Some people with lactose intolerance don’t want to rely on lactase pills, and prefer to avoid milk and dairy products altogether. Others wish to have an alternative to milk for other personal reasons such as veganism. Whatever the reason, people want to know if they can replace soy milk (also known as “Soya Milk”) with cow’s milk in their diets. The answer isn’t a definitive one – soy milk has advantages – and disadvantages.
What is in Soy Milk and How is it Made?
Soy milk is made from soybeans and water. The dry beans are soaked in water for several hours (usually a full night). The beans are then dehydrated, and are then grinded with water yet again. The result gets boiled in order to sterilize the product, and then kept heated near the boiling point for 20 more minutes.
This process produces the basic, unflavored soy milk. At this point, most manufacturers enrich the product with flavors, calcium and vitamins.