"A glass of fresh soy milk a day keeps the doctor away," the saying goes, and it's absolutely right. Fresh soy milk is nutritious, delicious, and rich in high-quality plant protein essential for the human body. However, there are some taboos to be aware of when consuming it.
Health Benefits and Taboos of Drinking Soy Milk
Soy milk contains eight essential amino acids, various vitamins, and trace elements such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. It is cholesterol-free and contains at least five or six substances, like soy saponins, that can effectively lower human cholesterol. The nutrients in fresh soy milk are easily digested and absorbed. Regular consumption is highly beneficial for hypertension, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and osteoporosis. It also helps to nourish the liver and kidneys, prevent aging and cancer, lower fat and sugar levels, and boost immunity. With its high nutritional value, drinking soy milk has become a trend both in China and abroad. Nutritional and health departments believe there are five taboos to drinking soy milk; otherwise, the effects can be counterproductive.
First, do not drink it undercooked.
Soy milk contains trypsin inhibitors. If it is not heated to a high temperature of over 100°C, it can cause indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Second, do not drink it in excess.
Generally, adults should not drink more than 500 grams of soy milk at a time, with a reduced amount for children. Excessive consumption can easily lead to protein indigestion, bloating, and other discomforts.
Third, do not mix soy milk with raw eggs.
The mucoprotein in eggs easily combines with the trypsin in soy milk, forming a substance that is not absorbed by the human body and reducing its nutritional value.
Fourth, do not add brown sugar to soy milk.
The organic acids in brown sugar combine with the protein in soy milk to create denatured precipitates. White sugar, however, does not cause this adverse reaction.
Fifth, do not store soy milk in a thermos.
Storing soy milk in a thermos can easily lead to bacterial growth.