Alternative Thinking: The Pros And Cons Of Soy Milk
Jan 21st, 2013 | By Alyson | Category: Alternative Health, Health | Print This Article
As a young girl growing up on a farm, the idea that milk was healthy was firmly implanted into my head. My family drank three glasses a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Nothing was sweeter than sitting down to a hearty meal complimented by a cold, creamy glass of milk. Unfortunately, this childhood pleasure did not age well. In a population that has a growing number of lactose intolerance, milk alternatives are making headlines. The controversy surrounding milk has produced an array of alternatives: soymilk, almond milk, goat’s milk, coconut milk, rice milk, and more! Confronted with all of these options, it’s easy to think forget it and stick to our routine ingestion of cow’s milk. This is the easiest way to address the issue, but is it the best? It’s important to be informed about what you’re eating. After all, your body will work for you if you work for it and the better quality you put into it, the better quality you get out of it. It’s a daunting task to find a replacement for deliciously satisfying cow’s milk, but we can start by looking at the good and the bad of the alternative options.
Cow’s milk contains a high concentration of lactose, which is hard on many people’s digestive system, and it can be rather high in fat. Many people who face lactose intolerance also face a sudden challenge in their daily lives. We aren’t always conscious of the amount of dairy we actually consume in one day. We realize the glass of milk accompanying our breakfast is high in lactose, but what about the creamer in our afternoon coffees? That little piece of chocolate you indulge in after school or work, the cheese that tops your healthy-choice salad, and even the bread on your sandwich can contain dairy and lactose. When lactose intolerance became more common in our Western culture, the need for alternatives was imperative.
As options began to invade markets, new reasons came to light to switch to alternative forms of milk. Our population is increasingly concerned with the treatment of animals as a means to achieve human luxuries. Vegans have to find alternatives to milk, as their strict diet doesn’t allow the consumption of any animal byproducts whatsoever. Another reason to switch to milk alternatives is to reduce your ecological footprint and make less of an impact on the environment. Whether you’re keeping an eye on your figure, exercising your ethical beliefs, or just looking to try something new, the best place to start is exploring the benefits and downfalls of the alternatives.
One of the most popular alternatives to milk is soymilk, also referred to as soya milk or soybean milk. Soymilk has been popular for centuries in Asian countries and recently has made its way onto the shelves at our local grocery stores. For those of you who haven’t taken the initiative to stop in this aisle and read the information on the side of the soymilk carton, it’s time to take a look at what the product has to offer.
Soy Milk: The Good
Soymilk burst onto the scene when concerns initially began to surface about cow’s milk. It’s made from the liquid that comes from mashed up soybeans mixed with water. If you take a look at the nutritional chart on the side of the container, soymilk boasts a much lower fat content than whole cow’s milk. Silk Soy Milk contains six grams of protein, zero lactose, and still boasts to be a great source of calcium. Soymilk has much lower fat content and less cholesterol than cow’s milk, so switching is definitely a favor to your cardiovascular system. Admittedly, all the health benefits are sounding pretty good right about now. A product that contains less fat and cholesterol but still offers calcium and protein—how can you go wrong?
Well, one obvious issue with soymilk is the taste. The taste of original soybean milk is rather plain, and definitely not identical to that of a cow’s milk. Depending on your preference, soymilk may taste better to you than cow’s milk. The original is rather plain, but there are flavors such as chocolate and vanilla. Worried it just doesn’t have the creaminess to add to your coffee in the mornings? Many reputable brands offer different forms of soymilk as well as flavors. There are often coffee creamer alternatives that make it versatile and easily added to every recipe. The flavors of soymilk are useful in cooking as well. Adding vanilla soymilk in place of (or in addition) to milk in a cooking recipe will enrich your dish with warm flavors.
Soy Milk: The Bad
So everything sounds great so far, and I bet you’re wondering why everyone hasn’t switch to the consumption of soymilk. But like most substances, this milk has some down sides as well. Although it’s high in nutrients and lower in fat than cow’s milk, one ingredient has caused a bit of ruckus in the health department. Soymilk contains natural compounds called isoflavones. These compounds have stirred up some concerns in the scientific community. Basically, isoflavones closely resemble the hormone estrogen. This hormone is present in everyone, although it is often recognized as the female sex hormone. Estrogen is very important to human development with many bodily functions including many sexual characteristics. By introducing a compound so similar to estrogen, we can cause a bit of confusion inside our body. The effects can vary depending on the individual, but the confusion our body endures after ingesting such a similar compound affects its own natural production of estrogen. Isoflavones have actually been proven helpful for women enduring menopause who may be lacking in production of their own estrogen; however, its effects on women of childbearing age are somewhat controversial.
Another con to soymilk is the unfortunate sugar content. Original soymilk generally contains about six grams of sugar in one serving, with even more in the flavored versions. So although it may have benefits for your cardiovascular system, the sugar content can weigh heavily on any weight-loss plan your employing, or simply take a toll on your general health.
The Verdict
As we’ve heard our entire lives, moderation is key. While it can be interesting and exciting to explore new food options, it’s important not to over do it with any food. Both soymilk and cow’s milk have their pros and cons. When looking for a milk alternative it’s essential to consider what your reasons are. If you need to improve your heart health or find you cannot tolerate lactose, soymilk can be a healthy alternative for you.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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Well, you’re wrong on both fronts regarding each type of milk. Pasteurized cow’s milk is the problem here, not raw milk. When milk is pasteurized it kills off most of the vital enzymes and good bacteria that you need to digest it. Raw milk, on the other hand, contains all 22 of our needed amino acids (pasteurized milk can’t say that). Since most of the world is lactose intolerant, raw milk contains those enzymes that make it easier to digest. Raw milk also contains butterfat which is high in CLA, which is a great cancer fighter. Raw milk is the best source of calcium because it has phosphate, which helps absob the calcium, pasteurized milk can’t say that. Raw milk also has natural vitalins such as A, K, C, E and B-Complex which makes it a living food. Pasteurized milk can’t say that either. Raw milk has getten a bad rap from the FDA because of the milk lobbyists but it has been shown in studies to be healthier than pasteurized milk.
Now, let’s go onto soy milk. Yes, you got it right concerning isoflavones and that is a major problem. These isoflavones are linked to cancer (breast, thyroid and prostate). But it gets worse. Soy contains high levels of phytic acid which blocks the absobtion of essential minerals in the intestinal track. Soy also contains goitrogens, which are substances that alter thyroid function. We can go even further about soy in that it has high aluminum levels which are toxic to our kidneys and nervous system. Soy is also processed with hexane, a petroleum-based solvent which is labeled as a neurotoxin by the CDC. Soy also removes the enzyme inhibitors which block trypsin and causes amino acid deficiencies. Finally, and this is a big one, almost 90% of soy is genetically modified (GMO) and we know for a fact that GMO’s have been linked to all types of diseases, cancer and other health-related issues.
You can find all of this information which I have finely detailed in my book, Warning! Your Healthy Diet May Be Killing You which you can find at:
http://www.YourHealthyDietIsKillingyou.com
Hope this information helps you make an informed and healthy decision.
Barry
how about almond milk?
Organic soymilk made from non-gmo soybeans (a crucial fact that Barry deliberately left out), is very healthy, and an excellent source of protein, especially when combined with whole grain cereal or bread. The problem with almond milk is that it has very little protein. It is great as an add-on, but not as your mainstay.
I, as European – American Minority or, more popular, Euro, try to help you not only to clear your minds about soy but about ANY AND EACH FOOD in USA. We are country fed with the most artificial and manipulated food on planet Earth. Soy tampered with GMO is just drop in the ocean. Are you ready:
A. “American Cheese” is horror storry for any European and manufacturers have guts to call that emulsion of unknown origin – “CHEESE”!!!
B. “Sliced White Bread” in plastic bags, 7 years fresh!!!??? Germans call it BAUMWOLLE BROT = cotton bread. Each and all Europeans encountered with it are horified. FRESH in any European language means “Made same day”.
C. Milk tampered with “homogenisation”, “low fat” etc. That milk never gets butter on the top regardless how long is kept in refrigerator. Tasteless.
D. “Yogurt”!!!??? Emulsion of low fat milk, dry milk, gelatine, starches and who knows how many other chemicals. Misfortunate American natives (anybody born in USA) are deprived of eating one of the greatest foods on planet Earth. Yogurt is nothing but NONhomogenised full fat milk, boiled, cooled on about body temperature, added up starter which is NOTHING BUT BACCILUS BULGARICUS, mix it up thorouglhly, cover and keep at about 85 – 95 Fahrenheit for 10-20 hours and you get REAL and only way Yogurt. Rest, what you see in the stores is scam.
E. I can list the rest of food and beverages sold in food stores. Chicken cooked in few minutes like rotten meat, brown – reddish bones, tasteless. Same as turkey. Impossible to get goose or ducks and their eggs in any stores as industrial breeding of them is not “economical”.
F. American “BEER” is horror storry, shame that unscrupulous corporates call it “BEER”.
Ad nauseatum. Just spend time in any European country and try REAL food and dairy products.
To add to Barry’s comment about raw milk:
The reason some folks have trouble with the lactos in pasteurized milk is that it is cut up in little pieces, making it much more easily digestible; to which the body says, “too much, too much!”
With all of Barry’s fear-mongering regarding soymilk, you would think that the Japanese people would have been riddled with chronic diseases, and have ceased to exist as a people a LONG time ago. Of course, that isn’t the case. In fact, prior to their adoption of a western diet, the Japanese had MUCH lower incidences of chronic diseases, and cancer was almost unheard of. Obviously, it wasn’t raw milk that kept them so healthy in the past, because for the most part, as a race, they’re lactose intolerant. But the Japanese eat LOTS of soy, and they used to eat a lot more in the past. Just as an anecdote, my own 4 kids were raised on soymilk after they were weaned, and they virtually never go to the doctor because they are in perfect health. Their checkups are always great. And Barry’s alarming claims about isoflavones are simply not true. The facts, statistics, and the science are against his position. But I do notice that Barry has a book to sell. Conflict of interest Barry? BTW, I do have an MS degree in Nutrition.
Or may be, Barry is on payrol of MONSANTO?
Reply to FLOXBU,
You may have a degree in Nutrition but you did not demonstrate much knowledge or insight in your comment on Barry s reply .
The japanese have not been processing their soy in large food destrution plants like we do here in North America …
and they were smart enough to avoid cultivating genetically modified soya .
So much for your accusation of Barry ,
and by the way … why dont you start traveling a bit and get an education
and I would definitely recommend you read Barry s book before shouting the shit all over the net
and then if you ever travel to asia , you may observe that the differentiation of genders is less intense than in other races that have not been consuming soya for generations.
Then as a researcher …you may ask yourself why there is an observable higher percentage of cathoeys, ladyboys or transexuals in Asia.
A far as America and Europe are concerned , it seems that the number of transgender persons has increased darmatically in the last 20 years following the introduction of soya as a miracle plant in our diets. Now it is everywhere , in all processed food preparations .
Of course there are other hormone disruptors as found in plastics etc. and all this could be the subject of a” scientific study “
Sirs, all your articles are useful in particular situations and educational but you as each and every American just beat around the bush. Regardless if you are leftist or conservative, you do not or are afraid to confess that you really know the CAUSE OF EVIL!
Only few REAL patriots fearless and disdaining CORPORATE momnsters, define EVIL which if not eliminated, will eliminate us!
I am including their diagnosis and you think and do about it, do not find some petty excuses.
Bishop Jaroslav Hus
“The Meek Shall Inherit the GULAG ARCHIPELAGO”
“Christianity ==Bolshevism with mask of Religion.
Bolshevism == Christianity without mask of Religion”.
Tsun:
USA is destilled essence of Bolshevism.
Only way to get rid of Bolshevism LEGALLY is to kill your internal Electronic Bolshevik aka TV. Shoot in your TV.
Razin
“We are sitting here in our own happy little state of oblivious cyber-nirvana while bolshevik corporate slaughter knives are being sharpened.
We need to quit being mere observers of our own destruction.”
Nick
“Follow the markets according the advices of Brokers, Any media, Newsletters, your own instincts and do not blame me but
Face facts. When did the markets ever let the mass of traders, the unfortunate suckers, take home any money? How about never. This time won’t be any different.
Remember Bernie Madoff? He was a piker, a penny ante street-level con artist, next to the crimes Wall Street and the major bankers have pulled.
Gothe
“None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.”
Glavasic
And that makes all the difference thus will ultimately result in our destruction: because our political, spiritual and economic leaders are corrupt, immoral, low-life scum that secretly collaborate with our worst foes thus insidiously work against our real interests. WAKE UP! Christianity was a big mistake and sin and an insidious ploy to perfidiously tie our hands and render us helpless as the ideal victims for other races and religions.
I like milk, fresh from the cow, leave plenty of cream in it and use the rest for real butter. Unfortunately it has been 40 years since I’ve enjoyed natural milk.
Beware the BigAg hype on soymilk.
Used to be isoflavones were touted as a good thing, for their health benefits – till soymilk started eating into the profits of the megadairy corporations. Then the scare machine and its BS Doctor Nicks started cranking up.
The fact is, phytoestrogens or isoflavones have about ONE FIVE HUNDREDTH the hormone impact of regular estrogens, which by the way are natural and normal in men as well as women. That’s just how it is.
What, you think eating soy is going to somehow effeminize you? Ask the GI’s back in WW2 if they thought they were up against a bunch of hormonally imbalanced castratees. No. Soy is like everything else a perfectly good and normal food – just get the organic non-GMO stuff. In fact after my researches, I’ll take it over the dairy stuff any day.
The mainstream media are controlled by big money. Stop buying their soy scares.
as a person going through menopause, I found that if I ingest any thing with soy in it I have bad hot flashes for about a day or 2 afterwards. The more I eat organic foods and avoid processed any thing the better I feel and avoid soy, cooking in plastic or in Teflon covered pans,because this just aggravates my hot flashes and makes me feel like crap.