What is soy milk?

Soy milk is a milk-like liquid that is made from crushed soybeans. Soybean is the only legume from which such a liquid can be made.

Soy milk is part of many baby formulas for infants who are lactose-intolerant. Soy milk can be drunk as a beverage. Dried soy milk is sometimes added to products such as ice cream. Commercial products contain water, homogenized soybeans, vegetables, oils and sometimes kelp.

Unless specified otherwise, soy milk is not fortified with vitamin A or D or minerals. Nutritionally, fortified soy milk can be a good source of vitamin B12. Soy milk contains a modest amount of isoflavones.

According to the study, regular consumption of foods high in soy protein, which contain significant amounts of isoflavones, can lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LKDL) cholesterol in the blood as much as 10 percent.

Soy milk has strong flavor associated with an enzyme that is released when soybeans are crushed. The intensity of this flavor is directly affected by the way the milk is produced and can be greatly reduced of the soybeans are crushed in boiling water.

Soy milk is prepared by first soaking beans in water, grinding the moistened beans and then filtering to remove the particles.
What is soy milk?