Soy milk – pros and cons
As soy milk becomes more and more popular in the West as an alternative to cow’s milk and also as a drink in its own right, I thought I would point out some pros and cons to including it in your regular diet.
Soy is cooling (yin) in energy and sweet in flavor. Good for reducing signs of heat. Benefits lungs and stomach. High in protein. Rich in tryptophan, a precursor to melatonin, a hormone said to reduce stress. Because of its cooling properties soy is good for menopausal women suffering from hot flashes.
In China and Japan soy milk is made fresh daily and served hot, warm or cold. It is drank plain or often flavored with soy sauce or vegetables to make a savory soup. In the US it is more common to see it sold with added sugar, vanilla or chocolate flavor. Of course this does not make it such a healthy option. In Ayurveda medicine soy milk is regarded as more beneficial for those with a hot constitution. If used long term in an already cooling vegetarian or vegan diet, it can cause cold dampness.
Many brands of soy milk are sold in cartons. Paul Pickford in his book Healing with Whole Foods states that drinking soy milk regularly from aseptic packaging (an example of a hyper-processed product) can lead to dampness in the body and lung infections with ecess phlegm.
Most US soybean crops are now using genetically modified seeds. Consumption of GMO foods has been shown to cause serious organ disruption in rats and mice.
If you do want to drink soy milk, look for it fresh, unflavored and organic and – as with everything in Oriental Medicine – drink in moderation. If you wish to try making your own, here is a website to get you started.