Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages in Australia, with many people needing a cup daily. Recent research has discovered that making one small change to your coffee can improve your health—simply swap regular milk for something else!

Adding Soy Milk to Your Coffee Could Help Improve Blood Pressure and Reduce Inflammation

Research suggests that replacing regular milk with soy milk in your coffee might not be the most popular choice, but it can help improve blood pressure and reduce inflammation levels.

A study revealed that using soy milk as a substitute for regular milk could bring about better health outcomes compared to standard dairy milk.

Soy milk, made from soybeans, became popular in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional dairy products. However, in recent years, its popularity has declined, as soy milk is often sweetened and classified as an "ultra-processed food."

In contrast, plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk or oat milk have gained more popularity.

But recently, researchers conducted a large-scale analysis of 17 trials involving more than 500 participants to examine the health impacts of replacing cow's milk with soy milk.

The average duration of each trial was about four weeks, with participants drinking around 500 milliliters of milk daily (whether dairy or soy milk).

The research team found that, across all studies, substituting soy milk for regular milk was associated with lower cholesterol levels, reduced blood pressure, and decreased inflammation markers.

Why Soy Milk Might Be a Healthier Choice

As a result, the authors of the study suggested that policymakers should consider exempting fortified soy milk from the "ultra-processed food" category, as this classification "could be misleading."

They also noted that the total sugar content in soy milk was, on average, about 60% lower than that in regular milk.

The research team wrote in the journal BMC Medicine:

“Existing evidence suggests that replacing cow's milk with soy milk may benefit adult blood lipids (fats), blood pressure, and inflammation.”

Earlier studies have shown that pea milk is the only plant-based alternative close to cow's milk in terms of nutritional levels.

Scientists have studied the key nutrients in milk and analyzed 85 samples of pea milk, soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, oat milk, and rice milk.

Pea milk contains the highest levels of phosphorus, zinc, and selenium, while soy milk is rich in magnesium.

However, no plant-based milk is nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk.

Final Thoughts

If you're tired of your coffee with regular milk, why not try switching to soy milk? You may find that this small change brings unexpected health benefits.