Vegetarianism Archives - Health Clover

Soy is a Complete Protein Source for Vegetarians

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated May 19, 2018 | 1 Comment

Soy milk, tofu, and soy protein powder are all excellent sources of complete protein for vegetarians. In fact, soybeans are one of the few plant-based sources of complete protein. Most sources of complete protein come from meat and dairy. A complete protein is one which contains an adequate proportion of all nine essential amino acids required for the dietary needs of humans. The nine essential amino acids are tryptophan, threonine, leucine, lysine, isoleucine, methionine+cystine, phenylalanine+tyrosine, valine, and histidine. Soybeans contain all the essential amino acids required for human nutrition. Although soy milk isn’t dairy, it is a complete protein source like cows milk. Essential amino acids are those which the body cannot produce on its own. They must be obtained directly from dietary sources. On the other hand, nonessential proteins can be produced by the body if they are not obtained from food. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The body combines […]

Gradually Transition to a Vegetarian Diet and Feel Better

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Wondering exactly how to become a vegetarian? People make the decision to give up or reduce the amount of animal meat that they consume in their diets usually for either health or ethical reasons. It is well known that a vegetarian diet has a number of benefits for human health and the worlds environment. But often it is not entirely clear how to become a vegetarian or even what that means. Vegetarian can mean a lot of different things First, decide on what type of vegetarian you want to be. Do you want to give up all meat including fish? Do you want to stop eating dairy products such as cheese and ice cream, as well? There are many varieties of vegetarianism and you can tailor your version to meet your specific needs and goals. It is often best to choose an ultimate goal, such as becoming a vegan (who does […]

Is Soy Milk Considered a Dairy Product?

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Soy milk is blended to mimic the taste and consistency of cows milk. And there’s good reason for this. People are already comfortable with and enjoy the taste of regular milk. This makes the taste of soy milk more acceptable to consumers, and has helped fuel its dramatic rise in popularity. But is soy milk truly a dairy product? Or does it just taste and sound like one? Definition of dairy The dictionary defines dairy as “foods that are made from milk, such as cream, butter, and cheese.” As in: a dairy-free diet and I was advised not to eat too much dairy. So, what are the ingredients in soy milk? Pure soy milk is made with only two ingredients: soybeans and water. Dry soybeans are crushed into a powder and dissolved into boiling water. Any undissolved solids are then filtered out. So by definition, pure soy milk is not a dairy product. […]

Is Soy Milk Good Or Bad For You?

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

There are some misconceptions about the health benefits of soy milk. Most Americans were raised drinking cows milk, so they are more comfortable and familiar with it. But soy milk’s popularity has been rising fast in recent years, and that is because there are many nutritionally sound benefits to drinking soy milk. In short, soy milk is very good for you, and is an excellent alternative to cows milk. Most people would see positive health benefits by incorporating more soy milk and soy products in their diet. Soy milk is low in saturated fat and cholesterol Unlike regular milk, soy milk is naturally cholesterol free, and the fat content is largely the healthy unsaturated type. However, whole milk is high in saturated fat, which is the kind that increases cholesterol and lipid levels and contributes to heart disease. Products like soy milk that are high in unsaturated fat usually come […]