To replace milk, people who are lactose intolerant, or vegan, opt for different vegetable drinks. Besides, almond, oat, rice or coconut milk, soy milk is also a popular drink that can be purchased under different flavors or prepared at home. But although it is an excellent alternative to cow's milk, is soy milk good for your health? Zoom on this product.
Soybeans, originally from Asia, belong to the legume family. This ingredient can be consumed in various forms, including tempeh, tofu or milk. Soy beverage, especially, is very popular because it is one of the best alternatives to cow's milk.
Soy milk is obtained by boiling, grinding and filtering soybeans. It can easily be prepared at home or bought in supermarkets, where it is often enriched with vitamins and minerals and comes in different flavors (vanilla, chocolate ...), to improve its taste.
This product is very rich in high quality protein, with low fat intake and lactose free, making it a food of choice for lactose intolerant people.
However, in recent years, soy milk has been blamed by health professionals. And for good reason, the quality of soybeans used for its preparation.
Indeed, we must know that 70% of the soybean production in the world is GMO. Remember that genetically modified products are those that have undergone a change in their genetic make-up, so that they can tolerate herbicides better. The exposure or consumption of these products is not without health effects, because they have been linked to higher risks of cancer.
Soy milk has also been criticized for:
Its connection with hypothyroidism
The consumption of soy-based foods has been linked to decreased thyroid function. Indeed, a study carried out by the University Loma Linda in California, in the United States, proved it by following the diet of 800 people. Women (unlike men) who ate 2 servings of soy food per day were actually 4 times more likely to have high TSH. TSH is the hormone secreted by the pituitary gland to make the thyroid work. When it is high, it means that the thyroid does not produce enough hormones and therefore does not work optimally.
Its aluminum richness:
Processes for the industrial manufacture of soy milk lead to alteration of its proteins and may also increase its aluminum content. The soy milk is heated to very high temperatures and is placed in aluminum tanks to remove the acid. During this procedure, aluminum particles can be found in the milk. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Keele in the United Kingdom, soy milk contains 0.7mg of aluminum / L, more than 3 times the amount tolerated in water. The consumption of soy milk therefore exposes to high doses of aluminum, a metal that can be toxic, affects the health of the bones and can even promote Alzheimer's.
Its hemagglutinin content:
Soy, and soy milk, contain hemagglutin, a substance known to promote blood coagulation due to its agglutinating action on red blood cells. This substance can cause blood clots, which in turn can lead to many health problems.
The presence of phytic acid:
Phytic acid is a biomolecule that is found in the seeds of several legumes, such as soybeans, nuts and cereals. This acid is also known as anti-nutrient because it has the ability to associate with certain minerals and thus limits absorption to the intestines during digestion. These include magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron among others.
Its large amounts of phytoestrogens:
Soy is very rich in phyto-estrogens (isoflavones), hormones that have the ability to mimic the role of estrogens and that can have an effect on hormone-dependent cancers, including breast and prostate cancer. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center, soy products can stimulate the growth of cancer cells at the breasts. But the results of studies that try to link soy to cancer remain divergent.
The content of soy isoflavones can also affect the fertility of men. Indeed, according to a study conducted by the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, a significant intake of isoflavones has been linked to a reduction in fertility in the animals studied, because it can decrease sperm concentration.