The craze for soy milk as a health drink shows no sign of going away. The low-fat, high-protein drink is popular among fitness lovers as well as people trying to lose weight. But we spoke to a nutritionist who fears some might have the wrong idea. If you underestimate the high levels of protein in soy milk, you could be in for a surprise.
An employee blends a soy milk. Lots of customers go for no-sugar.
The sugar-free soy milk has boomed thanks to online endorsements of soy-milk weight loss plans.
Store owner
The people from the gyms nearby come and order sugar-free soy milk. They think it’s a low-calorie option.
But if you drink soy milk like water, you might find yourself gaining weight.
Tsai Hsiao-rung
Taiwan Adventist Hospital nutritionist
With soy milk, it belongs in the protein category. It has a high protein content, lean protein. It has some fat in too, actually. If you don’t control the portions, you might have issues with hyperlipidemia or hyperuricemia.
This nutritionist says a 190-milliliter drink of soy milk is equivalent to one portion of meat. Watch your portion size, she says, and if you add sugar, one cup will be at least 100 calories. Some people replace dairy milk with soy, but if you do, make sure you’re getting calcium from another source.
Tsai Hsiao-rung
Taiwan Adventist Hospital nutritionist
One hundred milliliters of soy milk only contain 14 milligrams of calcium. We recommend you get some other sources of calcium from your food, such as firm tofu or Chinese kale, which is actually quite rich in calcium.
Soy milk and other soy products are also rich sources of fiber and can be good for the digestive system. They’re a great part of a balanced diet if you know how to eat them right.
