7 Reasons Why Soy Milk Is the Best Milk Alternative for People with Milk Allergies Dec 15th 2018

Dairy is one of the most common allergens among infants and children. Between 2% and 4% of children have a milk allergy (that’s more than peanuts). Though many children outgrow it by the time they reach their mid-teen years, it can be an allergy that lasts for life.

In fact, between 15% and 75% of adults lack sufficient amounts of the enzyme needed to properly digest dairy products.

Soy milk for lactose intolerance is a better choice that lactose-free dairy products. That’s because lactose-free milk may be anywhere from only 75%-90% lactose-free. It’s impossible to get out all the lactose.

Read on to learn why soy is the best milk alternative.

What is Soy Milk?

A lot of people wonder if soy milk is dairy free, and yes, it is. Soy milk is a plant-based milk substitute. It is made from soybeans or soy protein isolate.

Soy milk is the natural byproduct of making tofu. Although soy milk can be made without making tofu.

To make soy milk, you need to soak and grind soybeans. Then you boil the mixture and strain the liquid to end up with soy milk.

The taste is mild and creamy. The best tasting soy milk comes from high-quality soybeans.

Soy milk is a favorite milk substitute for vegans and people who can’t drink cow’s milk.

Here are the top 7 reasons why soy milk is the best milk substitute on the market.

1. Closest Thing to the Real Deal

There are a lot of milk substitutes out there for people who have dairy allergies or intolerances. But if you compare them all in terms of nutrient balance, only one comes close to cow’s milk. And that’s soy milk.

Soy milk, like cow’s milk, is a good source of protein, calcium (when fortified), and potassium.

Soy (like cow’s milk) has all 9 essential amino acids your body needs to create new proteins. Some of these proteins will be used to make antibodies to help keep your immune system strong. Other proteins will go towards creating enzymes to help your cells create energy.

2. Soy Milk Gives the Highest Source of Protein

Out of all the plant-based milk substitutes, soy milk has the most amount of protein per cup.

Each cup of soy milk has 7 grams of protein. Cow’s milk gives 8g of protein so soy milk is pretty darn close!

Almond milk on the other hand, only has 2g of protein per cup. That means soy milk has 3 times as much protein in one cup.

Rice and coconut milk both have 0 g of protein. That’s right zero.

Just judging by the amount of protein you can clearly see that soy milk is the best milk substitute you can get.

3. Fights Cancer

Soy milk contains phytonutrients known as isoflavones, which have cancer-fighting properties. In fact, soy products are the richest sources of isoflavones available for humans to eat.

Studies show that high intakes of soy early in life may decrease the risk of breast cancer in adulthood. There are also some preliminary findings that link soy and decreased risk of prostate cancer.

4. Reduce Cholesterol Level

Another reason why soy milk is the best milk alternative is that it can help lower a person’s cholesterol levels.

Cow’s milk is a high-fat dairy source. In a cup of milk there are 5 grams of saturated fat, and 24 milligrams of cholesterol.

Saturated fat in your diet raises your levels of LDL (or bad) cholesterol. This leads to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

Soy milk, on the other hand, has no saturated fats or cholesterol. In fact, soy contains polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids that work to prevent cholesterol from getting into your bloodstream.

If you have high cholesterol, soy milk is your best bet for a milk substitute.

5. Soy Milk Can Help You Lose Weight

Soy milk is a great milk alternative if you want to lose weight. That’s because it has less sugar and calories than cow’s milk.

A cup of whole cow’s milk has 12g of sugar and 146 calories.

Rice milk gives you 120 calories in a cup as well as 22 grams of carbohydrate and 10 grams of sugar. It’s not a great choice for people with diabetes or those who want to drop more than a few pounds.

Soy milk only has 1g of sugar in a cup and just 80 calories for the same sized serving.

Plus, soy milk is full of fiber. Fiber helps you feel fuller longer which can be a big help in losing weight.

6. Prevent Osteoporosis

On of cow milk’s biggest selling points is that it is good for your bones and prevents osteoporosis.

Soy milk is the best milk substitute for preventing osteoporosis. Soy products are sources of phytoestrogen which helps your body absorb calcium for your bones.

Plus, you can get soy milk that is fortified with extra calcium and vitamin D for even more nutrients.

7. Low Sodium Content

On top of having a high manganese and thiamin content, soy milk is very low in sodium. It has just 51 mg of sodium per serving. That’s just 2% of your daily intake.

A low sodium diet is vital for people with high blood pressure.

Almond milk has 140mg of sodium per serving. That is more sodium than cow’s milk and so is not a good option for people who need to keep sodium levels down.

Soy Milk is the Best Milk Alternative

Thanks for reading! We hope you found these 7 reasons why soy milk is the best milk alternative informative.

Next, learn how to make your own homemade soy milk. It’s easier than you think!