Vegetable milks are more and more numerous on the market. The soy milk would be the most interesting from a nutritional point of view. In terms of nutrient intake, it is second only to cow’s milk. Explanations.
30 to 50% of French people digest lactose poorly according to health insurance. Their body has a lactase deficit, and it is this which allows the digestion of the sugar contained in milk. Lactose, undigested, ferments in the stomach. These people then suffer from digestive problems: bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramps. Today, we can easily replace cow’s milk with vegetable milk or other milk from animals, such as goat’s milk. Not all are nutritionally equal. A study from McGill University in Canada shows that soy milk is the best plant-based milk given its nutritional benefits. The results of their study are published on the EurekAlert website!.
Soy milk, just behind cow’s milk
Canadian researchers are interested in the four main plant milks: soy milk, rice milk, almond milk and coconut milk. They compare their advantages and disadvantages, from a nutritional point of view. Soy is in first position in the ranking, it is the one that comes closest to cow’s milk given its contributions. It is rich in protein, contains isoflavones, phytonutrients, which are known for their anti-carcinogenic effect.
Soy has some drawbacks, however: a strong taste that not everyone likes, the presence of anti-nutrients (substances that impair the absorption of good nutrients), above all, some people also have a soy allergy and its derivative products.
Other less nourishing milks
Rice milk is not very nutritious and high in sugar. This is what makes its taste more pleasant than that of soy milk. Coconut milk is rich in saturated fat and contains no protein. But it’s low in calories and can help lower bad cholesterol levels. Scientists find almond milk less interesting than soy because it does not provide essential nutrients, although it can also help lower bad cholesterol and weight loss, due to the presence of substances mono-saturated fat. Soy milk is therefore the most nutritious among all these vegetable milks.
However, you must take care to consume an unsweetened or slightly sweet version of this drink. It is on this type of product that the researchers worked. Please note, vegetable milks are not recommended for infants. They contain too little vitamin D and a soy allergy can develop little especially in children if they consume it too early. In June 2016, the national agency for health, food, environment and work safety, issued a warning to remind parents that breast milk is the most suitable for infants and that specific formulas exist for intolerant children.
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