Benefits of a Soy Free Meal Replacement Shake

By Matt Smith

Published: April 8, 2025

Rootana is a soy free meal replacement shake. Instead of using soy, it uses oats and peas to provide protein. But why have we chosen to avoid soy? In this article, we will take a look at the benefits of a soy free meal replacement shake.

Soy is a common source of protein in meal replacement shakes this is because it is a complete protein, it is vegan, and it is cheap to use. But many people do not like soy, or they are allergic to it. Offering a vegan meal replacement shake that is free from soy can help to provide more options for vegans and omnivores alike.

Alternatives to soy, such as pea protein, offer many benefits. Soy is high in phytoestrogens which can unbalance the hormones of some men and women. It can also cause issues for vegans who rely upon it for iron and zinc. Soy is also a large contributor to greenhouse gases and deforestation. It also can reduce biodiversity.

What is Soy?

Soy is short for soybean, which is a legume that grows naturally in East Asian countries such as Japan and China. It is often used in Asian cuisine, where it can be used for soy sauce, tofu, tempeh, and even as vegetable oil.

Soy is growing increasingly popular in the West as vegetarianism and veganism become more mainstream. It is an excellent source of protein, and it is completely plant-based. Soy is also used by dairy farmers to feed their cows cheaply. You may therefore be consuming more soy than you think!

Why is Soy So Popular in Meal Replacement Shakes?

Soy is popular with meal replacement shakes because it is plant-based, cheap to buy, and has a complete amino acid profile.

Making it ideal for building muscle. Soy can also be used for carbohydrates, which is done so by some big-name companies in the industry. Soybeans contain 26-30% carbohydrates. Once the oil has been extracted, that percentage creeps up to around 40% [1].

Downsides of Soy

There is nothing wrong with soybeans, provided they are used correctly. Consuming a moderate amount of soy each day is perfectly fine. However, if your diet is already high in soy, and most vegans tend to fit into this category, adding a soy-based meal replacement shake can cause issues.

Studies have found that too much soy can lead to gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, diarrhoea, and constipation. It can also affect thyroid function in some people [2]. High amounts of soy may also be unhealthy for pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding.

Most soy that is grown in the USA is genetically modified. It is also sprayed with controversial weed killers [3].

Benefits of a Soy Free Meal Replacement Shake

The main benefit of having a soy free meal replacement shake is that it increases the choice available to people. Many people are allergic to soy, or they dislike its taste/side effects. There are also people who may not like the environmental impact of soy farming.

Of course, it depends on what you are using instead of soy. If you are replacing soy with whey protein, for example, then you may not actually be improving the shake. It all depends on the unique needs and preferences of each person.

Why Rootana is Soy Free

Rootana tries to be as healthy and as environmentally friendly as possible. Because of this, Rootana chose to use pea protein instead of soy protein. Pea protein is just as good a protein source as soy, with fewer downsides.

But pea protein is much more environmentally friendly than soy protein, making it a better choice for keeping a low carbon footprint. Pea protein is also hypoallergenic, contains higher concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), making it better for muscle building, and it is prepared in a way that uses fewer pesticides, and peas are not genetically modified.

Final Thoughts on Soy Free Meal Replacement Shake Benefits

While soy does have some downsides, it is by no means a terrible choice. It just happens that some of the downsides don’t align with our goals at Rootana. That’s why we made Rootana a soy free meal replacement shake.

We are happy that the decision we made is better for building muscle, better for the environment, and better for health and nutrition. By all means keep soy in your diet. In fact, having a soy free meal replacement shake makes it easier to fit soy into your diet without overconsumption. So grab that tofu and soy sauce!

References

[1] https://www.preparedfoods.com/articles/107443-reviewing-soybean-carbohydrates

[2] https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/soy

[3] https://www.vivolife.co.uk/blogs/news/pea-protein-versus-soy-protein-whats-the-difference

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The Nutrition You Need. And Nothing You Don't.

Rootana is a 400 calorie complete meal, with 27 vitamins and minerals. And no unwanted extra ingredients.

Complete Nutrition: Perfect Balance of Macros, Vitamins & Minerals

Rootana is a perfectly balanced combination of complex carbohydrates for slow energy release, the right amount of protein for a balanced meal and all 27 vitamins and minerals.

No Half Measures: 400 Calories Per Serving

Many meal shakes are simply too low in calories and too high in protein to be a complete meal, meaning they're little more than a protein shake. Rootana fuels you effectively and has the perfect macro split for a balanced meal.

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No Sweeteners: No Stevia, No Sucralose, No Aspartame, No Acesulfame K, No Monk Fruit

We don't include any sweeteners as they don't provide any nutritional benefit and may have short or long-term unwanted effects. Rootana is naturally flavored with a small amount of coconut sugar.

Tastes Like Real Food: Because It Is Real Food

With no sweeteners like acesulfame k, aspartame, stevia or sucralose (Splenda), Rootana tastes like real food. That means no artificial after taste and none of that bloated feeling that many sweeteners cause.