They can be served as a snack or as a main vegetable dish. To prepare the beans you will need to boil them in slightly salted water for 15-20 minutes. This is high in protein and fibre and contains no cholesterol.
• Soya milk is a good substitute for cow's milk. Soya milk is the fluid produced when soyabeans are soaked, ground fine and strained. It is found in most grocery stores and is packaged in an aseptic container so does not require refrigeration until after it is opened Soya milk is often fortified with calcium and other nutrients, in particular B-vitamins. In addition, the milk can be purchased in various flavours and as a low or non-fat item. I find it very tasty to make a smoothie from Soya milk. Simply mix 1 cup of soya milk (vanilla or plain) with ½ medium banana and then add any other fruits (I really like strawberries and blueberries) and blend. You can also add ice if you would like. Many veggie burgers are made from Soya protein. Veggie burgers taste excellent and are such an easy way to include some Soya in your diet, particularly during the summer if you enjoy grilling out.