Questions about milk (or soymilk)

I try to have half a cup of soymilk in oatmeal in the morning. I've heard that you should have three cups of milk, (whopping concept, all I've ever drunk is water) a day, but does soymilk count? How many cups exactly? How do you get those servings in? I haven't tried to drink soymilk on its own yet (I was thinking about trying tomorrow), but I've never drunk cow milk since an incident in childhood when my sister forced it down my throat. I stopped drinking it before then either after weaning from breast milk actually, that's why she did it. Anyway, any ideas for having more? I feel like if I have more in breakfast I'd have to increase the oatmeal for an even ratio, and I'm not doing that. We don't have any soy yogurt for a while either, this is for the days we don't. Basically, any other meals that can have soymilk mixed in? Another question- does soymilk count as milk, or as a grain?

I don't drink any milk at all because I'm allergic to it.  The big reason to drink milk is for calcium, which is very important to prevent osteoporosis when you're older, so I take calcium tablets with magnesium which helps it get absorbed or something.  They're 3/day tablets and provide 1500 mg of calcium/day which is what they say a woman needs.

Soy milk would have to be fortified with calcium to be a substitute.  Just read the label on mine - Edensoy unsweetened - and it says one cup provides 4% of the daily requirement of calcium.  So you'd have to drink an awful lot.  Which is also true of other sources of calcium (broccoli, sardines...)

Maybe some brands have added calcium - read the label.  Otherwise you might want to consider supplements.

Soymilk is neither milk nor grain, but a legume (bean).  But it's the only non-meat food that provides complete protein, so it's a valuable food beyond the question of calcium.

Oops, I meant legume. Where'd I get 'grain' from? Mine is fortified, I think, but I'm not sure it'd add up to much.

And for the record I just had a FML moment... I had been logging as generic soymilk with a bit over 130 cals for 250mls, but I checked the carton and mine is only 90 cals for the same amount. I've been that much under for ages, because I was too stupid to check.

"I've heard that you should have three cups of milk, (whopping concept, all I've ever drunk is water) a day"

This is B.S.  Cow's milk is unnatural and unnecessary.

Okay just had to get that out haha. (:  I think it's good you're drinking water.  Soy seems to be controversial, but I agree with kema20.  And that's sort of a nice surprise in a way about the calorie confusion :P

edit: yes this is my opinion, if that wasn't clear ;)

If you want to switch it up too you can have cheese and yogurt for your dairy servings as well. 

Manda that is your opinion but that is not the view of everyone. Dairy and soy unless allergic all can be a part of a healthy diet.

I keep hearing things about cow's milk. I am very confused about it. I understand that milk used to be okay, but now it seems that the cows are fed too many antibiotics, etc, so cow's milk isn't that good. This is how my vegan sister explains it. But even professionals like Dr. Mehmet Oz still talk about drinking cows milk for protein, calcium and weight loss.  What is right?

There is an article in Womans Health Magazine pg 94 (July/August issue) on the weight loss benefits of consuming 3 low fat dairy servings a day. It went on to say that soy milk is just as effective!

Judy

Thank you all for very interesting responses. I'd definitely like to try other types of 'milk' too. Particularly almond. Sounds yummy. Don't want to have a soy overdose. Just to be sure- should I count soy milk as a legume, or what?

Original Post by kema20:

I don't drink any milk at all because I'm allergic to it.  The big reason to drink milk is for calcium, which is very important to prevent osteoporosis when you're older, so I take calcium tablets with magnesium which helps it get absorbed or something.  They're 3/day tablets and provide 1500 mg of calcium/day which is what they say a woman needs.

Soy milk would have to be fortified with calcium to be a substitute.  Just read the label on mine - Edensoy unsweetened - and it says one cup provides 4% of the daily requirement of calcium.  So you'd have to drink an awful lot.  Which is also true of other sources of calcium (broccoli, sardines...)

Maybe some brands have added calcium - read the label.  Otherwise you might want to consider supplements.

Soymilk is neither milk nor grain, but a legume (bean).  But it's the only non-meat food that provides complete protein, so it's a valuable food beyond the question of calcium.

No it's not. Ever heard of quinoa?

It's not that you need three servings of milk, you "need" three servings of dairy.  The food pyramid guides are just for the sake of balancing proteins/fats/carbs and balancing certain nutrients. Make sure you get enough protein and calcium, I think that's basically what you're supposed to be getting out of the dairy group. I drink a soymilk that has 35% of your daily calcium needs.

Also, you might not need three servings of dairy.  That's based on a 2,000 calorie diet. MyPyramid helps you figure out what you personally need.

I keep hearing things about cow's milk. I am very confused about it. I understand that milk used to be okay, but now it seems that the cows are fed too many antibiotics, etc, so cow's milk isn't that good.

(the quote button is hiding on me again, the above is a quote from an earlier post)

In answer, cow's milk is produced by mother cows for their babies. humans are the only animals that drink another species breast milk...it is meant to help baby cows grow, not baby humans. I don't care for the taste so I don't drink it, and I think this makes sense. However, if you drink milk, in a moderate way with a balanced diet, I don't think you're destined to become cow-like.

There are also some studies that show eating or drinking cow's milk products increased the fat burn in the body. There are some that show it doesn't matter. My guess is it comes down to the fact that no matter what, one food is not going to make or break your weight loss/health.

Soymilk can ceratinly go towards the 'drink milk' thing. There's also rice and oat milk. Calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals can be found in vegetables too!

The advice to get '2 or 3 servings of dairy products' is shorthand to ensure people are getting some calcium, fat and protein in their diet.  Can be milk, cheese, yoghurt.   You can get the same things from other foods, of course..

I get a little tired of the 'we're the only species that eats another's breast milk'... argument.  We're also the only species that cultivate corn, grind the grains and bake it into loaves but that's hardly  a moral case for abandoning bread.   Historically, our omnivorous nature is what has kept human beings going through tough times!  We should appreciate that.

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8170002.stm   Funnily enough, the results of this study were out last week.  It's hardly proof positive, but 65 years on the children involved that consumed dairy products seem to have benefited health-wise.

I get tired of any argument where someone is saying "I am right and you are wrong".  I've been drinking milk my entire life.  Everything in moderation.  That includes dairy.  Most of the foods that all of a sudden everyone is saying "it's not natural to eat or drink that" have some nutritional value, whether it's milk, any other dairy, meat, eggs, WHATEVER.  EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!!!

And if you don't like something don't eat it.  Just make sure you get a balanced diet.

Okay I'm done ranting.

It wasn't only the incident, it really does make me sick. Lactose intolerance is in the family. Is there another kind of 'milk', apart from cow's, with a comparible amount of protein?

I agree, everything in balance.