Soy milk: how healthy is it really?
Soy milk has been in vogue since vegan and vegatarian diets have become increasingly popular. In this article we show you how healthy the alternative to cow's milk really is.
Soy milk: ingredients, health, effects
- Soy milk is made from soybeans, which are legumes. These legumes have been grown for more than 5, 000 years. Soybeans are not only processed into soy milk, but also into tofu, soy sauce and soy yogurt, and in fermented form into tempeh.
- Fats: The beans contain many polyunsaturated fatty acids and fiber. Soy milk contains around 2 percent fat, while cow's milk contains 1.5 or 3.5. Important minerals such as magnesium, manganese, iron and zinc are also present. Calcium is contained in a lower concentration than in cow's milk.
- Protein: The vegetable protein of soy milk is considered a high-quality protein source, but can cause an allergy in some people. Soy milk is free of lactose and gluten, so it is suitable for people who have problems with it.
- Vitamins: Soy milk contains significantly more vitamins than cow's milk. But there is one exception: Since vitamin B12 is only contained in animal products, this vitamin is completely absent in soy milk.
- Soy and soy milk is rich in isoflavones. These are phytochemicals that are similar to the human sex hormone estrogen. There are various studies on the effects of these isoflavones: some say that these plant substances would protect the cells, other studies classify them as cancer-promoting.
Conclusion: soy milk is a good alternative
Soy milk is a good alternative to cow's milk, especially for people with lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance. If you eat vegan or vegetarian, you get important nutrients from soy milk. However, you then have to make sure that you get enough vitamin B12 from other foods. Overall, soy milk is not significantly healthier than cow's milk, for example. In addition to soy milk, there are other milk alternatives:
- Almond milk
- oat milk
In our next post, you will find out whether drinking tap water is healthy.