Who Should Avoid Tofu: A Guide for Health-Conscious Individuals

February 9, 2024

Tofu has gradually become a popular delicacy on the dining table due to its rich nutrition, and it has also become an ideal health food for many people. However, although tofu is nutritionally rich, it is not suitable for everyone. So, who should not eat tofu? Let's find out.

1. Cardiovascular disease patients

Tofu contains abundant methionine, which can be converted into homocysteine. Homocysteine can damage the endothelial cells of arterial walls and make cholesterol and triglycerides more likely to deposit on the arterial walls, leading to the formation of arteriosclerosis. Therefore, patients with cardiovascular diseases and older people should eat less tofu.

2. Gout patients

Tofu contains a high amount of purine, which can easily trigger gout attacks for patients with gout and those with high uric acid levels. Therefore, it is advisable to consume tofu in moderation.

3. Gastritis patients

Patients with gastritis should also avoid eating tofu. Especially for patients with acute gastritis and chronic superficial gastritis, in addition to avoiding legumes, they should also avoid consuming soy milk, tofu, and other soy products. Consuming tofu can stimulate gastric acid secretion and cause gastrointestinal bloating.

4. Iodine deficiency patients

The soybeans used to make tofu contain saponins, which can accelerate the metabolism and excretion of iodine in the body. If tofu is consumed in large quantities for a long time without sufficient iodine supplementation, it can easily lead to iodine deficiency and iodine deficiency disorders.

5. Kidney disease patients

In general, plant proteins ingested through diet are metabolized and most of them are converted into nitrogenous waste, which is then excreted by the kidneys. For older individuals or those with impaired kidney function, the metabolic excretion capacity of the kidneys decreases. If they do not pay attention to dietary adjustments and consume tofu for a long time, the nitrogenous waste produced by the metabolism of plant proteins in the food will increase, further burdening the kidneys and affecting overall health.

6. Diabetes patients

When it comes to who should not eat tofu, patients with diabetes also need to pay attention. They should avoid consuming tofu, especially for those with diabetes caused by kidney disease. The main cause of death for these patients is diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, when patients have urea nitrogen retention, they must stop consuming soy products in a timely manner.

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