What is soy?
Soy is one of the most controversial foods. On the one hand, soybeans are a protein-rich legume with little or no cholesterol and saturated fat. They are rich in fiber, iron, and calcium. Soy protein is also one of the few complete plant-based proteins. It contains all 9 essential amino acids that the human body needs but cannot produce on its own. Soy is an allergen with undesirable side effects. It is typical of genetically modified crops with detrimental effects on the environment and human health. There are many drinks that are soy free meal replacement shakes, like Drink Wholesome. Along with soy, we also avoid food additives because they are also not good for our health.
Top reasons to take soy free meal replacement shakes
- Soy is one of the “Big 8” allergens, accounting for 90% of all food allergies.
- Soy contains isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens similar to human estrogen. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and cause weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity. Some research suggests that this can increase the risk of chronic diseases like breast cancer.
- Soy, which is the largest source of protein for animal feed, is also second only to beef in terms of driving global deforestation and soil erosion.
- Soy is one of the most genetically modified (GM) crops on the planet. Although there are no inherent problems with GM crops, most GM crops are designed to withstand direct application of herbicides and pesticides. This makes it more likely that chemicals are used in the cultivation of food and that food contains chemicals. More than 90% of his soybeans grown on U.S. farms are genetically engineered to tolerate an herbicide called Roundup, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Therefore, most GM soy probably contains high residues of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, which has been classified as a human carcinogen.
What is the best soy free meal replacement shakes?
There are two types of meal replacements: ready-to-drink (over-the-counter) shakes and powdered meal replacement shakes. To make a soy free meal replacement shakes with meal replacement powder, the powder must be mixed with milk or water. This requires a blender or shaker bottle and a little more time and effort. Some people prefer ready-to-drink shakes because they are more convenient, but if you knew what you were drinking, you would probably spit it out. It is packed with food additives, such as sticky agents. While such ingredients improve properties such as shelf life and texture, they do not look like real food and are difficult to digest. However, not all meal replacement powders are created equal and often contain the same additives as ready-to-drink shakes.
Avoid lecithin
If you’ve been reading food labels, you’ve probably come across lecithin. Most meal replacement products contain soy or sunflower lecithin. Manufacturers may not specify the type of lecithin used. When in doubt, check to see if “soy” is listed as an allergen. In this case, the meal replacement probably contains soy lecithin. Also, lecithin is a food additive and should be avoided regardless of the source.
Avoid food additives
Most soy free meal replacement shake products are full of food additives. Additives are not necessarily bad for you in small amounts, but they can accumulate quickly (especially if you drink shakes daily instead of meals) and cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as gas, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain. This is because food additives are generally difficult to digest. They stay in the gut longer than food, giving the gut bacteria more time to nourish. When you eat, these bacteria produce gas, causing bloating and stomach pain. Gas also slows colonic transit (the time it takes for food to pass through the colon) and can lead to constipation.
It can lead to the development of disease (IBD) and systemic inflammatory diseases. Artificial sweeteners are the most harmful food in the long term because they change the composition of your gut flora (the collection of microbes that help you digest food). This can lead to serious, chronic gastrointestinal problems, widespread inflammation, and permanent damage to the gut microbiome. Some sweeteners, especially sugar alcohols such as xylitol, are poorly absorbed from the gut (meaning they nourish hungry gut bacteria) and draw water into the gut, causing diarrhea. Now I blame the trip to the bathroom after eating.
Here is a list of the most common food additives in meal replacements
Acacia gum, acesulfame potassium, artificial flavors, aspartame, carrageenan, cellulose gum, dextrin, dextrose, erythritol, Gellan gum, guar gum, gum Arabic, inulin, locust bean gum, “natural” flavors, maltodextrin, rice syrup solids, soy lecithin, Silica, Sucralose, Sunflower Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol
Follow your intuition when identifying food additives. These are usually unpronounceable ingredients. However, food additives aren’t the only things to look for when buying a smoothie meal replacement. There are several other ingredients that can upset your stomach.
Avoid dairy products.
Whey and casein, dairy-based proteins that are byproducts of the cheese- and yogurt-making processes, are notorious for causing stomach upset, especially in people with lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Approximately 1 in 3 Americans is lactose intolerant, and the prevalence of IBS is 10–15 percent. So, you may have lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome and not be aware of it. On the other hand, it is unknown what causes it; lactose intolerance is clearly understood. People with lactose intolerance cannot fully digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. As you just learned, partially digested foods nourish the gas-producing bacteria in your gut.
Avoid protein concentrates and isolates.
Finding substitutes that are free of additives and dairy is difficult. It’s almost impossible to find additive-free, dairy-free products made from real food. Why? Most meal replacement products are made with protein concentrates and isolates*, foods from which everything, but protein has been removed. It undergoes heavy mechanical and chemical processing before it becomes soluble. Manufacturers sometimes use chemical solvents such as hexane to separate (separate) proteins from foods. In other words, what you put into your body doesn’t look like real food. (Your instincts always favor the real thing over mass-manufactured imitations.
Protein concentrates and isolates are replaced with high protein, minimally processed ingredients such as egg whites and almonds. Unless you have a sensitivity or allergy to eggs, egg white protein is the protein of choice for people with sensitive stomachs. PDCAAS). Our customers experience fewer digestive issues with egg white protein than with any other type of protein.We also like almonds because they are low FODMAPs and gentle on the gut. Studies show that almonds may improve the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota. Research also suggests that almonds have prebiotic properties, which means they stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.
