If you are allergic to cow’s milk, your best alternative for calcium and other nutrients is soy milk.

Apart of being a course of calcium, drinking soy milk has many benefits. I have blogged about the benefit of soy products and I must stress again that soy milk is really good for you and here is why:

1. Soy milk contains Vegetable Proteins

Vegetable proteins have the advantage that they cause less loss of calcium through the kidneys. It is known that a diet rich in animal (and dairy protein) creates a higher risk for osteoporosis.

2. Soy milk contains no Lactose

About 75 percent of the world population cannot tolerate lactose. Some ethnic groups are more affected than others. For example 75 percent of Africans and 90 percent of Asians have lactose intolerance. As an additional benefit, soy milk contains the prebiotic sugars stachyose and raffinose. These prebiotic sugars boost immunity and help decrease toxic substances in the body.

3. Soy milk reduces cholesterol

Cow’s milk contain saturated fat and obviously this is unhealthy and can increase your cholesterol. On the other hand, soy protein can decrease cholesterol levels. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration of US) has also confirm that soy protein, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart. The FDA recommends to incorporate 25 grams of soy protein in your daily meals.

4. Soy milk contains no hormones

Cow’s milk contains natural hormones (from the cow) but also synthetic hormones, which can influence the good working of our own body. The synthetic hormone rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) increase milk production by as much as 20 percent.

5. Soy milk is rich in isoflavones
Each cup of soy milk contains about 20 mg isoflavones (mainly genistein and daidzein). Cow’s milk does not contain isoflavones. Isoflavones have many health benefits including reduction of cholesterol, easing of menopause symptoms, prevention of osteoporosis and reduction of risk for certain cancers (prostate cancer and breast cancer). Incidents of these cancers are very low in countries with high intake of soy products, including soy milk. Isoflavones are also antioxidants which protect our cells and DNA against oxidation.