Soy Milk Benefits for Good Health

Soy is a highly-nutritious legume that can nourish your body with its healthy levels of nutrients. Soy milk is extracted after boiling the legumes in water and is ideal for people who cannot tolerate lactose products. After packaging, some varieties of soy milk can be stored at room temperatures without the risk of spoiling. If you do wish to gain the complete soy milk benefits, it is advisable that you choose the product that does not contain high doses of sugar or any other unhealthy additives. Manufacturers may add these foods to enhance the taste, but that can take away from the positives.

Soy Milk Benefits for Your Health

Soy milk has a rich content of protein which makes it beneficial for vegetarians and vegans who rely on plant sources for their protein. It also contains various other minerals and vitamins that are ideal for overall health. Here are some of the soy milk benefits you can avail of.

Helps Relieve Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause brings with it several symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety and depression, lack of libido and low energy levels, and various others. In addition, menopause may make women susceptible to heart diseases and stroke. These effects are typically the cause of waning levels of estrogen in the body. Soy can replace the estrogen and assist with the symptoms because of the phytoestrogens or plant estrogens that it contains. Further, the soy isoflavones and their antioxidant effects are beneficial for the heart.

Strengthens the Heart

As mentioned above, one of the key soy milk benefits is the for the heart. Soy contains the essential amino acids and isoflavones that lower the bad LDL-cholesterol and serum cholesterol levels. Given that this healthy beverage can lower blood pressure especially in people with Type 2 Diabetes, soy is effective in improving the health of your heart. Further, soy contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that prevent cholesterol from entering your bloodstream or building up on the walls of your arteries. The suppleness of your arteries allows the free flow of blood and prevents hypertension.

Provides a Beneficial Dose of Antioxidants

While soy has a generous dose of antioxidants, by eating tofu or curdled soy milk, you can also get hepatoprotective benefits that lower oxidative stress and damage. These properties are especially helpful for preventing damage to your liver and strengthening it.

Helps Build Healthier Bone and Tissue

A regular intake of soy milk can also lower the risk of osteoporosis or brittle bones that result from calcium deficiencies. Although soy milk does not contain calcium, manufacturers typically fortify the milk with the mineral. The properties of soy allow the body to absorb the calcium and build healthier bones. Soy milk also contains all nine essential amino acids that the body needs to repair and rebuild worn out tissues. In addition, the beverage contains enzymes that assist the cells in converting glucose into energy.

Protects Against Cancer

Because soy milk contains estrogen, it was earlier believed that consuming the beverage could cause breast cancer. However, new studies have found that one of the soy milk benefits is that it lowers serum estrogen levels and the resulting risk of cancer. Thanks to the phytoestrogens it contains, soy milk can also lower the risk of prostate cancer in men.

Prevents Obesity by Helping in Weight Loss

As compared to regular dairy milk, soy milk has a lower sugar content. In addition, drinking a cup of whole soy milk is likely to give you only 80 calories which is the same as a cup of skimmed milk. The best property of soy milk is that it contains monounsaturated fatty acid that prevents your intestines from absorbing fat. In addition, the fiber content in soy milk can help you remain satiated for a longer time in between meals.

Being a plant-based product, you can safely drink soy milk for its many benefits. However, it is advisable that you check with your medical practitioners and rule out allergies before you add it to your regular diet.