Soy milk, produced when soybean is ground and mixed with water, is supposed to be an excellent substitute for milk for people who are lactose-intolerant or vegans. Soy milk is also supposed to be more nutritious than dairy milk - it has as much calcium and more Vit A & D and fiber than dairy milk - without the lactose, cholesterol & saturated fats of milk.
Soy milk is a great source of protein, Vit B1, B2, B6 & magnesium. It is an excellent choice for people trying to lose weight as it is devoid of cholesterol, saturated fats and is high in fiber.
The other purported benefits of soy milk are:
- It contains prebiotic sugar that boosts immunity and helps decrease toxicity
- Being low in saturated fats & cholesterol, it can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease
- It contains 'isoflavones' that are believed to help reduce the risk of certain cancers, lower cholestrol levels, ease menopause symptoms, prevent osteoporosis & reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, particularly prostate & breast cancer
- Soy milk contains only vegetable protein which cause less loss of calcium through the kidneys
Non-flavored soy milk is rather unappetizing, though you may just like its peculiar taste, but there are a number of flavors available in the market today, such as vanilla, strawberry, chocolate etc. 'Soyfit' is one of the brands widely available in Indian metros.
(Photo courtesy : Kolkata Mirror)
