verdict on soy milk? other lactose-free milk?

[cafe_kitten]

Hi all

Comments

[vegetus]

You might find the following useful:

http://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/health/soyaandhealth.aspx
http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/factsheets/safetyofsoya.html
http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/1979/reduce-risks/diet-exercise/nutrition-advice/other-foods-nutrients/soy-phytoestrogen-cancer/
http://daa.asn.au/for-the-public/smart-eating-for-you/nutrition-a-z/soy-foods/http://www.dietitians.ca/Nutrition-Resources-A-Z/Factsheets/Miscellaneous/Health-Benefits-of-Soy.

[joshthevegan]

This.

[lil_insanity]

I work in a coffee shop, and you have to pay extra for soy because soy milk is more expensive for us to purchase than cow's milk. (I know, it sucks.)

You'd have to consume a LOT of soy for any health risks to be a concern. Don't drink a gallon of soy every day, or base all of your meals around soy foods, and you'll be fine. There are some health conditions where doctors suggest you shouldn't have soy, such as hypothyroidism or interstitial cystitis, but a healthy person isn't going to experience ill effects from a few servings of soy per day.

You can also try rice or hemp milk. They're available at most health food stores.

[franklanguage]

The site I started with is Not Milk back in 2001. In fact, I quit dairy before I quit meat, because I heard a radio program a few days after the World Trade Center blew up, where the NotMilk man, Robert Cohen, was saying that if you wanted to produce less mucus and breathe easier-and at the time the air in New York City was full of soot raining down-you should quit dairy. Period. So I switched to soy, because that was what was most available at the time.

I've never limited my intake of soy foods, although I try to vary my intake of protein sources. Currently, my favorite non-dairy milk is oat milk, because it has a pleasant flavor and the brand-Pacific-I get doesn't add sweeteners to it.

Although I love tofu, I'm aware it's wise to eat more tempeh because it's a whole food that incorporates the whole soybean. Or, there are even Okara burgers that are made from the fiber that's left after the soymilk is extracted

[silent2long]

Soy is perfectly fine, especially if it is of the organic nature (much of the GMO nonorganic soy grown is to feed farm animals slaughtered for food so most omnivores are getting soy in their diet indirectly anyway, plus soy is in some teas, mayo, crackers, breads etc). There are a ton of natural foods with phytoestrogen compounds (broccoli, cabbage, legumes, nuts and seeds especially flaxseed) so soy is not special in this regard. There are also a lot of studies and benefits to foods with phytoestrogen compounds as well

[silent2long]

I just wrote you a personal email, but to respond to your question about protein here. There are so many vegan foods with protein that if you eat a variety you will get enough. Broccoli, quinoa, oats, buckwheat, brown or wild rice, chickpea flour or chickpeas, all other beans, tofu, tempeh, seitan (vital wheat gluten), nuts and seeds, spinach, granola cereals, soy milk, etc all provide good sources of protein. Also, the more you eat beans or vegetables the more your body will adapt and the gas and bloat will eventually go away. It just takes time. Introduce these foods slowly if you haven't eaten a lot of them as an omnivore. Here is some good advice about how to make beans more digestible also

[winter_tulip]

"the more you eat beans or vegetables the more your body will adapt and the gas and bloat will eventually go away"

That was not my experience. I quit being vegan after two years of being basically housebound due to the bowel problems caused by eating a lot of beans, nuts and veg. I now eat a limited range of veg and no beans/nuts/seeds/wholegrains (instead relying on small amounts of meat/fish and lactose-free dairy for protein) and my symptoms are a lot better.

Tofu was always fine though. I think it's because the bean fiber is removed in the processing. Maybe OP could try that? Are there any other processed-bean products that aren't fibrous?

[littlekitt]

Soy milk is fine, but with all things, in moderation. i try not to eat too many soy products but my guilty pleasure is chocolate soy milk. I usually drink almond milk but since you said your allergic there is also rice milk. They taste fine too me. I usually get the original, unsweetened kind though.