Chocolate soy milk is a healthy beverage for people that can not digest dairy, are on a vegan diet or just want to add soy to their diet. Soy has isoflavones, which are compounds with similar properties to estrogen. The isoflavones in chocolate soy milk bind to estrogen receptors, which helps to regulate metabolism. Estrogen also aids with healing and affects your mood.
Ingredients
There are several different brands of chocolate soy milk on the market in 2010, and they are basically the same in terms of nutrition. Chocolate soy milk's main ingredients are soybeans, water, dutch cocoa and cane juice. Silk chocolate soy milk has 200 calories, 5 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein, 26 grams of sugar and 7 grams of fiber per 11 oz. serving. This drink contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaf coffee -- about 3 mg. Chocolate soy milk also comes in a light variety, which is lower in fat.
Misconceptions
It is a common misconception that chocolate soy milk is low in calcium and vitamin D. Both regular soy milk and chocolate soy milk contain 40 percent of your daily recommended amount of calcium and vitamin D. Cow's milk, on the other hand, contains approximately 30 percent of the recommended amount of calcium and about 50 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin D. Chocolate soy milk is a rich source of vitamin B12 (70 percent of the recommended daily amount) and it's an adequate source of vitamin A, iron and folate.
Expert Insight
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the protein in soy milk can be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels. The FDA has also concluded, based on submitted evidence, that consuming soy protein in a diet that is low in saturated fat can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Benefits
The estrogen benefits of soy products can be of particular interest to post-menopausal women looking to increase their levels of estrogen. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's three-month study on the health effects of soy and its isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular diseases determined that soy helped to reduce lipids in the blood. It was also helpful in reducing hot flashes. However, more studies were suggested to determine the long-term viability of these effects.
Considerations
Over the years, studies have been inconclusive in determining if the estrogen of soy stimulates the growth of cancer cells in breast tissue. The Nutrition Journal concluded there is a very low probability that women will get breast cancer from soy products. Don't add soy to your diet if you have high levels of estrogen, as it will only increase your estrogen amounts.
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