I’ve recently switched from dairy to soy milk. Am I missing out on any nutrients?
If your concern is calcium, you’re better off with cow’s milk. You’d have to drink three times as much of the soy beverage to match the calcium supply in regular milk. It also has vitamins D and B-12, which aren’t in soy.
So why the hype over soy milk? Like dairy milk, it is a great source of protein. And while both kinds have fat (unless you buy the fat-free versions), soy milk’s fat is the healthy unsaturated kind that improves cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease. And because soy is made from beans, it’s a good source of fiber and isoflavones, plant estrogens that help ward off osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer.
If you’re lactose intolerant, vegan, or have a history of heart disease or high cholesterol, enjoy your soy. Just make sure you choose the enriched version, along with a daily calcium supplement, and don’t skimp on nutrient-rich greens.
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