Soy milk can improve bone metabolism, prevent osteoporosis, and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. However, experts point out that soy milk is not perfect, as it contains certain anti-nutritional factors that not only hinder the digestion and absorption of nutrients by the body but can also be harmful to health.
1. Soy milk is considered cooling in nature. People with poor digestion, belching, or kidney problems should drink it in moderation. Additionally, under the action of enzymes, soy milk can produce gas, so those who are bloated or have diarrhea should avoid drinking it. Furthermore, individuals with acute gastritis and chronic superficial gastritis should not consume soy products to avoid excessive stimulation of gastric acid secretion, which could worsen their condition or cause gastrointestinal bloating.
2. Brown sugar should not be added to soy milk because it contains various organic acids that can bind with the protease in soy milk, causing the protein to denature and precipitate, making it difficult for the body to absorb. White sugar does not cause this phenomenon.
3. It is not advisable to keep soy milk in a thermos for warmth, as the warm and humid interior of a thermos is an ideal environment for bacterial growth. Additionally, saponins in soy milk can dissolve scale from the thermos, which is harmful to human health when consumed.
4. Since soy milk is made from soybeans, which are high in purine content and are considered a cooling food, individuals with symptoms of gout, fatigue, weakness, or listlessness, and those with a 'deficient-cold' constitution, should not drink soy milk.
5. Soy milk must not only be brought to a boil but also cooked with the pot lid open. This is because only with the lid open can harmful substances in the soy milk be volatilized away with the steam.
6. Soy milk should never be taken with antibiotics such as erythromycin, as they can have an antagonistic chemical reaction. It is best to wait at least one hour after drinking soy milk before taking antibiotics.
7. Those who regularly drink soy milk should pay attention to supplementing zinc. Beans contain inhibitors, saponins, and lectins, all of which are substances harmful to the human body. The best way to counteract them is to cook the soy milk thoroughly, and people who consume soy milk regularly should not forget to supplement the trace element zinc.