There’s a certain level debate around the wellness benefits of soya milk. Some diet and nutrition experts say that soya boosts your wellbeing as it is a natural, plant-based source of protein, and research shows that soy milk lowers LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol in your body, which, in turn, reduces your risk of heart diseases. However, soya critics argue that the phytoestrogens found in soya are thought to interfere with a child’s development, so how do you decide?
First, let’s look at the difference between soya and cow’s milk. Aside from the previously-mentioned benefits of soya milk, it also has less saturated fat than cow’s milk, but cow’s milk, on the other hand, has more calcium than natural soya, as well as vitamins such as vitamin D and B12. Yet, these days commercially-made soy milk is often fortified to have calcium and nutrients similar to cow’s milk, and at the same time, cow’s milk now comes in low-fat versions that can be lower saturated fat than commercial soy milk. Both of these versions are excellent sources of protein and calcium, but, as soya products, together with a diet low in saturated fat, can help to lower LDL level, perhaps soya wins this round.
So what about people with gout? When you have gout, this means you have excessive levels of uric acid in your blood, and so crystal deposits to form in your joints, which causes inflammation and pain. As uric acid is derived from purine, which is found in protein-containing foods such as soya, many people think that if you suffer from gout, you should not eat any soy. However, this is not strictly true as soya products only contain a moderate amount of purine, and so, even if you have gout, can be consumed in moderate amounts as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
Finally, when it comes to cancer, there is a certain myth that dairy products ‘feed’ cancer cells, whilst soya, as it is plant-based, is better for cancer patients. However, this theory is not backed by any kind of scientific evidence. When you have cancer, or if you want to prevent it, you need a diet that’s high in protein and energy, both of which can be provided by soya and dairy products. However, the one exception to this is women with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, who should avoid soya supplements and excessive amounts of soya products.
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