5 Health Benefits Of Drinking Soy Milk

Soy milk which is derived from soybeans is getting popular all over the world as a vegan alternative to cows milk. Soy milk is rich in protein but before we start consuming it regularly, we should get to know its health benefits and side effects. Soybeans has been part of South Asian diet in various forms for thousands of years which includes miso, tempeh, soy milk and soybean paste. Now it is getting popular in western countries too and USA is the largest soybean producer around the world now.

Soy milk is the extract got from grinding soybeans along with water. Soy milk is a good alternative for people who are allergic to cow milk and for vegans who are looking for high protein plant based options. China, Japan and Korea are the largest consumers of soy products including soy milk.

# Cardiovascular Benefits

Consuming soy protein regularly has a protective effect and greatly helps reduce LDL cholesterol. It has been proven in almost 38 studies that intake of 47 gram of soy protein reduce total cholesterol by 9.3%, LDL cholesterol by 12.9% and triglycerides by 10.5%. The important point to note is whole soy foods like soy milk produced the best results when compared to processed soy foods. This is due to the high amount of fiber, protein and isoflavones present in soybeans.

# Anticancer Properties

In a study done on 73000 Chinese women, there was a significant correlation between high whole soy food intake and reduced risk of premenopausal cancer risk. Also consuming whole soya products during adolescence regularly reduced the risk of breast cancer in later years and you can read the study that supports this claim here. Anticancer effect is due to the presence of high amounts of isoflavones. Soy based products also has a positive effect on prostate cancer.

# Good For Menopausal Women

The isoflavones in soy milk is a phytoestrogen meaning they can activate estrogen receptors. Though it cannot activate estrogen receptors like a real estrogen, it does have a significant effect. Consuming soy products including soy milk is associated with reduced risk of developing breast cancer in menopausal women and also reduced mortality rate among women suffering from breast cancer.

Consuming soy products also reduces menopausal symptoms especially hot flushes. However when pre menopausal women consume soy products, it reduces follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone which results in increasing menstrual cycle length and the effect of this delay in menstrual cycle on our health is not known. Soy milk is rich in calcium and protein so it helps preserve density in menopausal women.

# Aids Weight Loss

Soy protein has beneficial effects on obesity. Consuming soy protein increases satiety, reduces excess body fat and improves insulin resistance. Soy protein also reduces fat accumulation in liver and adipose tissue thus preventing liver problems. Since soy is rich in protein, consuming a cup of soy milk will keep us satiated for a long time. If you are on a weight loss diet, try including soy milk in your weight loss diet regularly.

# Good For Diabetic Patients

The high protein content and high fiber content makes soy ideal ingredient for diabetic patients to include in their diet. Diabetic patients should try to include whole unprocessed foods like soy milk, tofu and tempeh instead of processed soy products like soy nuggets.