Soya milk vs Fura da nono are our face off drinks today on this edition of drink wars. Now, most of you would most likely have taken or at least heard of the refreshing soya milk drink before now. But, fura da nono, that one might be a confusing one.
Not to worry, you are going to know a lot more about these two drinks. All you have to do is keep scrolling down. There is a question that we will be answering today. The question is this: from a nutritional point of view, which of these drinks is superior?
Soya milk
It is a smooth, slightly yellow drink that is made from soybeans. Soya milk is a plant based, non-dairy milk that is often used instead of milk. Lactose intolerant folks will be smiling really widely right about now. That’s not all, this creamy milk has some more important advantages
Soy milk is made entirely of what is called vegetable proteins. This type of protein helps to prevent excessive excretion of calcium through the kidneys. This means a reduced chance of osteoporosis.
in addition to soya milk containing no lactose, very few people are allergic to soy milk. This means it will be very hard for anyone to be allergic to both lactose (dairy milk) and soy milk.
Soy has been found to reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood. Because of this, soy could indeed significantly reduce the occurrence of heart issues.
The most important benefit of soya milk is that it contains isoflavones. Isoflavones are incredibly useful compounds; they reduce the risk of some types of cancer while preventing osteoporosis. They are also powerful antioxidants and are great for reduction of cholesterol in the body and reducing menopausal symptoms.
If you are wondering the quantity of soy milk that is safe to consume, 2-3 servings per day hits the spot. You might have also heard that taking soy milk can lead to infertility in men. This has not been scientifically proven, in fact, soya milk might even reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Fura da nono
This is a drink that is more common in the northern parts of Nigeria. Fura da nono simply means millet and milk gruel in English. If you have ever been to the north, then your experience is not complete without having this thick drink.
The drink is made by blending millet balls and fresh cow milk yoghurt together. The resulting thick and grainy treat is slightly sour and sweet at the same time.
Millet is gluten free and is an important probiotic that keeps necessary microorganisms in the body happy. Millet flower is also rich in Magnesium, calcium, B Vitamins, and antioxidants.
You also get some bone building goodness from the nono (cow milk yoghurt) in the drink. Add to this some cholesterol lowering abilities of the B vitamins and digestive aid provided by the alkaline nature of the drink and you have a winner.
There have been some cases of fever and typhoid associated with consumption of Fura da Nono. This is because sometimes the drink is not prepared hygienically. So, you might want to make sure the one you take is properly prepared.
The verdict
This soya milk vs fura da nono battle is a little tough to call, really. Both drinks have genuine health benefits and are easy to source. Generally, though, it seems soy milk is still the healthier drink here.
You might want to consider replacing that cow milk carton with soy milk. Or even visit your local Fura da Nono spot to get a bottle of that yummy, creamy goodness. You should also be careful, both of these drinks can be fattening for some.
Whichever one you decide on, though, you are in good company. I am preparing a cup of my own soya milk recipe as I write, cheers!