Some of us may look at soy milk and turn our noses up in disgust. It just doesn’t sound good, but it is rather hard to make that judgment without actually giving it a try.

There have been many reported health benefits as a result of drinking soy milk and it is also good for those who are lactose intolerant and still want to enjoy a bowl of cereal. It is also thought that this Chinese milk beverage that is derived from soy beans can aid in the fight against hypertension.

Hypertension and Soy Milk: The Evidence

In a study involving forty people with moderate high blood pressure, twenty received 500 ml of soy milk twice a day for three months and the other twenty received the same quantities of cow’s milk during that three month period. After the test period was over, the systolic (the number on top) blood pressure showed a drop of 18.4 mm Hg in those who did the soy test.

For those who used the cow’s milk test, they only showed a 1.4 mm Hg drop in their systolic blood pressure, but their diastolic (the bottom number) blood pressure dropped by 15.9 mm Hg, whereas those who did the soymilk test had diastolic blood pressure drop by only 3.7 mm Hg

The study above shows that soy milk provides one with a very important drop in blood pressure. It is believed that the soy bean protein is what is responsible for the drop in systolic blood pressure, but is more effective in patients who have mild-moderate hypertension and who are in early hypertension.

Soybeans

There is a little controversy that surrounds the soybean despite its growing presence in the dairy departments and the cereal aisles of our grocery stores. Approximately thirty years ago, it was thought that the soybean was not edible. Even Asians stayed away from this crop. The Chinese didn’t eat them because soybeans contain natural toxins such as enzyme inhibitors that block the essential enzymes that are crucial for protein digestion.

These inhibitors can produce gastric distress, hinder the digestion of proteins, and can cause deficiencies in the uptake of amino acids. Animals used in these tests contracted problems with their pancreas and actually developed cancer. Soy also contains haemagglutinin, which can cause red blood cells to come together in clumps and goitrogens that can interfere with thyroid function.

Soy Milk: The Debate

As you can see, there is research that extends in both directions of the soy milk debate. There’s evidence that it can help conditions such as hypertension, but there is also evidence that it can hinder other bodily functions. Many school systems are now considering putting soy milk on the lunch trays of children because of its health benefits, but there are still new studies being conducted on the cons of this quickly emerging product.

As with anything, talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of drinking soy milk. Although it can be a great alternative for the lactose intolerant and the hypertensive, the risks also need to be known.

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6918850_ITM
http://www.raysahelian.com/hypertension.html
http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/avoid_soy.htm