Are you “udderly” confused? Cows milk versus soy milk.

Lately I have seen lots of questions on the community site about whether cow’s milk is better than soy milk. Which one is the healthier option? Is soy milk harmful? Or more importantly - how do you balance soy milk and soy products? I thought it was an excellent time to clear up some misconceptions about these two fine foods. The main difference between soy and cow’s milk, is one is derived from plants and the other from animals. There are many debatable issues from an ethical, environmental or social standpoint, but the nutritional differences between these two milks are vast. Not to worry, they both have a place in K-Balanced nutrition.

When life presents the situation where a nondairy alternative to milk is needed, soy milk is a fantastic option. Lactose, the primary carbohydrate in cow's milk, can cause digestive problems for some people who are deficient in lactase, the enzyme that's needed to break down this milk sugar. As with all undigested foods, this can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Soymilk doesn't contain any lactose, making it extremely suitable for lactose intolerant folks. It has become a popular cow's milk substitute for vegetarians and vegans since it's based on a plant source that contains all the essential amino acids you need for repair and growth. In fact soy foods are the only plant-based complete proteins. Here’s a look at their nutritional differences:

1 cup 1% cow’s milk 100 calories 12 g carbs 9 g protein 2.5 g fat
1 cup plain soymilk 180 calories 22 g carbs 11 g protein 5 g fat

You can see there are major differences in their macronutrients. Soy milk has nearly twice as many calories, carbohydrates, and fat as 1% cow’s milk. This does not mean it cannot be k-balanced with other foods, it just means they are not a nutritional equivalents. Soy milk therefore requires more protein to help insure it will be K-Balanced.
The old argument whether cow’s milk has more calcium, vitamin D, or other nutrients just doesn’t hold water anymore. The variety of fortified soymilk available today is astounding. You will not be short on choices. If you choose soymilk be sure to read labels carefully, as manufacturers use a variety of processes and ingredients to make their products unique. Typically, it’s the added sugar you are watching out for in commercial soy milk.

At the end of the day, what you choose for your smoothies, cereal, and any other K-Balanced meals is a matter of personal preference and your health objectives. Check out a brand new dairy free K4 Soy Good Berry Smoothie or next time you grab some Kinetix Go cereal, try soy milk instead of cow’s milk- its K-Balanced! In a world constantly discovering new information about the health effects of all kinds of foods, soy is not immune from controversy surrounding its nutritional value. Will soy milk help lower your cholesterol? Will it aggravate a predisposition to breast cancer? Does it lower men’s testosterone? Can it help with menopause? As medical research continues to affirm and disprove the mainstream thought concerning soy products the only correct answer is- that depends on the individual.