FitSugar

Do You Drink Soy Milk?

Susannah Chen — Wed, 11 May 2011 03:43:29 PDT

Earlier this week, the UK's Telegraph reported that the number of soy milk drinkers is on the rise in Britain, with sales up more than £136 million during 2010 for various reasons, including lactose intolerance. Interestingly enough, it was reported just last week that the $2.6 billion US market for soy food and beverages is down 16 percent compared to that of the years 2008-2010. Sounds like, with a focus on new trends such as gluten-free, soy has lost a bit of its luster in America. Still, I'm lactose intolerant and drink it all the time in my coffee, although recently I've also gotten into almond milk. Do you drink soy milk?

Milk Wars: Cow, Soy, Rice, Almond, Hemp, Oat, Oh My!

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:47:06 PDT

Regular cow's milk was the only kind of milk you'd find in my fridge when I was a kid, but as I grew older (and discovered lactose wasn't my best friend), I switched over to nondairy alternatives like soy and rice milk. Now they have so many different milk variations (one of the reasons the Dairy Federation wants to restrict use of the word "milk"), so how do you know which is the most nutritious choice for you? Check out the chart below.

Serving Size: 1 cup	Calories	Tot. Fat (g)	Sat. Fat (g)	Chol. (mg)	Sod. (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Skim Milk	80	0	0	less than 5	125	13	0	12	8
1% Milk	110	2.5	0	15	125	13	0	12	8
2% Milk	130	5	0	20	125	13	0	12	8
Whole Milk	150	8	5	35	125	12	0	12	8
Plain Soymilk	100	4	.5	0	120	8	1	6	7
Vanilla Soymilk	100	3.5	.5	0	95	11	1	8	6

To see how these compare to rice, almond, hemp, and oat milk,

Soymilk Taste Test

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:00:00 PDT

So you grew up drinking cow's milk. Why would you even think of switching? Well, for starters, soymilk is a healthy option because it's cholesterol free, plus it's low in saturated fat and high in protein. It also comes in different flavors, like carob or chocolate, and you can bake and cook with the unsweetened or vanilla flavors.

Due to soymilk's current popularity many companies make it, and the the brands all taste different: some soymilk is thicker like Edensoy, all vanilla flavors are sweeter, and some taste more like real milk such as Silk brand. My advice is to taste more than one brand and flavor. Why not buy a few at a time and have a soymilk taste test. Don't drink them directly from the grocery-store sheIf; stick the container in the fridge for at least an hour or two because soymilk tastes much better cold.

Aside from texture and taste, the soymilk brands differ nutritionally as well. To see how they compare, just

Milk Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:45:00 PST

Isn't it amazing how many types of milk are available? You can get cow's milk, but if you're lactose intolerant or vegan, you can use soy milk instead. If you're worried about the possible health risks of eating too much soy, you can pick up some rice milk. If you're not into the watery consistency, then there's always almond milk. Basically, you have a lot of options.

Nutritionally speaking, ever wonder how all these types of milk compare? If so then

Serving Size = 1 cup	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Skim Milk	90	0	0	less than 5	13	12	8
1% Milk	110	2.5	1.5	15	13	12	8
2% Milk	190	16	2	20	7	3	8
2% Chocolate Milk	170	5	3	20	24	23	8
Whole Milk	150	8	5	35	12	12	8
Half and Half	320	28	16	80	8	8	8
Heavy Cream	800	96	56	320	0	0	0
1% Buttermilk	100	2.5	1.5	15	12	12	8
Plain Soy Milk	130	4	.5	0	13	7	11
Vanilla Soy milk	150	3	0	0	23	15	7
Chocolate Soy Milk	180	4	1	0	28	14	8
Plain Rice Milk	120	2.5	0	0	24	11	1
Vanilla Rice Milk	120	2.5	0	0	23	10	1
Chocolate Rice Milk	160	3	0	0	34	28	2
Almond Milk	90	2.5	0	0	16	14	1

Well there you have it. If you're watching your calorie intake, skim milk or almond milk are definitely the way to go. If you're trying to lower your cholesterol, I'd stick with cholesterol-free soy, rice, or almond milk. If you're trying to get more protein in your diet, than surprisingly enough, plain soy milk is the best choice. When choosing which one, it all comes down to your dietary or ethical preference, but I'd only use heavy cream in small quantities.

Wildwood Organic Soymilk: Unsweetened & Delicious

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:45:00 PDT

Back in my experimental college days, I dabbled into the world of dairy alternatives. I tried 'em all and was a huge fan of vanilla soymilk. It was so sweet and light.

These days I still like keeping a bit of soy in my diet though, since we know that it's a great source of protein. I discovered that Wildwood Organics makes an Unsweetened Soymilk - they're the company that makes that Soyogurt I was raving about a week or so ago.

I thought since it had no sugar added, it'd be healthy and taste more like regular milk. I was right (I am not so into super sweet tastes these days either). This is one of the best soymilks I have ever tasted! Even though there are no sugars added, it has a delicious and naturally sweet flavor. Many soymilks can be overly thick or creamy, but the consistency of Wildwood Organics is really light and thin just like cow's milk, but it has no cholesterol or lactose, and practically no saturated fat.

Want to see the nutritional info and a closeup picture? Then

Serving Size	8 oz
Calories	70
Total Fat	3.5g
Saturated Fat	.5g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	70mg
Potassium	300g
Carbs	3g
Fiber	1g
Sugar	2g
Protein	7g

Check that out! It's low in calories and sodium, but high in potassium and protein. Another great thing is that it contains 50% of your RDI of vitamin B12 and 30% calcium. Plus it has a deliciously crisp and fresh flavor. Whether you are watching your saturated fat or cholesterol intake, are lactose intolerant, or vegan, I definitely recommend looking for this organic and dairy-free soymilk at your local health food store. It's kept cold, so look for it where they keep the yogurt and cheese.

Is Soy Safe?

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:45:00 PDT

I have heard much talk about the connection between soy and breast cancer. I've heard eating soy can prevent breast cancer, but I've also heard that it can increase your risk, or be harmful for breast cancer patients.

First off, let's bring up the fact that soy is not some new food we just discovered. It has been eaten in many Asian cultures for thousands of years, including products such as tofu, edamame (steamed whole soybean), soymilk, and fermented soy products such as tempeh, miso, and soy sauce.

Recently, in North America, soy has become a huge hit. All these products are becoming widely available, in addition to some new ones like soy nuts, soy-based meat alternatives, soy-based beverages, soy chips, soy ice cream, soy yogurt, and soy cheese.

Soy contains phytoestrogens, a group of chemicals that act like the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone necessary for having babies, and is also involved with bone and heart health in women. Higher exposure to estrogen over a lifetime is linked with increased breast cancer risk. Therefore, you can see why people might be worried about the estrogen-like phytoestrogens in soy products.

So can phytoestrogens from soy foods affect breast cancer risk? To find out

read more Right now, there is no evidence that consuming phytoestrogens found in soy products will affect healthy women, or increase their risk of breast cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research stresses that studies on soy and breast cancer are not conclusive, and more studies need to be conducted before any dietary recommendations can be made. Fit's Tips: Women can help prevent breast cancer by staying healthy, by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans, and by getting plenty of exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Source

Dairy-Free Ice Cream: It's So Delicious

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:45:00 PDT

High cholesterol runs in my family, so sometimes when I'm craving a rich, creamy, frozen treat, I often reach for a pint of dairy-free ice cream.

So Delicious (formerly called Soy Delicious) is by far my favorite brand (I've tried many) because they taste the most like real ice cream. They're made with soymilk instead of cow's milk, so they contain less fat and zero cholesterol. Plus they have 3 different kinds, so you can choose depending on your mood or dietary needs.

First off, they make Organic So Delicious Dairy Free quarts in flavors such as Butter Pecan, Chocolate Velvet, Cookies 'N Cream, Mint Marble Fudge, Peanut Butter, and Creamy Vanilla.

They also make Fruit Sweetened It's Soy Delicious pints that are sweetened with a blend of fruit concentrates, brown rice and tapioca syrup. Check out these flavors: Almond Pecan, Mango Raspberry, Espresso, Tiger Chai, and Vanilla Fudge. Am I tempting you yet?

If you're really in the mood for something a little bit more rich and heavenly,

read more You'll have to try Purely Decadent pints. These are more like Ben & Jerry's with flavors such as Cherry Nirvana, Cookie Avalanche, Chocolate Brownie Almond, Cookie Dough (gluten-free), Mocha Almond Fudge, Pomegranate Chip, Peanut Butter Zig Zag, Turtle Trails, and Vanilla Swiss Almond. The quarts are around $5-6 and the pints are around $4-5. Look for them at most health food stores, and mainstream grocery stores are starting to carry them as well. They don't taste exactly like ice cream, but I have to say they are pretty darn close. They have the same creamy texture, and the sweetness you crave, but without the fat or cholesterol. This is a treat you can feel good about indulging in, knowing both your heart and taste buds will be happy. Here's a nutritional breakdown of all 3 kinds compared to Ben & Jerry's.

Calories	Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
130	3	0	24	13	1
110	1.5	0	24	9	2
170	8	o	29	18	1
220	14	65	18	16	3

Source and Source

Ditch the Dairy: Milk-Free Snacks That Pack a Protein Punch

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:29:22 PST

Dairy products aren't the only choices when it comes to high-protein snacks. If you're eating a diet minus milk, or you just want a low-cal snack that's high in protein, check out these 150-calorie snacks that don't contain a drop of dairy.

One serving of spicy roasted chickpeas (one fourth of this recipe: 134 calories, 5.6 grams protein
Twenty-one raw almonds: 146 calories, 5.4 grams protein
Six-ounce container of vanilla O'Soy Yogurt: 150 calories, seven grams protein
One slice whole-wheat bread (100 calories, four grams protein) smeared with half a tablespoon natural peanut butter (53 calories, two grams protein): 153 calories, six grams protein
Two Mini S'mores Luna Bars: 140 calories, eight grams protein

Keep reading for five more dairy-free snack ideas.

Breakdown of Eggnog Alternatives

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:46:52 PST

They may be loaded with cheer, but holiday drinks are also notoriously rich and calorie-heavy. Staples like eggnog are sure to show up at seasonal soirees, so it's helpful to do a little planning before you sip. One cup of eggnog contains about 350 calories along with 11 grams of saturated fat, but that doesn't stop 45 percent of FitSugar readers from enjoying it here and there. If you're looking for a wintry treat for a festive fete, you might try to serve or pack a lighter alternative like soy nog or rice nog. They both contain less fat and nearly half the calories of eggnog.

To see the full breakdown read more.

T-Day Tips For the Lactose Intolerant

Heather Dale — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:42:52 PST

Turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, pumpkin pie, oh my! Thanksgiving is not only a time to give thanks and surround yourself with loved ones, but it's also the annual holiday most known for its savory signature dishes. For some, this means gorging on yams, biscuits, and casseroles, but for others the day means worrying about food sensitivities and allergies that can be triggered by basic ingredients in a number of dishes. If you're lactose intolerant, Thanksgiving dinner can be overwhelming since so many delicious food items contain milk and dairy products. Here are some simple tips for surviving Thanksgiving and still indulging like everyone else if you are lactose intolerant.

Serving Size = 8 ounces	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Organic Edensoy Carob	170	4	.5	95	28	13	7
Organic Edensoy Chocolate	180	3.5	1	105	28	14	8
Organic Edensoy Extra Original	130	4	.5	100	13	7	11
Organic Edensoy Extra Vanilla	150	3	0	90	23	15	7
Organic Edensoy Light Original	100	2	0	90	15	10	5
Organic Edensoy Unsweetened	120	6	1	5	5	2	12
Silk Unsweetened	80	4	.5	85	4	1	7
Silk Vanilla	100	3.5	.5	95	10	7	6
Silk Very Vanilla	130	4	.5	140	19	16	6
Silk Chocolate	140	3.5	.5	100	23	19	5
Wildwood Unsweetened	70	3.5	.5	70	3	2	7
Wildwood Vanilla	90	3.5	.5	70	8	7	7
Pacific Select Soy Unsweetened	90	4.5	.5	15	4	2	9
Pacific Select Soy Vanilla	80	2.5	0	115	11	9	5
Soy Dream Enriched Refrigerated Original	100	3.5	.5	140	9	5	8
Soy Dream Enriched Refrigerated Vanilla	120	3.5	.5	130	14	10	8