Sweet and Salty: Silk

Silk is sweet and salty. Surprised aren't you. I too was. From silk we are apprehensive of a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. But 'Silk' is a brand of soy milk and other dairy-substitute products, including soy yogurt and almond milk distributed by White Wave Foods, a subsidiary of Dean Foods. The name "Silk" is a portmanteau of "soy" and "milk"

 If we were to trace when it all started; i.e, making of soybeans into a drink, we would find the roots somewhere in China. The drink is popular in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.

Ecological Impact of Soybean Cultivation:

• It is more energy efficient than growing cows for obtaining milk. Because using the same amount of land for growing soy in one field and raising cows in the other, the land-use in the former case would feed more people than in the latter. As cows require more energy in order to produce milk owing to their consumption of up to 24 kg of food in dry matter and 90-180 liters of water on a daily basis for production of 40kg milk. 
• Soybean, a legume also replenishes nitrogen content when grown in the soil.

 Benefits of Soy Milk 

• It is an alternative to dairy milk .
• It is cheaper than milk 
• It can be a better alternative to a person who is lactose intolerant as it contains no lactose.
• It is low in fat and calories and high in many essential vitamins and minerals.
• It is 'heart smart'; i.e., is 100% cholesterol free and very low in saturated fat. Researches indicate that a daily intake of 25 g of soy protein may reduce risk of heart disease.
• It contains omega 3 fatty acid, a PUFA (poly unsaturated fatty acid) whose intake is helpful in reducing the risk of heart attack, rheumatism, diabetes. But for people who suffer from gout, purine in soy can make the condition worse. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends gout sufferers to limit consumption of soy product.
  
  
  
  
  
  Wonder Zone
  1. What are the controversies related to soybean cultivation for obtaining soy milk?
  2. Can silk, the  fiber obtained from the silk worm cocoons, obtained from any other animal.
  
  P.S. The questions appearing in wonder zone are self allotted exercises for the blog author :). BTW any person interested in answering my question can answer in the comment box embedded beneath the post.