Is soy milk really that bad for you?

Question

Ive been reading about how bad soy milk is for you and how it can give you breast cancer and too high on estrogen. But is it really that bad for you? or can i continue to drink a glass each day? i really do not like milk

Answer 1

Soya proteins contain isoflavones that can mimic a weak oestrogen effect. It's not the same as the oestrogen the body makes though - it is 1,000 times weaker than the body's oestrogen. So unlikely to have any effect on your oestrogen levels, especiially eaten in moderation.

There are other plants that contain oestrogen too.

There is NO scientific evidence that soya causes, prevents, contributes to or affects the progress of cancer, including oestrogen positive breast cancer, which is the one most often cited. In fact, there are those in the field who argue that isoflavones may be of help in preventing breast cancer or be beneficial to women who have had breast cancer.

There is current research into whether increasing phyto-oestrogens in the diet helps to prevent breast or prostate cancer, and a study in 2002 found that women with the highest levels of soya products in their diets had the lowest breast density. Higher breast density is associated with higher breast cancer risk.

In addition, women with the highest levels of isoflavones in their diet are reported to have significant risk reductions for uterine cancer.

So don't worry about replacing milk with soya milk.

Edit** Perhaps I should add - I have had oestrogen dependent breast cancer and was never once advised against soya. - it seems to be people with very little knowledge of the disease who assume it's a risk

Answer 2

You're fine drinking a glass each day. Honestly, if you drink a glass of non organic milk each day you're exposing yourself to hormones and chemicals that could be harmful to your body. Although soy milk does contain estrogen, one glass a day should not hurt you. They do however say that young children should not be consuming soy milk because it can affect their development. As long as you're not drinking it  a ton, you'll be just fine. Hope I helped!

Answer 3

Soy milk is good for you, especially for women :)

it helps with menstraul problems.

Its been proved that women in asian countries do not get menstrual pain , as they have a diet high in soy products.

Answer 4

Instead of dairy milk and soy, you could also try:

A nut milk (i.e.) almond milk

OR

Rice milk

Almond milk can even be made at home.

.

Answer 5

as far as I know, soy milk is healthier for you than cows milk because it doesn't come from an animal. it is totally plant based.

Answer 6

well i dont know but i think it is.. some ppl r used to drinking it but when i drink it i  really feel like i want ot throw up .. i mean its okay but not the best milk u really want to drink :) LOL

Answer 7

Check out the truth on soy page at Compassionate Cooks. She's put together a bunch links to articles debunking the claims by Weston Price and Mercola who advocate some really goofy dietary practices themselves (eating a lot of organ meats for instance) while making the unbacked claims about soy.

http://www.compassionatecooks.com/all_ab...

She also wrote up her own piece about the soy myths and slander:

http://www.compassionatecooks.com/blog/2...

There is no reason you, or anyone (unless they are allergic), can't enjoy whole food soy products especially if they are organic which avoids the genetically modified soy that is unstudied but is proving problematic for people.

Ironically, the processed food industry is full of soy isolates and even those who think they consume little or no soy are taking in a lot and often more than those in Asian countries. Because veg*ns eat so much less processed foods avoiding the animal products we likely consume less soy than those eating the standard Western diet.

Realize the following is an industry website so they are gushing about the positive qualities but it does give an idea of just some of the many products soy is in that people never consider:

http://www.soyconnection.com/soyfoods/pr...

However, you can also add the many other milk substitutes to your diet which include rice, oats, hazelnut, almond, hemp and coconut milks. Homemade hemp milk is simply amazing.

Another thing to consider is fortified soy milk is essentially paying extra for a vitamin pill in liquid form. For 50 cents or so a carton it's likely less expensive to buy a good supplement which you have more control over and swallow it with the soy milk.

Finally, an article about why soy is good for males too:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn...

Answer 8

Personally I think it takes disgusting so I dont drink it anyway.

If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, it may be a good idea to leave it alone.

Its your choice - its your life.

Answer 9

I stopped drinking soy milk because it makes me extremely ill.

I couldn't breathe and I had a stomachache for 2 days.