Health Benefits of a Soy Milk Switch

First, drinking skim milk eliminates many of the problems you claim cow's milk has.

Second, soy has many more potential drawbacks than you mention. Do a google search for "soy" and about half the sites are about benefits of soy while the other half are about dangers. There was even a 20/20 special about how bad soy is for babies. Some of the research is not widely accepted yet, but it's still something to think about.

I'm not trying to take sides, I just wanted to point out that you didn't really present the whole picture.

Hmmm...

Okay, well, I think hands down, even when comparing nonfat skim milk with Soymilk, soymilk would win out in terms of health maintenance. Mind you, the soymilk would need to be fortified. What are the benefits of soymilk? Without using too much medical jargon, it contains a solid amount of isoflavones and estrogen. Studies with the isoflavones have shown that they decrease cholesterol longterm and decrease one's risk of acquiring Coronary Artery disease ( which basically leads to a myocardial infarction ( heart attack) or stroke... then death.) There are 2 recent studies I know of comparing the efficacy of soy milk vs. skim milk. One is a 2004 article published in the New England Journal of Medicine discussing research conducted in Brazil and another one is a study conducted at Wake Forest Medical Center. Both studies concluded that soymilk reduces the amount of "LDL" in the body. LDL is short for low density lipoprotein... you can basically view it as a "car" for which cholesterol likes to travel around in. Unfortunately , "this car" likes to park in your arteries. Blocked arteries aren't good ( see above). The Brazil study also stated that Soy milk raised your "HDL" which is High-density lipoprotein. Picture this molecule as a sturdy storage trunk. You want to have high levels of HDL to pick up the excess cholesterol in your body because this type does not occlude arteries and prevents excess cholesterol from storing itself in your liver, causing a "fatty liver." So, in terms of an "ideal" lipid panal, Soy protein is the way to go. Skim Milk actually was noted to raise the LDL levels in your body and also causes an increase in the amount of "rancid" free-floating fat in your bloodstream ( triglycerides) which also is a huge risk factor for Coronary Artery Disease ( which will kill you.) Hypercholesterolemia has been noted in several studies with "chronic" skim milk intake.

However, if the soy milk isn't fortified, it might be better to go with the skim.... especially if you are a woman. Regular Cow Milk has a ton more Calcium than regular skim milk, and calcium is a potent inhibitor of the horrible disease, osteoporosis. The other thing in skim milk is vitamin D, ( which is a natural vitamin your body's skin absorbs from the sun), which basically serves as Calcium's assistant in building strong bones and preventing bone thinning. Osteoporosis is 10x more common in Women and the elderly population, but if you buy the soymilk fortified with it, you should be golden. I know they also fortify both skim and soy milk with Vitamin B12, which basically is a precursor molecule for making red blood cells, and if you have too little of it, you can become "anemic"... however a little bit of this goes along way.

In terms of the "estrogen" in Soymilk.... post-menopausal women would find this highly favorable in decreasing breast and vaginal atrophy, and estrogen has also been noted in preventing osteoporosis ( however the mechanism isn't known at this time.) It also cuts back on the terror symptoms of menopause .... ( which inadvertently helps the husbands out too.)

Regular whole milk has been noted to increase the risk of prostate cancer, whereas evidence suggest soymilk reduces the risk. Regular whole milk also increases the risk of colon cancer, and colic in newborns.

Another thing to consider is that if you do choose to buy regular whole or skim milk, you definitely want to go with the "organic" kind. Reason being is that more and more evidence-based research is showing that the antibiotics and hormones these cows are fed are/may be carcinogenic ( cancer causing) in humans. On that note, I would highly highly recommend "organic" for everyone using anything. ( on an aside, a recent research paper talked about fish in an Idaho water supply that are demonstrating both male and female sex organs due to the plethora of hormones and chemicals that leaked into this freshwater river... mind you, people's drinking water too.) Of course, with the soymilk option, you don't even have to worry about antibiotics or hormones.

Also, there really isn't much distinction between allergy to cow's milk vs. allergy to skim milk. Usually , ( aside from being lactose intolerant), if you are allergic to one, you are allergic to the other one, so you'd want to steer clear of both. Soymilk can cause a bad case of gastro enterocolitis ( "unhappy guts") in newborns... but of course, breast milk is the best answer in that case.

Um.. .this stuff is just off the top of my head..... I hope it is helpful, maybe? I guess I'll close with...

Got Soy?

I want to let everyone in on a little secret.....Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch Cereal with Soy Milk is probably the greatest cereal/milk combo ever. Don't believe me? Go ahead and try it for yourself and then post a comment telling everyone you agree or disagree. I promise you won't be disappointed. And if you are, then just mail the remaining milk and cereal to me and I'll eat it.

I just want to clarify my previous comment: I would never drink Soy Milk straight. I would never put it on another cereal besides Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch. That is the unique instance where Soy Milk is superior to all other forms of the bovine goodness. 2% wins in every other possible scenario.

One thing you must realize before writing health related articles, Brandon, is that the medical community has an accepted method of research that it uses to determine if 1, a study is valid, and 2, if the study can be used to prescribe treatment, or as in this case, lifestyle changes. The practice of evidence-based medicine is a key feature in the training process of doctors, as they must sort through study upon study to determine which one they believe enough to use to guide the treatment process of their patients (as many studies can contradict each other in their conclusions.)

After examining your sources I find that this aforementioned technique is highly lacking. I think this may have lead you to draw some hasty, and in some cases, erroneous conclusions about milk and soy in general. I’ll briefly outline a few of these missteps in your article.

I searched several sources for this “epidemiological research” and eventually gave up on research articles and went straight to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (www.nof.org). The NOF seems to agree that all of the things you listed are important in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, but they don’t mention once the implied link you stated between consumption of dairy products and osteoporosis. In fact, they state that American women don’t get enough calcium and then recommend increased intake of calcium-containing diary products such as “low-fat milk, cheese, broccoli and other.”

To address your source: [PCRM] Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 2001 Feb 28. A Letter Regarding Coca-Cola’s “Project Mother” Initiative to Develop Cow’s Milk Products Targeting Children. Retrieved from http://www.pcrm.org/news/Coke_milk_letter.html. Accessed 2004 Nov 14.

A letter from what appears to be a lobby organization to Coca-Cola probably isn’t the best reference for your article, especially when almost all of the claims you make regarding milk are lifted from this one source. A good physician will refuse to consider any medical claim not supported by at least a few valid references; he or she would prefer the quality of a well designed randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The writers of the letter fail to list any sources for their claims. So I did some homework for them (and you) and looked up some articles to support or refute their claims. See below.

I am unable to find any article that states that protein is “over-consumed.” I also find no research to support the claim that milk proteins inhibit the absorption of calcium. In fact, I did come across a study that showed that addition of milk proteins actually increased the absorption of calcium in animal models. 1

The claim that cow milk proteins can cause auto-immune destruction of pancreatic Beta-cells (in infants only) has some support in the literature, but medicine is far from making the broad statement that cow milk causes Type I Diabetes. Several studies have been published which seek to explore the effects of different dietary elements in the production of auto-antibodies in infants, as their immune systems are immature and prone to “mistakes”. One such study states that in animal models, cow milk proteins are modestly diabetogenic (prone to cause diabetes), but wheat and soybean proteins cause higher rates of autoimmune disease. 2

In the medical literature it is well understood that stating that some factor “has been linked” to something else does not imply a definite cause and effect relationship. This can cause some confusion without taking that understanding into consideration. For example, one could say that “being left-handed has been linked to stuttering” (which some studies support), that that isn’t the same thing as saying “being left-handed causes stuttering.” To state that one thing “is linked” to another simply says that there may or may not be a relationship between the two, and if one exists it is poorly understood.

To address some of the above “links” I looked up articles which addressed milk and childhood asthma, adult heart disease, and cancer.

Thorax is a very well respected journal among pulmonologists (lung specialists). According to this journal, milk consumption has been shown to actually decrease the incidence of asthma symptoms in pre-school children. 3

Heart disease in adults has a wide spectrum of etiologies. Risk factors include dyslipidemia (too much “bad” cholesterol and not enough “good” cholesterol), hypertension, obesity, diabetes (usually type II), and a family history of coronary artery disease. Apparently milk proteins exert an anti-hypertensive effect (similar to pharmaceuticals such as lisinopril) and can act to reduce the incidence of hypertension. 4

I did find a few articles about the animal estrogens in cow milk leading to a higher incidence of prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. It would be interesting to see a study comparing the incidence of these cancers among a group of milk drinkers and a group of soy milk drinkers, as many proponents of soy state that the content of phyto-estrogens (plant based estrogens) are helpful in post-menopausal women. Unfortunately no such head-to-head study has been done thus far. 5, 6, 7

Milk proteins have been shown to decrease the incidence of malignant tumors of the head and neck. So I guess at this point you have to weigh the value of your prostate against that of your head. (kidding.) 8

Ah, the Toronto Vegetarian Association, now that’s an unbiased source, again, with lots of references. Or not. Show me some evidence that rBST increases the incidence of mastitis and then I’ll do some research. Then show me some lab data from all the mastitis infected cows and their penicillin tainted milk. Until then, it would be best to leave speculation out of this discussion.

Wow, now these “points” were rich with error. I read an article in Reader’s Digest a few years back which discussed the appetite suppressing properties of dairy foods and explored the link between milk-drinking and decreased incidence in obesity. I wouldn’t dare quote Reader’s Digest though in the discussion of medical or biological topics; it has no expertise as a publication. That same problem is found in quoting the Houston Chronicle.

But I will quote a study from the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, at Utah State University. Results from their study showed that milk-proteins had no effect on appetite or satiety. I was unable to find an article which contradicted this finding. 9 I was also unable to find any piece of literature whatsoever which supported the statement that casein had any place in the “reward pathway.” Opiates are drugs derived from opium; they aren’t “released” in the brain any more than penicillin is “released” by the kidney.

Of course morphine does act in the reward pathway. However, the half-life of morphine is 2-3 hours and is cleared mostly by the liver. The chances that a cow receiving morphine would inadvertently pass levels of the drug high enough to affect humans in milk are pretty slim.

Scientists are just beginning to explore the potential of isoflavones. Several studies have shown improvements in the areas you listed above. However, it would have given better credence to your statement had you not quoted the Houston Chronicle.

In medical literature, saying that something is “effective” means that it is comparable to the current treatment regimen. I have been unable to find evidence to support the claim that soy is able to manage blood glucose anywhere close to what an Endocrinologist can do. Insulin, Metformin, and the glitazones are all prescription medications that have been approved after years of testing, research, and double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Where are such trials on soy?

If you are going to accurately evaluate which is better, milk or soy, you would have to design a head-to-head study comparing the two in a set of categories, such as calcium absorption, cholesterol altering properties, hypertensive effects, etc. Then, for the best results, you would need a large sample size and testing procedures which would eliminate as much bias on the part of the examiner and examinee as possible. Only then would you be able to say that one appears superior to the other, with evidence in hand. If two scientists are quoting valid studies which contradict each other, then that's ok. That's science. It just shows that more research is needed. But don't come to the table with an alchemy manual when you want to debate Einstein. So, technically speaking, with your analysis, soy milk is not “the clear alternative.”

Each profession has an accepted method used to discuss the intricacies of the work at hand. Medical literature is unique in that the content of very specific discussions can be misinterpreted to indicate something altogether different than what was intended. For this reason evidence-based medicine has specific rules used to analyze studies and interpret results that attempt to ensure proper application of laboratory results into daily medical practice. Next time Brandon, try to stick with valid evidence-based medicine. A good place to start in understanding this topic can be found on http://www.cochrane.org/index0.htm.

1. Tsuchita H, Suzuki T, Kuwata T. The effect of casein phosphopeptides on calcium absorption from calcium-fortified milk in growing rats.

Br J Nutr. 2001 Jan;85(1):5-10.

PMID: 11227028 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

2. Wasmuth HE, Kolb H. Cow's milk and immune-mediated diabetes.

Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 Nov;59(4):573-9. Review.

PMID: 11115792 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3. Wijga AH, Smit HA, Kerkhof M, de Jongste JC, Gerritsen J, Neijens HJ, Boshuizen HC, Brunekreef B; PIAMA Association of consumption of products containing milk fat with reduced asthma risk in pre-school children: the PIAMA birth cohort study.

Thorax. 2003 Jul;58(7):567-72.

PMID: 12832666 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4. FitzGerald RJ, Murray BA, Walsh DJ.

Hypotensive peptides from milk proteins.

J Nutr. 2004 Apr;134(4):980S-8S. Review.

PMID: 15051858 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

5. Li XM, Ganmaa D, Qin LQ, Liu XF, Sato A.

[The effects of estrogen-like products in milk on prostate and testes]

Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003 Jun;9(3):186-90. Chinese.

PMID: 12861831 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6. Qin LQ, Wang PY, Kaneko T, Hoshi K, Sato A.

Estrogen: one of the risk factors in milk for prostate cancer.

Med Hypotheses. 2004;62(1):133-42.

PMID: 14729019 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7. Fairfield KM, Hunter DJ, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS, Cramer DW, Speizer FE,

Willett WC, Hankinson SE. A prospective study of dietary lactose and ovarian cancer.

Int J Cancer. 2004 Jun 10;110(2):271-7. PMID: 15069693 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

8. : Wolf JS, Li D, Taylor RJ, O'Malley BW Jr.

Lactoferrin inhibits growth of malignant tumors of the head and neck.

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2003 Sep-Oct;65(5):245-9.

PMID: 14730178 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

9. Gustafson DR, McMahon DJ, Morrey J, Nan R. Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-8700, USA. deb@cc.usu.edu

Appetite is not influenced by a unique milk peptide: caseinomacropeptide (CMP). Appetite. 36(2):157-63, 2001 Apr.

what kind of doc are you?? I'm guessing you are one or a student?

I'm curious to hear what med. journals/websites you use... of course, I love up2date. Sorry for the mass posting!!! I attached my email too.

I milked a cow once at the Illinois State Fair. I was six.

Can anyone tell me they seriously believe cow's milk is healthier than soymilk?

Ok, I'll start the list, although I think it would be better if someone unbiased (I trust Mark) kept an official one.

Cow's Milk Con:

1. Dairy products and calcium are associated with a greater risk of prostate cancer.

Chan JM, Stampfer MJ, Ma J, Gann PH, Gaziano JM, Giovannucci EL. TDairy products, calcium, and prostate cancer risk in the Physicians' Health Study.

Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA. june.chan@channing.harvard.edu

PMID: 11566656 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

I am very excited to see your article on the health benefits of soy. I have been taking milk baths to prevent skin osteoperosis for the past few years. I have not gotten it yet, but I am always wary. I decided to make the switch to soy after reading your article. The only negative is that I have to open many more of those little boxes than I did of the milk jugs. The milk jugs were much easier to open and I find that my thumb is getting sore after jamming it into the plastic spout of my soy boxes. I find that vanilla flavor makes for a more pleasant bathing experience. Go soy!

I think I'll keep the soy list of pros/cons separate for better organization:

Soy Milk Pro:

1. Moderate intakes of soyfoods as part of a regular diet are associated with favorable blood cholesterol concentrations.

Magdalena S Rosell, Paul N Appleby, Elizabeth A Spencer and Timothy J Key.

Soy intake and blood cholesterol concentrations: a cross-sectional study of 1033 pre- and postmenopausal women in the Oxford arm of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

From the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 80, No. 5, 1391-1396, November 2004.

In a new scientific review in the March issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Pediatrics, nutritionist Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D., and co-authors show that evidence is scant to support the recommendation of dairy products to promote bone health in children and young adults.

As it is used in America, it appears that soy can be harmful to your health.

FTA - "Studies showing the dark side of soy date back 100 years," says clinical nutritionist Kaayla Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story (New Trends, 2005). "The 1999 FDA-approved health claim pleased big business, despite massive evidence showing risks associated with soy, and against the protest of the FDA's own top scientists. Soy is a $4 billion [U.S.] industry that's taken these health claims to the bank."

FTA - "Soy is not a food that is native to North America or Europe, and you have issues when you move food from one part of the world to another," Bauman says. "We fare better when we eat according to our ethnicity. Soy is a viable food, but we need to look at how it's used."