Healthiest option for non dairy? Soy vs rice milk vs oat milk

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Hello,

I'm bamboozled by all of the different information re different milks. Talk about cancer with soy milk, arsenic in rice milk... I haven't done extensive research and before I delved into it thought I'd see if anyone had looked into it.

I'd like to feel good about whichever one we choose!

[Trillian]

You could also make your own rice/oat/almond milk and avoid any nasties. Personally, I would avoid soy like the plague but there are other options out there now that are just as good, if not better.

[2plus1is3]

After becoming lactose intolerant 5 years ago, and then going completely dairy free for ethical reasons last year... My choice is Almond Milk.

I started with soy, but because of the amount I consume (im also vegetarian) and the worrying reports of possible infertility etc I decided to stay on soy but give my son Rice milk (we minimise his dairy also, but he loves cheese) ...

THEN I discovered Almond Milk... Yum! It is so awesome! I have so far read nothing but good things about Almond and I even make my own (I alternate week to week between homemade and So Good brand).

SO GOOD almond milk contains great amounts of added calcium and other minerals, almonds are super healthy for you too :-)

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Sorry should have added DS is allergic to tree nuts e.g almonds, another spanner in the works!

Why do you avoid it like the plague?

[2plus1is3]

My second option would be rice milk then. Soy is in everything these days, alot of processed foods, things like chicken nuggets etc (its called textured vegetable protein). Personally for me, why I chose to stop the soy (as my main form of milk, I still have it in other forms) was because.... Have you ever made soy? It STINKS, I mean really smells. Now you're probably wondering why that would put me off, mainly because the process that soy beans have to go through to actually become edible, it just can't be good imo. The soy beans have to be blended and then cooked and it just smells really "green" like some kind of poisonous plant or something lol. (of course commercial milk doesn't smell like that cause it's refined with things added.

Personally I would rather use a safe alternative like rice, than risk using too much soy... We just don't know for sure the effects in fertility and if i were to find out in 30 years that soy DOES Infact affect it and I knew it was my fault my son could not conceive kids in the future... You get my gist. I'm not saying this to guilt trip anyone who uses soy, we still eat tofu etc.. Just my reasoning for choosing another milk over it.

[BlackCat]

We use rice milk at the moment. Due to soy intolerance which often goes hand in hand with lactose intolerance. We've tried oat milk but she doesn't like it and have tree nut allergies in the family.

[Trillian]

Sweetpea, soy is not meant to be consumed in that way. The only 'safe' soy is fermented soy, like tofu etc. I found a website which articulates it better than I could.

1.

Soy’s loaded with oxalic acid. Think kidney stones–not to mention heart problems, immune deficiency, brain hiccups, etc. 2. Another part of soy’s manifest charms is phytates, which throw a monkey wrench into absorbing protein–along with the vital minerals calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. We don’t go very far, very well without a goodly supply of protein and minerals.
3. And the phytates are not alone! Soy is estrogenic, so called because it mimics estrogen–keeping the real thing from its proper role whilst causing estrogen dominance–male or female. It can cause premature puberty in little girls, lifelong low testosterone for little boys, breasts in men and a closetful of symptoms in women. Estrogen is part of endocrine function, and when it’s out of whack, the rest of the endocrine system ends up in the ditch, too.
Plus, soy interferes with thyroid function. Big time. Soy can cause hypothyroid problems all by itself.
5. And soy excites our brain to death. Literally. Which can play havoc with memory. And throw our bodies into a tailspin, inviting disease to come for a visit. Speaking of which, there’s some kind of connection between extreme brain excitement and autoimmune diseases. Right now it’s just an attention-getting coincidence, but research should be coming along.

We already eat too much soy as a result of eating too much processed food - soy is used as a fuller in nearly all packaged foods except for those ones sold explicitly as soy free. Most of that soy is grown in the US, where Genetically Modified Soy is common. So we already have an overload of soy in our systems and we don't need to be adding to it by drinking soy milk as well.

[Kazzo]

My gosh Trillian. I had no idea soy is that bad (not even talking about the taste either). I have a couple of friends who might me interested to know this.

[Trillian]

Yeah, it's not good. What's worse is that most people have no idea what it can do to you and not even realise that most foods that they eat contain it. I think it's still largely perceived to be *healthy*, which is part of the problem.

[Marley&Me]

Well this is disappointing to read. I have just switched to soy because I have found out I am dairy intolerant. I can have a small amount of dairy like a bit of cheese, but the main culprit for my bloating was cows milk. I Looove my dairy so this has been very hard. But I find I am loving soy milk, full fat though none of this light crap. It has to be 'milky' in flavour. Rice milk is disgusting as is light soy.
How can something made from soy beans be so bad for you? My acupuncturist just recommended soy to me (for the bloating), and I am being treated for infertility. Why did the GP not say anything either? Have they done studies? Link please if you have one

[Trillian]

If affects your fertility because excess estrogen (from soy) can alter the ratio between your estrogen and progesterone levels and you need a perfect balance of both to sustain a pregnancy. The studies are out there and easy to find - go to google scholar and search for 'estrogen dominance fertility' and see how many hits you get, same goes for 'effects of soy on fertility'. There is an interesting report here http://www.litalee.com/documents/Est...20Problems.pdf and this passage in particular;

Dr. Peat’s research established that estrogen excess kills the embryo by suffocation (hypoxia). Progesterone protects the embryo by preventing hypoxia and by aiding the delivery of both oxygen and glucose. During the ninth week of pregnancy, estrogen increases. Women who lose their babies around the ninth or tenth week of pregnancy are either high estrogen dominant (e.g., hypothyroid) and/or are consuming commercial meat, poultry and dairy products containing synthetic estrogen (DES). Their progesterone levels are low and the liver capacity is insufficient to detoxify the estrogen. Studies indicate that progesterone also helps prevent toxemia and increases the intelligence and the health of the baby. How? By opposing estrogen, progesterone enlarges the cortex whereas estrogen actually decreases the size of the cortex and other parts of the brain.

Tasha, another alternative for you could be A2 milk. It contains a different protein to regular milk and can be tolerated by those who do have an intolerance to dairy. Other options would also be goat or sheep milk.

[Ryatha]

Just a question, as I am in the process of converting our house to be dairy free and maybe soy free, is when can babies/toddlers stop formula (long story but my milk dried up ) and start having almond milk, or other dairy alternatives?

I'm thinking of making all my food from scratch to ensure there is no soy or dairy in anything...

[Trillian]

I'm not sure Ryatha, I know some people just use coconut water to start with. Maybe you could read up on some raw food information/books? That would be a good place to start.

[2plus1is3]

Well this is disappointing to read. I have just switched to soy because I have found out I am dairy intolerant. I can have a small amount of dairy like a bit of cheese, but the main culprit for my bloating was cows milk. I Looove my dairy so this has been very hard. But I find I am loving soy milk, full fat though none of this light crap. It has to be 'milky' in flavour. Rice milk is disgusting as is light soy.
How can something made from soy beans be so bad for you? My acupuncturist just recommended soy to me (for the bloating), and I am being treated for infertility. Why did the GP not say anything either? Have they done studies? Link please if you have one

You're more than likely lactose intolerant... Zymil and the likes from coles are great (if u want to be consuming dairy at all that is)

[Olive]

I use oat milk (vitasoy brand) and love it

[Lisa]

My teenaged daughter drinks oat milk and loves it. She likes soy but prefers oat milk.

[Marley&Me]

Tasha, another alternative for you could be A2 milk. It contains a different protein to regular milk and can be tolerated by those who do have an intolerance to dairy. Other options would also be goat or sheep milk.

I looked it up, what a bummer. One study said that if you are consuming 3x12 oz glasses in one month it is 'excessive' and will cause problems. I have ceral every day and a couple of (decaf) coffees so I would certainly use all that I might look into the A2. I love dairy so it's hard not having milk. My only problem would be convenience. I buy a lot of long life milk because of the convenience. Plus i hate having to run to the shops if I'm out.

You're more than likely lactose intolerant... Zymil and the likes from coles are great (if u want to be consuming dairy at all that is)

Yes, I love dairy just don't love looking like I'm 6 months pregnant all the time. May look into this also....

I use oat milk (vitasoy brand) and love it

I looked at oat milk just now doing the shopping, does it taste similar to real milk or soy? I love anything 'oaty' so I reckon I'd like this. Except it was about $3.60 for 1 litr

[2plus1is3]

Yes dairy free is not cheap. If you have bloating and stuff like that, I can almost guarantee that you have lactose intolerance (just like me!). Before I went dairy free for ethical reasons I found the zymil and particularly the Liddells (you can get a full fat one in this range) excellent and ALOT cheaper than dairy free options.