Do you seek a nutrient-dense dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk? Soy milk is an excellent choice. Because of its many health benefits, this plant-based milk has recently gained popularity. If you’re still on the fence about trying soy milk, here are eight compelling reasons you should.
Soy milk is a wise choice for health-conscious people. It can cut the risk of certain diseases and its influence on the environment. So, let’s look at the advantages of this dairy-free milk and how it can assist your general health.
What is Soy Milk?
Soy milk is a plant-based beverage from soybeans. It is a popular dairy milk alternative and plays a significant role in the global soy supply chain. You can use it alone or as an ingredient in drinks, meals, desserts, etc.
Soy milk is produced by combining soaked soybeans with water and filtering out the solids, resulting in a smooth liquid. It also comes in both unsweetened and sweetened versions. Unsweetened varieties usually contain filtered water, soybeans, salt, vitamins, and minerals. However, sweetened varieties feature added sugar, such as cane sugar, oil, salt, and vanilla extract for flavor, like cow’s milk.
For chocolate drinkers, some versions include cocoa powder in the mix for an even sweeter taste.
Reasons You Should Drink Soy Milk
1. May Build Muscle
Thanks to its unique protein content, soy milk is the master of alt-milks. Every cup of soy milk offers around 7 grams of protein; that’s 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance! This can help with muscle growth and development and is a significant source of lysine, an essential amino acid that helps make collagen.
Even better, this plant-based source of sustenance packs all nine essential amino acids. Thus, daily soy milk ensures you take all the amino acids needed for body processes like blood clotting and fluid balance.
2. May Improve Digestive Health
Another reason to drink soy milk is that it may improve digestive health. Soy milk contains a significant amount of fiber, around 2 grams for every cup. This fiber content is much higher than other dairy products, such as cow’s milk, which does not contain fiber.
The presence of fiber means that consuming soy milk can help improve your digestive health. It helps to soften stool as it travels through the digestive system, making it even easier to pass. This reduces the risk of constipation suffered by many people on high-fiber diets.
3. May Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response of the body to infection or wounds. It can be beneficial in healing and fighting off disease. However, when inflammation becomes severe, it can increase your risk for health conditions.
A recent review of seven studies found that consuming soy milk lowered two major proteins associated with inflammation in the body. This shows that by making careful dietary changes, you can influence inflammatory responses to reduce your risk of severe disease in the long term.
4. May Improve Brain Health
Soy milk contains key macronutrients and is an excellent source of choline. This important nutrient converts into the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which helps maintain memory and other brain and nervous system functions. Research shows that more choline can improve adults’ verbal and visual memory.
Fortunately, soy milk offers nearly 14 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for choline. So, if you’re struggling with foggy thinking, it’s worth considering adding this beverage to your regimen.
5. May Reduce Blood Pressure
Soy milk may reduce high blood pressure, according to a 2002 study. The small study had 40 participants with high blood pressure. They were then divided into two groups that consumed either soy or cow’s milk daily for three months.
By the end of the study, both groups saw decreases in their overall blood pressure. But those who received soy milk experienced a greater reduction; systolic blood pressure dropped by 92% and diastolic by 77%.
6. May Improve Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels can increase your stroke and heart disease risk. Yet, the good news is that you can make simple lifestyle changes to help improve your cholesterol. One of these changes is drinking soy milk, which can reduce LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides.
In a recent review of 8 studies, people who consumed between 1-4 cups of soy milk daily for 4-8 weeks experienced marked improvements in their cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This may be because soy milk contains proteins and isoflavone.
7. May Prevent Breast Cancer
Recent studies have shown that soy milk could help people lower their risk of developing breast cancer. In-vitro and animal studies in the past suggested otherwise. Yet, more recent human studies concluded that soy might be linked to reduced disease risk, particularly in premenopausal women.
8. May Improve Sleep
More recently, studies have suggested that soy milk may also improve sleep. Soy has an amino acid called tryptophan, which helps the body produce melatonin, or the “sleep hormone.” Also, soy milk contains isoflavone, a phytoestrogen that resembles estrogen in certain ways.
Estrogen affects both the length and quality of sleep. And consuming soy milk has been linked to a 64% improvement in sleep duration and a 91% improvement in sleep quality over a month, according to studies.
Bottom Line
Whether you are vegan or just seeking a nutritious substitute for cow’s milk, soy milk provides several health advantages for everyone. It is a fantastic source of the nutrients your body needs to function at its peak.
