Is Soy Milk Good or Bad for You? Here's What Happens To Your Body When You Drink It

Soy Milk Side Effects: What Happens to Your Body When You Drink It?
(Photo : Sean Gallup)
Carstons of soy, almond and rice milk stand on display at a Veganz vegan grocery store on February 2, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.

Drinking milk may be a part of your daily routine as a child as it promotes and give nutritional side effects. But as you get older and you try to dive into a different diet, you might give it up and opt for another option like soy milk. But have you ever wondered about soy milk's side effects on your body?

According to Everyday Health, soy milk is a plant-based non-dairy drink that usually people pick to replace other kinds of milk. People who dive into a plant-based flexitarian diet drink this or almond milk to avoid dairy products. Still, all foods have side effects, and to give you an idea before putting a lot of soy milk in your cart, here are some changes in your body that may occur when you drink soy milk.

Read also: Celebrity Trainer Harley Pasternak: Taught Us About The Alternative Dairy Products

Soy Milk and Blood Pressure

A study published in The Journal of Nutrition, entitled Soy Milk Lowers Blood Pressure in Men and Women with Mild to Moderate Essential Hypertension, suggests that soy-based diets reduce blood pressure spontaneously in hypertensive rats. However, the case is not like that for hypertensive humans. 

It notes that when men and women who have mild-to-moderate hypertension drink two cups of soy milk per day in three months, researchers saw a small but notable decrease in blood pressure. This was compared to the baseline and those who drink cow's milk.

Soy Milk and Gut Health

Soy milk also has a positive effect when it comes to gut health. A study published in Trials Journal, entitled Effects of Soy Milk Consumption on Gut Microbiota, Inflammatory markers, and Disease Severity in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Study Protocol for A Randomized Clinical Trial, explains the positive effects of soy in the gut. 

The study's researchers note that soy milk possesses several components, such as phytoestrogens, that have potential anti-inflammatory properties. It could beneficially affect systemic inflammation, gut microbiota, and clinical symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Not Enough Calcium

Citing a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Eat This Not That said almost all soy milk is fortified with 30 percent of your daily value of calcium. However, it notes that this type of calcium is unfortunately not bioavailable to the body. It means that the total amount of calcium in the label won't be the amount your body will absorb.

Soy Milk and Prostate Cancer

According to a The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center study, it suggests that prostate cancer survivors who consume soy foods may lower PSA levels. In various prostate cancer stages, men who drink soy milk have been observed with PSA levels surging at a slower rate. 

Soy Milk and Muscle Growth

Laura Soybeans emphasizes that soy milk, like all based foods, reinforces the body with high-quality protein promoting muscle growth. Eat This Not That adds that soybeans also contain all nine amino acids, which is worth noting.

Soy milk side effects may be inclined in the positive side, but still, moderation is highly encouraged. You never know what it can do if you consume them excessively.

Read more: Experts Expect Almond Milk to Skyrocket Shelves in 2021

WATCH: Surprising Health Benefits of Soy Milk from Klean Fit 

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