almond milk huh...I'd never even heard of it. What's the advantage?
Almond milk or soy milk cannot be called 'true milks'. Almond milk is made from ground soaked almonds and water. Sometimes, a few dates are added to it to sweeten the milk. Soy milk is made from ground soaked soy and water. They are used as substitutes for real milk.
Almond Milk vs Soy Milk : Nutritional Value
Almond Milk: Basically, almonds are highly nutritious. There are certain benefits of soaking almonds in water. One serving of unsweetened almond milk (1 cup or 8 fluid ounces) gives you around 90 calories. It contains around 3 gms of fat, 1 gm of fiber and 1 gm of protein. It is free of cholesterol and saturated fat. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and omega fatty acids. Level of manganese, selenium and vitamin E is quite high in almond milk. Almond milk does have 30% of your daily calcium. Read more on almond milk nutrition facts.
Soy Milk: Soybean is one of the most prominent natural sources of proteins. The whole world is currently reaping the health benefits of soybean. Here is more on soybeans nutrition facts. The nutritional value of soy milk is almost the same as that of cow milk. Read more on soy milk vs cow milk. One serving of soy milk gives you 110 calories. It contains 10 gm of proteins, 4 gm of fat, 14 gm of carbohydrates. Calcium, iron, sodium and riboflavin are also present. There is concentration of omega-3 fatty acids. The fat content is highly unsaturated. Soy milk is free of cholesterol. You get 80 mg of calcium from one serving of soy milk not making it a rich source of calcium. So, it is often fortified with extra calcium. Read more on the calories in soy milk.
Almond Milk vs Soy Milk : Benefits
Almond Milk
1.It helps in the growth as well as repair functions of the body.
2.Manganese in soy milk activates the body enzymes.
3.Magnesium breaks down the consumed food into energy. It helps the parathyroid gland to function well. So, you have healthy bones.
4.Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and destroys the free radicals which cause damage to the cell membrane.
5.Selenium improves the reproductive and immune system and also helps the thyroid to function well.
6.As there is no cholesterol, the risk of heart diseases is reduced.
7.Potassium helps to maintain normal blood pressure.
8.The flavanoids from the crushed skin of almonds are good for cardiovascular health.
9.Being naturally flavored the need to add artificial flavors is nullified.
10.It can be easily prepared and stored.
11.There is no loss of vitamins and minerals and no boiling is involved in the making of almond milk. While, in case of soy milk, boiling of the mixture is required.
12.It is a good substitute for people who evince lactose intolerance symptoms.
These are the almond milk benefits.
Soy Milk
1.The isoflavones in soy milk resemble the hormone estrogen. They maintain our health. They reduce the chances of cancer and osteoporosis.
2.Cholesterol is absent. So there is less risk of heart diseases.
3.It enriches the body with high quality proteins and carbohydrates. Soy protein is as good as protein from milk, eggs or chicken.
4.It is preferred for a diabetic diet because of the variety of carbohydrates present in it.
5.It helps to reduce the fat which enters into our body when there is consumption of animal fat or oil.
6.It is best for people with milk allergy symptoms.
7.There is no lactose (milk sugar).
8.The isoflavones in soy milk help in lowering of cholesterol and also help women to reduce the side effects of menopause.
9.Soy milk does not contain the protein casein. Many people are allergic to casein.
These are the benefits of soy milk.
Almond Milk vs Soy Milk : Dangers
Almond Milk:
1.It is risky for those with low thyroid functions.
2.It is an inadequate option for an infant's diet to be replaced with breast milk.
3.Deficiency of Iodine results in goiter. Almonds are considered as goitrogens. The chemicals present in them inhibit thyroid function as they interfere with the iodine intake.
Soy Milk:
1.Excessive use of soy leads to breast cancer and also other cancers.
2.Many brands manufacturing soy milk contain more sugar and chemicals than required.
3.Isoflavones from soy milk are held responsible for thyroid disorder, leukemia and breast cancer.
4.Phytic acids in soy milk lead to low absorption of vitamins and minerals.
5.The high level of phytoestrogen decreases the testesterone in males. The production of sperms is affected.
6.Early onset of puberty as well as adolescence in males can be attributed to the phytoestrogen from soy milk.
7.In women, soy milk can produce abnormalities in the reproductive tract which can lead to infertility.
8.Estrogen in soy milk is harmful for babies.
9.Fatigue, fever and wheezing are some of the reactions to soy milk.
10.Consumption of soy milk sometimes leads to sudden skin problems like eczema, acne and swelling.
11.The toxic aluminum in soy milk affects the nervous system and kidneys.
12.Excessive consumption of soy milk generates stomach problems such as abdominal cancer.
13.Sometimes, it develops allergies like coughing, sneezing and congestion. Read more on soy milk dangers.
Difference Between Almond Milk and Soy Milk
Both milks have advantages and disadvantages. When you will try them, you will note the difference in both taste and flavor.
1.Soy milk has more proteins than almond milk.
2.Almond milk has less fats and sugar than any other type of non-dairy milk.
3.More varieties of soy milk are easily available as they are more popular than almond milk.
4.Almond milk can be used as a substitute for milk in sweet dishes. Soy milk may leave distasteful marks when used for such purposes.
5.Soy milk is the best for salad dressing, pasta sauce and mashed potatoes.
6.Soy milk has an acquired taste while almond milk has a natural nice light taste.
While discussing almond milk vs. soy milk, you have to take into consideration personal liking and also whether one is allergic to nuts like almonds or soy. Some people can not tolerate soy. But, once they get used to, they prefer it. However, it is safe to conclude by saying that both are healthy drinks.
Personally I like almond milk better soy seems to have an aftertaste, mabe that's just me
