Soymilk is a milk substitute for people who are lactose intolerant or who dislike the taste of cow's milk. Nutritionally, the two beverages are comparable in protein, vitamin and mineral content, although regular soymilk is higher in fat and calories than cow's milk.
Calories
While calorie content varies among different brands of soy and cow's milk, 1 cup of regular soymilk has about 160 calories, compared to the 130 calories of 2 percent milk. Thus, the 2 percent milk may be a better choice for people looking to limit their caloric intake or lose weight.
Protein and Carbohydrate
Both soymilk and 2 percent milk are protein-rich beverages, with 8.5 g of protein in regular soymilk and 9 g of protein in 2 percent milk. Soymilk has about 5 g of sugar, with a total carbohydrate content of 12.5 g, while 2 percent milk has 12 g of total carbohydrate, all of which are sugars.
Calcium
Regular soymilk is generally fortified with calcium, and contains about 37 percent of the daily value for this mineral. Naturally high in calcium 2 percent milk, provides about 30 percent of the daily value for the mineral. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and is necessary in the diet for the health and formation of bone and teeth. Calcium is also necessary for the proper contraction of muscle and blood vessels, as well as communication throughout the nervous system.
Vitamin A
Soymilk and 2 percent milk are both dietary sources of vitamin A, an antioxidant that protects body cells from the damage of free radicals. Free radicals can be byproducts of the digestion of foods or result from exposure to toxins including radiation or tobacco smoke. Soy milk contains about 13 percent of your daily value of the vitamin, and 2 percent milk contains about 10 percent of vitamin A's daily value.
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