Soy Milk

A milk-like product that is not from any mammal is soy milk, which is made from soybeans that have been soaked, ground, and strained. Soy milk has been known for centuries in China and Japan. Now it is consumed as a milk-like liquid, is used to make tofu (the cheese of soy milk), and is incorporated into some infant formulas. As useful as it is, soy milk is lacking in certain nutrients. Only soy milks fortified with methionine (an essential amino acid), calcium, and vitamin B12 should be substituted for cow’s milk for infants and growing children. On the other hand, it is also lacking in the carbohydrate lactose, which makes it ideal for people with a lactase deficiency.