Health Benefits of Soy Milk (2024)

FAQs

Health Benefits of Soy Milk? ›

It's low in calories, high in protein, and rich in several vitamins and minerals — especially if fortified. Regularly drinking soy milk may improve your cholesterol levels, reduce high blood pressure, fight inflammation, and support weight loss or weight maintenance.

You can feel confident in drinking soy milk, says Hever, who follows guidelines from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) for moderate soy consumption: one to two servings daily of whole soy foods, including soy milk, edamame, soy nuts, and tofu.

If you have a history of kidney stones, avoid taking large amounts of soy. Milk allergy: Children who are very allergic to cow's milk might also be sensitive to soy products. Use soy products with caution. Bladder cancer: Soy products might increase the chance of getting bladder cancer.

The protein in soy milk is healthy, plant-based, and can help support healthy muscles and organs. Soy milk is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are “healthy” fats that your body cannot form on its own.

Supports weight loss: In soy milk has many nutrients but provides low calories. Therefore, soy milk is good for women in maintaining an ideal weight. Reduce symptoms of perimenopause and menopause: Soy milk contains a large amount of isoflavones, similar in structure to the female hormone estrogen.

Regularly drinking soy milk may improve your cholesterol levels, reduce high blood pressure, fight inflammation, and support weight loss or weight maintenance. A few downsides to consider are a higher cost compared with cow's milk and the added sugar content of flavored varieties.

Hormone levels.

Premenopausal women have much higher circulating levels of estradiol—the major form of estrogen in the human body—than postmenopausal women. In this context soy may act like an anti-estrogen, but among postmenopausal women soy may act more like an estrogen.

However, some worry about soy's potential downsides, including its GMO content, possible estrogen-like effects, and long-term influence on growth, digestion, sexual maturation, thyroid health, and breast cancer risk. Currently, few of these concerns are backed by strong science. However, more research is needed.

Soy contains isoflavones, which are converted in the body to phytoestrogens, similar to human estrogen that occurs naturally in both men and women. Theoretically, a high isoflavone intake could stimulate production of estrogen and decrease production of testosterone, with one result being enlarged breast tissue.

Soy is unique in that it contains a high concentration of isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that is similar in function to human estrogen but with much weaker effects. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and cause either weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity.

What is the healthiest milk to drink? ›

Healthiest milk to drink

Ultimately, cow's milk is the healthiest to drink if you can tolerate it. It has the most nutritional value. Cow's milk has many health benefits, such as helping to improve muscle mass and bone health. For regular milk drinkers, three cups per day is the standard.

Soy milk and other soy-based products like tofu are naturally high in B vitamins, potassium and magnesium. Soy milk is often fortified with other essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamin D, B12 and iron, all of which are important for a healthy diet.

Soy milk contains more protein than almond milk. Soy milk contains more heart healthy polyunsaturated fats. Almond milk is lower in calories compared to soy milk, and contains more heart healthy monounsaturated fats. Almond milk contains slightly more sodium than soy milk, and both milks do not contain lactose.

Possible benefits of soy

Menopause occurs when women experience a reduction in estrogen levels. Because soy isoflavones act similarly to estrogen within the body, they're sometimes credited with easing the symptoms of menopause. However, the American Heart Association states that this effect is somewhat unlikely.

While it's not as protein packed as soy milk, it still offers a decent amount. Oat milk often comes enriched with vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin D, making it a more rounded choice for those seeking nutritional benefits. Environmentally, oat milk scores some serious points.

Soy milk may have antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anticarcinogenic properties which can be extremely beneficial for the skin. Consuming soy milk and its products might assist in reducing skin pigmentation, controlling oil production, improving skin elasticity, and hydrating the skin.

Soy milk is a nutritious drink, loved by many people, but not everyone should drink it. People with stomach and intestinal problems, people with gout, people taking antibiotics, people after surgery should not drink too much soy milk.

Soy is a good source of low-fat and plant-based protein. It is cholesterol-free, has less saturated fat than cow's milk and lowers the LDL in the body. Cow's milk, on the other hand, has more calcium than natural soy. Calcium, as we know, helps to build bones and prevents osteoporosis.

Soy milk contains more protein than almond milk. Soy milk contains more heart healthy polyunsaturated fats. Almond milk is lower in calories compared to soy milk, and contains more heart healthy monounsaturated fats. Almond milk contains slightly more sodium than soy milk, and both milks do not contain lactose.

Drinking soy milk every day is a good way to get protein. One to two 8-ounce servings of soy milk per day is considered safe and will give you many of the same nutrients as cow's milk, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).