World Plant Milk Day. Sounds strange right? Well, don’t get confused. It is an actual day and every 22 August we celebrate this day to remind us of the goodness of plant milk.

Milk derived from plants are healthy, providing our body with valuable nutrients and minerals which give us the energy to live a robust and complete life. A notable fact about plant milk is that it is lactose-free, which makes it a great alternative for people who are lactose-intolerant. Also, vegans can consume plant milk.

Examples of plant-based milks are soy milk, almond milk, tiger nut milk, coconut milk, oat milk, cashew milk, rice milk and pea milk. Some of these plant-based milk we already consume or may have come across in supermarkets when we go shopping. Now that we know plant milk is nutritious and a must have with our meals, let’s focus on the benefits of soy milk.

One thing that will go well with this article is a glass of cold soy milk and if you don’t have it in your hands right now, go get one and as you take a sip, read up on the benefits of soy milk to the body.

Rich in Protein

Soy milk made from soybeans is very rich in protein. The protein in soy is complete protein (this means it contains all of the essential amino acids your body cannot make but needs to obtain from food). Protein itself is essential to life as we need it to grow, develop and perform life functions. To boost our protein intake, we need soy milk.

Great for the Brain

The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body. More than a 100 billion nerves communicate in our brain with trillions of connections (wow, that’s huge). Our brain does a lot and we need to keep it in top-notch condition.

One way we can help maintain brain functions is through our diet. A diet which includes soy milk is beneficial to our brain because this nutritious milk contains omega 3-fatty acids. Omega 3-fatty acids help reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and soybeans is one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Good for the Heart

Our heart is special. It sends blood around the body all day and all night (talk about a hard-working organ). Soy milk is vital to our hearts because it contains potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. Other benefits of soy milk to the heart include helping to maintain a regular pulse and lowering the cholesterol levels of people with high cholesterol.

Promotes Healthy Muscles

Staying fit is very necessary. Apart from going to the gym and engaging in other physical activities, consuming the right food is key for proper development of the muscles. We can aid muscle building and strength by including protein in our diets, especially soy protein. The benefits of soy milk to our muscles include repair and recovery of sagging muscles, and toning of certain muscles. These are possible due to the presence of calcium in this rich drink.

The benefits of soy milk go beyond helping our heart, brain and muscles to function well. Consumption of soy milk also promotes better hair growth, great skin and improves mood. With all these benefits, it’s important to make the smart choice today for healthy living and a bubbly you.

Eneh Veronica Ejembi is a digital content professional and public relations executive.