Soymilk and Soy Products: Good or Bad?

[Afra]

I always see soy milk and soy products in the store every time I go shopping, but the thing is, I have never really had any of these products until two weeks ago, while I was cleaning one of my friend's houses, for which I get paid.

My question is: are soy products good for you and your heart as manufacturers claim they are or are they some more artificial, junk foods that must be avoided? The first time I saw the soy milk in my friend's house, I did not really have the heart to drink some to see what this milk tastes like. After a while, I drank some, just to satisfy my curiosity. I realized it didn't taste as bad as I thought it would! hehe

I bought some for my own home last week and everyone drank it all. I never really got a such a burning curiosity about soy products that I have now. I can read labels, but the problem is, sometimes I am confused about what some of the products listed on the cartons are, having never heard of those products before. If anyone can respond to this topic, I would greatly appriciate it!

[Svadhisthana]

Afra, Soy isn't junk food. Soy contains plant estrogens that are sometimes hard to find in other foods. Soy can be a wonderful substitution for those who cannot drink cows milk. If you have a local health food store you will find that soy comes in many forms; milk, tofu, butter, and yogurt. A common substitute for meat is TVP(textured vegetable product), this is also soy. I enjoy using soy milk (flavored) in smoothies in place of milk. If you have more questions you can ask your grocer. I hope this helped.

Svadhisthana

[nancya]

yuck yuck yuck yuck yuck yuck yuck.

I used to be a vegetarian and I tried a lot of soy meat substitutes and I never found one that I liked. Yucky texture. Yucky flavor. Generally yucky. I never tried the soy milk because I was too afraid it would be yucky too.

I know. A lot of people like them a lot. They are full of good protein and isoflavons. Give me soy in a pill!

[Mezzaluna]

I tried the unflavored Silk once. It was good after I used sweetener and a little vanilla. Since I don't usually drink milk and I found it quite expensive, I haven't bought it since.

[Nick.Shu]

i drink soy milk in flat whites as a rather futile attempt to avoid dairy products (of which im quite allergic to).

However, there is a side effect that rather concerns me, and that is the phytoestrogens.

Congratulate me, cause now im a c cup.

[markdchef]

There has been a lot of misinformation about soy and soy products. The all powerful and government subsidized dairy industry puts out most of this misinformation. The bottomline is that you need to expolore if you choose to explore and find products you like. I am completely dairy free and use Silk creamer for my decaf coffee. It is like drinking a latte. Very creamy and slightly sweet. Soy Dream is creamier than other brands of soy milk. For baking I use unsweetened Soy milk (Vitasoy). Soy helps reduce cholesterol, provides calcium and minerals as well as vitamins. The naturally occuring phytoestrogens are extemely beneficial to women and men in preventing some types of cancer. For women they help reduce the effects of menopause.

Tofu, if prepared properly, is tasty and can be prepared with various textures to please even the most ardent carnivore. Most if not all people are dairy intolerant. Dairy milk is for baby cows and not intended for human consumption. Human milk is intended for human babies only. All milk contains hormones that are intended to make the consumer grow fast and fat. So it does not matter if you consume low-fat, fat free or reduced calorie dairy products. Do not give up on soy because you tried it once. As far as cost consider this: if cow's milk were allowed to survive in a free market system it would cost pennies per quart. What do we pay now? There is a huge surplus of dairy yet the governement and the dairy industry are constantly finding new ways (chemicals) to produce more. Is there a coincendence in the rise of asthma, add, autism, ibd, Crohn's disease and obesity? Up until 3 years ago I consumed dairy. My allergies were severe every year and now they are almost non-existent. My skin is clear now. I never get colds or flu. My cholesterol and bp are normal now. Lost 35 lbs by giving up dairy. Try it for two weeks and if you are not convinced then go back. What do you have to lose?

check out notmilk.com for further info.

[SeattleDeb]

Originally posted by markdchef:
<STRONG>Is there a coincendence in the rise of asthma, add, autism, ibd, Crohn's disease and obesity? </STRONG>

...and children hitting puberty earlier?

[kokopuffs]

As more livestock is innoculated with growth hormones, some is probably transferred into the human body due to consumption. Hence, earlier puberty and taller offspring.

[Risa]

If you are considering drinking soy milk instead of cow's milk, just remember that not all soy milk products provide enough calcium (especially for women). Make sure to look for a calcium-enriched/fortified product. I actually like soy milk, especially the homemade stuff that my Chinese friends' parents used to make. It's sweeter and less chalky than some of the plain soy milk on the market.

I love other soy products. When I was a poor student, tofu was my main source of protein because it was only $0.99 per box at the Asian Market here. Now that I have more money, I still eat quite a bit of tofu!

[kokopuffs]

Nonfat yogurt is the food that has the highest concentration of calcium. Try making your own some time. Mackerel is very high in calcium, too.

Although I eat lots of tofu, always remember that it contains usually between 15% and 30% fat.

READ THE LABEL ON THE PACKAGE - all of you in this forum. ...as if y'all didn't already.



[ May 22, 2001: Message edited by: kokopuffs ]

[Nick.Shu]

iam rather sorry, was only joking.

But seriously, i do have quite a few allergies:

1)dairy
2)wheat
3)bananas
4)oats
5)mustards
6)whole egg
7)sodium metabisulphites
8)parieteria
9)Latex manufacturing compounds
10) citrus essential oils
11)tea tree oil
12)nickel and associated manufacturing compounds
13)tobacco
14)animal dander
15)dust mites
16)grasses

and probably a few others. How ever, first and formost, iam a chef and that is what i do best, pain and injury come second (and rather distantly)

Realistically, if iam to avoid each and every allergen, then i may as retire now.

back to soy, i know that it doesnt taste that great, but what are the alternatives?.

[markdchef]

Alternatives to soymilk are almond milk and rice milk. Great for cooking and baking.

Think tofu has no taste? Try White Wave Baked tofu's or Smoke and Fire tofu's.

If you are not allergic to wheat gluten then seitan is a great meat alternative.

[Afra]

Can we drink almond milk and rice milk as a beverage too? I have seen these in the store too but have not tried them yet. There's that one rice milk in the store called "Rice Dream", if I remember correctly.

[markdchef]

YES! Use just like dairy milk. In tea and coffee, by itself, in cereal, in cooking and baking and desserts.

[Afra]

Thanks for responding, Mark, I hope to try them soon!