No, bearded dragons shouldn’t eat edamame as they aren’t good for them. Beardies can eat edamame rarely, but they shouldn’t eat edamame beans often.
Edamame is immature green soybeans. Beans are seeds, so edamame is high in protein and fiber. However, they also contain compounds that inhibit protein absorption and plant estrogens called isoflavones.
These can affect the thyroid gland by increasing the production of thyroxine.
This increases metabolic activity which can lead to excessive weight loss. Edamame can also cause infertility in female beardies.
Edamame contains vitamins C, A, E, and K as well as potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. However, they also have high amounts of sodium which is unhealthy for bearded dragons that already have a relatively high salt intake from their diets.
Bearded dragons also shouldn’t eat edamame if they have sunflower seeds or other legumes, as these can cause gas buildup.
It is best not to give bearded dragons edamame often. They should only be given it occasionally as their treat food rather than regular feed like crickets.
Summary
Edamame is a variety of immature green soybeans. They contain compounds that inhibit protein absorption and plant estrogens called isoflavones.
These can affect the thyroid gland by increasing the production of thyroxine. This increases metabolic activity which can lead to excessive weight loss. Edamame can also cause infertility in female beardies.
