Soy Milk is a common substitute for dairy milk, and is often used in place of cow’s milk for those who are lactose intolerant and those who wish to eat a healthier diet.
Out of all the alternative milks out there, here are the top 6 reasons why soy milk may be healthier for you as compared to dairy milk:
- Prevents cancer
- Reduces menopause symptoms
- Improves sleep
- Prevents wrinkles and improves skin health
- Prevents depression & improves mood
- Helps with weight loss
It provides an excellent source of protein and nutrients, including iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. Sometimes, it is fortified with Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D too.
It also contains no cholesterol, saturated fat, added sodium, or trans fats.
For those following a vegan diet, soymilk is an excellent alternative to dairy milk, providing good nutritional value without the use of animal products.
Lactose intolerance gives you symptoms similar to a milk allergy or dairy allergy, where your body is unable to digest lactose. This results in uncomfortable bloating and gas. A majority of human beings are lactose intolerant once you grow up beyond childhood.
We at Sampoorna Ahara want you to choose the healthiest options, so we've put together a list of reasons why soy beverages might be preferable to cow's milk and milk products.
1. It can help prevent cancer.
You might have heard about the benefits of consuming milk and yogurt, but did you know that they can actually lead to an increased cancer risk, especially risk of breast cancer?
Milk contains animal proteins and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), which may stimulate the growth and proliferation of cancer cells in the body. There are other factors like bovine sex hormones too.
A recent study found that replacing dairy milk with soy milk may help reduce risk of breast cancer by 32%.
So, if you're trying to reduce breast cancer risk, make sure you replace your dairy products with non-dairy products like almond milk, cashew butter and vegan cheese.
2. Menopause symptoms may be reduced by taking soy products.
If you're experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, then soymilk could be the answer to your prayers.
Estrogen drops during peri-menopause, and often times, women take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to alleviate these symptoms.
But, there has been a growing trend of how soymilk can actually help with hot flushes and night sweat. Isoflavones found within soymilk act in a very similar fashion as estrogen, however, they are much weaker.
Simply adding a cup of soymilk to your morning meal or snacking on dry roasted beans after lunchtime can help ease the symptoms associated with perimenopause.
4. It can help you get better quality sleep at night.
Research shows that drinking soymilk can actually improve your sleep quality.
It contains the amino acid tryptophan, which acts as a precursor to help your body produce melatonin. In turn, melatonin helps induce sleep.
If you find it difficult to fall asleep at night, then try drinking some soya milk before going to bed. Kids can drink soymilk too.
4. It can help prevent wrinkles and improve skin health
Soy beans contain lots of polyunsaturated fats, and they have many antioxidants that help protect your body from free radicals.
If you're out in sunlight a lot, and if your facial features are frequently subjected to sunlight, then consuming soy milk could be an effective way to keep your skin looking young and fresh.
5. It may help prevent depression and boost your spirits.
Dairy products carry certain opioids known as casomorphins.
These are responsible for making calves slightly 'addicted' to their mother's milk so they consume enough of it in their infancy. Unfortunately, casomorphins tend to affect human brains in a similar way.
Switching to soya milk can help you avoid consuming these naturally occurring chemicals and improve your brain function, balance your moods and help you prevent depression too.
Apart from improving mental health, soy milk may even help reduce risk of heart diseases by helping you avoid inflammatory dairy products. It is a fantastic alternative to cow's milk.
6. It may support your weight loss goals.
Because dairy products have cholesterol and saturated fat, they tend to contribute to your body weight.
If you replace them with soya milk, soya curds, tofu and tempeh, you would be able to reduce your cholesterol and saturated fat intake.
Also, in case of whole soya beans and tempeh you can even improve your fiber intake.
All these help stabilise your blood sugar levels, improve metabolism, help you feel full and support your weight loss goals.
As a bonus, soya milk also contains all the essential amino acids you need for a healthy nutritional profile!
Nutritional Profile of Soy Milk
Soy milk contains 3.3 grams of protein per 100 ml, similar to cow's milk. It also contains all the essential amino acids you need for optimal health.
Out of all the plant-based milks out there, unsweetened soy milk may contain the best protein quantity, even more than oat milk or almond milk.
It is a fantastic idea to include soy milk as one of the alternative milks to cow's milk as art of a balanced diet.
Risk of allergic reactions are low as reports of soy allergy are rare compared to peanut allergy or cashew allergy.
Miso paste, another soya product, has been show to help reduce blood pressure and improve heart health. Perhaps the same phytochemicals in miso are present in soy milk, but this is yet to be studied for these health conditions.
Celebrities who drink alternative milks like soy milk
1. Mallika Sherawat
Mallika Sherawat has followed a vegan lifestyle for a long time, even before it became the trend it is today.
She has supported several animal rights organisations and plant-based nutrition programs in India and abroad.
2. Jacqueline Fernandez
Jacqueline Fernandez has adopted a vegan lifestyle for several years now, and eats a meat-free, dairy-free diet. She often speaks out against animal cruelty.
Which kind of milk do you usually drink, and why?
Resources
- Looking to include more plant-based milks in your diet? Make them in a jiffy with our smooth nut butters. All you have to do in add water and mix them - use a hand blender, mixie of even a spoon and that's it! You've got fresh plant-based milk. They are sugar/jaggery-free, oil-free, salt-free and preservatives-free too. Get Sampoorna Ahara's nut butter bundle here
- Get flavoured milks made with plant-based milks door delivered. Enjoy delicious flavoured milks that are sugar/jaggery-free and completely vegan now!
- Book an online consultation with Dr. Achyuthan Eswar to understand more about specific lifestyle changes and how you can adopt them
- Subscribe to our 100% whole food plant based Diabetes meal plan, designed to help prevent and better manage diabetes from the comfort of your home - Bengaluru only
- Stock up on delicious and diabetic-friendly sweets and snacks that are sugar/jaggery-free, oil-free, maida-free and plant-based - Available Pan-India