Soy milk

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Soy milk

Soy milk or soya milk is the liquid extraction processed from soybeans after soaking, grinding, cooking and straining. Tofu is produced from soy milk by further steps of curdling and then draining.

In China, soy milk is a popular drink, now even available at Western fast food restaurants such as Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. Soy milk is one of the canonical Chinese breakfast foods. There are great regional and personal variations in the preparation. Soy milk can be found hot or cold, sweetened or unsweetened, or even with added vinegar or chile oil. Soy milk is sometimes called "soy drink" as well. Commonly, it is sweetened and thickened through boiling until some of the water evaporates, and the final product is drunk cold.

In Japan, cow milk now far exceeds the popularity of soy milk. So much so that cafés that offer soy milk tend to be foreign franchises rather than domestic ones. Soy milk is almost always available at tofu shops, and most supermarkets in Japan.

In the Western packaging, soy milk looks very similar to cow's milk. Its nutritional content is quite similar, except some vitamins are usually added artificially including Vitamin B12 and calcium. It naturally has about the same amount of protein as cow milk. This soy milk is quite different from that found in Asia: it is thinner and often adulterated with vanilla or chocolate flavoring.

Soy milk has the same texture and appearance as cow's milk, however regular soy milk does not contain significant amounts of calcium, since the high calcium content of soybeans is bound to the insoluble constituents and remains in the okara. Therefore, many manufacturers of soy milk sell calcium-enriched products as well.

Soy milk has increased in popularity in the West, where it is seen as a substitute for cow's milk, because of perceived advantages over cow's milk in nutrition, palatability and environmental impact. Soy milk contains no lactose, which is good for the many people who are lactose intolerant.

Flavored soy milk can come in plain, vanilla, chocolate, or a variety of other flavors. Some have added vitamin B12 and calcium, and it can be sweetened with apple juice.

Soy milk can be used as a replacement for cow milk in most types of recipes. It is commonly found in many vegan and vegetarian food products. While the impact is low in products such as pancakes, there is a noticeable difference when making foods such as macaroni and cheese or quiche.

Health

Soy milk is promoted as a healthy alternative to cow's milk for reasons including:

• Less antibiotics, hormones, fat, cholesterol, excess protein, or links to cancer, diabetes, and other diseases
• Phytochemicals reduce the risk of cancer
• Soy protein reduces the levels of cholesterol and lessens the incidences of atherosclerosis
• Diabetes management through its ability to control blood sugar levels
• Source of lecithin and vitamin E
• Lacks casein

However, the soy industry has also received criticism similary to the dairy industry for reasons including:

• High levels of phytic acid
• Hemagglutinin content
• Processing of soybeans, including genetic modification

As most soy milk products clearly notify, soy milk is not suitable for babies or infants.

Economy

Using soybeans to make milk instead of raising cows is said to have ecological advantages, as the amount of soy that could be grown using the same amount of land would feed more people than if used to raise cows. Soybeans also replenish the soil.

Manufacturers

• AGD So Natural [1]
• Alpro [2]
• Eden Foods [3]
• 8th Continent [4]
• Kikkoman
• Nutrisoya [5]
• Plamil [6]
• Silk [7]
• Soy Dream [8]
• Yeo's [9]

See also

• almond milk
• rice milk
• soybean
• grain milk

References

• Template:Web reference simple
• Template:Web reference full

External links

• Soy Milk, Information on soy milk and how to make your own soy milk