Is Soya Milk Healthy ?

How do soya milk taste? Hmm… for me, it taste ‘moderate’ sweet and it is nice to drink especially during hot weather. Try to imagine, when you are under a hot sun, the temperature was too high and you almost faint (this is a bit over… haha :p), and suddenly a glass of milky white, sweet, cold soya milk in front of you, what will you do? (Made me feel wan to have a glass now :S lol)

As we all know that soya milk are well known for its benefits that can bring healthy to our body. Even some of the longest living people on earth have made soy milk a part of their daily diet for centuries. Soya milk contains powerful antioxidants that help fight disease and aging. They have been also found to increase bone density and strengthen the immune system. Adequate soy protein has been proven to lower and stabilize cholesterol levels and can be effective in preventing heart disease. Those are just some of its benefit. But, do you know that actually soy is not the healthy food or drink that you think is it. Why I said so? Ladies and gentlemen, today my blog topic will be discussed about

soya milk might bring harmful to our body.

Soya milk products have swept the nation as a healthy source of protein, with a good reputation, showing that being all natural and good for us. However, there is new studies arise some questions over whether the ingredients in soy might increase the risk of breast cancer in some women, affect brain function in men and lead to hidden developmental ab-normalities in infants.
The core of their concerns rests with the chemical makeup of soy: in addition to all the nutrients and protein, soy contains a natural chemical that can mimics the female hormone, the estrogen, Some studies in animals even show that this chemical can alter sexual development. And in fact, 2 glasses of soy milk per day, over the course of one month; it contains enough of the chemical to change the timing of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

How could this happen? Soybeans are reportedly contains an anti-nutrient called "phytic acid", which all beans do. But, soybeans contain a much higher levels of phytic acid if compared to any other legume. It cannot be denied that phytic acid also play an important role in contributing health benefit to our body. Phytic acid may be considered as a phytonutrient, providing an antioxidant effect. Its same mineral binding properties may also prevent colon cancer by reducing oxidative stress in the lumen of the intestinal tract. Researchers agree that phytic acid, found in the fiber of legumes and grains, is the major ingredient responsible for preventing colon cancer and other cancers.

BUT…

At the same time, this Phytic acid may block the absorption of certain minerals, including magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc. As we know that Zinc is the intelligence mineral because it is needed for optimal development and functioning of the brain and nervous system. It plays a role in protein synthesis and collagen formation; it is involved in the blood-sugar control mechanism and thus protects against diabetes; it is needed for a healthy reproductive system. Phytates found in soy products interfere with zinc absorption more completely than with other minerals. Epidemiological studies also shown that people in 3rd World Countries who have high consumption of grains and soy also commonly have deficiencies in these minerals. It must also be noted that this may be of particular concern with regard to babies who are using soy-based infant formulas as soybeans contain very high levels of phytate and they are numerous reports of reduced bioavailablity of various metals. The effects of phytate in soy-formulas are in great concern. The iron and zinc that required for infants developed are well documented, particularly those that relate to cognitive function. Therefore there is no question that infants fed soy-formulas are at greater risk of reduced uptake of various essential minerals compared with breast-fed infants or infants fed other formulas.

Phytic acid (also known as inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), or phytate when in salt form) is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially in bran and seeds. Its molecular formula is C6H18O24P6. Phytic acid is strongly negatively charged (six reactive phosphate groups) over a wide pH range, indicating tremendous potential for complexing or binding with positively charged molecules such as cations or proteins below the isoelectric point. The binding is possible within a phosphate group or between two phosphate groups on either the same or different phytic acid molecules; and the resulting structure is said to be a chelate compound

The molecular structural of Phytic acid

The major form in which phosphorus occurs in plants is myo -inositol -1,2,3,4,5,6 -hexakisphosphate, commonly referred to as phytic acid or InsP6. This compound forms mixed salts with various mineral cations, e.g. potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc (phytates), therefore affecting the nutritional quality of food. Minerals, when bound to InsP6, are hardly or not absorbed in the intestine and are largely excreted, resulting in iron and zinc deficiencies

Let compared the good effect and the bad effect that the soya milk can bring to us

The benefit of drinking soya milk: (others than the above benefit)

1. Soy milk contains only vegetables proteins (vegetarian friendly)
2. Soy milk contains no lactose where it can boost immunity and help decrease toxic substances in the body.
3. Fewer people are allergic to soy milk
4. Soy milk does not cause insulin dependent diabetes
5. Soy milk reduces cholesterol
6. Soy milk is rich in isoflavones

While the bad effect that can bring to our body:

1. Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
2. Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
3. Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.
4. Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.
5. Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B12.
6. Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines

How to reduces the phytic acid in our daily life's food ??

Refer the pictures below

Actually everything has their own pros and cons, it just depends on how you think and the way you view it. If you are a soya milk lover, I hope after you see this page wont affect your love towards the soya milk. ;) CHEERS