The soy v dairy debate has been going on for quite some time now, yet I still find many people (as well as myself to feel so conflicted by the topic). You see more and more other alternatives for dairy options but are those options really any better, specifically for people who don't have a harsh lactose intolerance...
It is widely believed that everyone is lactose intolerant it just depends on what effects each person can physically feel. Mammals typically shouldn't consume lactose after the age of 5, due to weening from the mother's milk.
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Most mammals normally become lactose intolerant after weaning, but some human populations have developed lactase persistence, in which lactase production continues into adulthood. It is estimated that 75% of adults worldwide show some decrease in lactase activity during adulthood.[5] The frequency of decreased lactase activity ranges from 5% in northern Europe through 71% for Sicily to more than 90% in some African and Asian countries.[6] This distribution is now thought to have been caused by recent natural selection favouring lactase persistent individuals in cultures that rely on dairy products.[7] While it was first thought that this would mean that populations in Europe, India, and Africa had high frequencies of lactase persistence because of a particular mutation, it has now been shown that lactase persistence is caused by several independently occurring mutations.[8]"
SO even if you have physically feelings from lactose or want to steer away from dairy completely, is soy a good options? Places like Starbucks and restaurants only serve a soy option as their nondairy option...but is this better? I would say no. You are better off not having either or the dairy actually. At home you can control your options like making your own mylk, like I discussed in previous posts or buying almond milk or other nut milk alternatives. WHen you are out and the only option to a nondairy source is soy...stay away. Here is why...
http://www.optimumchoices.com/Soy.htm
http://www.foodrenegade.com/dangers-of-soy/
http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/DietandNutrition/Pages/Soy-Vs-Dairy.aspx
