soy milk

[ycnim]

What's everyone's take on soy milk?

My 14 month old does not like cow's milk and today I tried soy milk.  She drank it all!  Amazing?

I still feed her cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products to make sure she's getting calcium that way, but she just won't drink cow's milk no matter what I do.

Any thoughts?

I bought the organic type and it shows it has similar vitamin amounts as milk.

Open to hearing what you all have to say (good or bad) about soy milk.

[punkrockmama13]

You might want to research it, there is a natural byproduct of soy that mimics the estrogen hormone. I'm not sure if it is in the milk. I give my son almond milk because he won't drink cows milk either.
I don't know if your daughter is old enough for nuts, but you could also try rice milk.

[ycnim]

which do you prefer as far as better for them?  rice or almond milk?

[bshredy3]

We thought my son was allergic dairy and soy, so he drank rice or almond milk. I think the almond has a few more nutrients than the rice, but I can't remember for sure. Almond is thicker than rice. When we first started introducing him to something other than breastmilk, we used rice milk because it was closest in consistency.

 He's recently had a skin test, which didn't show an allergy to soy, so we give him soy milk also. I also have heard about the byproduct of soy and estrogen, but I think it's only a problem if you eat and drink LOTS of soy products. You might want to research that though. Anyway, we switch back and forth between soy and almond. He drinks either, athough I think he prefers the almond.

[punkrockmama13]

I think the almond has more nutrients as well, but I'm not 100 percent.

[naturerin]

Almond definitely has more of the "healthy" fats than rice milk. Other than the fortification of vitamins, I don't think rice milk has much nutritional value. My 12 month old does not drink cow's milk either (dh and I don't, so I figure there's no reason for her to). We give her a variety of soymilk (I don't think there's a problem as long as you don't give her an abundance of soy - moderation is always key), almond milk, and even some coconut milk. Sometimes I will even mix almond and soy or almond and rice or any other combo! She loves it all! I was very surprised by how easily she transitioned from breast milk to the others. hope that helps!

[ycnim]

Is Soy Milk Good For You?

 

Is Soy Milk Good For You?

Soy milk is not new, and there is some evidence that it was being produced in China almost 2,000 years ago. It is part of the product of producing tofu, much like milk makes cheese, and so it has been known for, at least, 500 years in the east.
I am a big fan of soy milk myself, especially the chocolate kind you can find in the coolers at my local grocery store. It helps me balance my diet, tastes good, and replaces some less healthy food. It seems like a fairly safe and low calorie to get my chocolate fix every day. Soy milk is high in protein and fiber, and it seems to be filling and reduce other food cravings too.
In my personal experience, it seems to combat some symptoms of menopause too.  This is a common cliam that has not been scientifically demonstrated, and not everybody makes the same claim.
Some people report problems when they add this “wonder food” into their diet.  Studies have raised questions about long term health issues too. So is soy milk good for us, or does it contain some hidden health dangers?

What’s To Like (or not) About Soy Milk?

• Soy contains  phytoestrogen or plant estrogen precursors. So for some women, it may relieve symptoms of menopause, and also provide a hormone boost for post-menopausal women. Now there is some debate on this subject, and some women report feeling worse. 
• Soy Allergies- Some people may actually have a food allergy to soy which actually compounds symptoms of other problems. So the benefit of soy is individual. Personally, I find it helps me, but the Mayo clinic lists Soy as one of the top 10 food allergens, along with milk, eggs, peanuts, etc.  I am lucky because I really do not have particular food sensitivities,  so I did not experience ill effects.
• Heart Healthy - The FDA has approved a heart healthy claim on soy products. The Mayo Clinic also gave soy a pass, and said that most people could improve their health risks and substitute soy for many less healthy foods. It only makes sense to me that you could drink a glass or two of soy milk a day, and take in no cholesterol or saturated fat, and then reduce your intake of some of the less heart healthy foods you should avoid. Keep in mind that some foods that contain soy may also have some ingredients that are not so good for you like salt and sugar.
• Cancer – There has not been any real evidence to suggest that soy use promotes disease like breast or prostrate cancer. In fact, in Asian countries where soy is more popular, these diseases are more rare.
• Soy and Thyroid Problems  – There have been some claims that soy can interfere with thyroid funciton, especially with people who already suffer from hypothyroidism. The Mayo clinic advises people on thyroid medications to take their medication at  a different time of day than when they enjoy soy based food, but does not believe that people need to avoid soy in normal amounts. Other suggestions were to make sure that people who do consumer soy based products also take care to get plenty of iodine in their diet from supplements, dairy foods, or enriched table salt.

So is Soy Milk Good Food?
Again, my experience with soy milk has been positive. I drink a couple of glasses a day, however, and consider it a part of my diet. Some people with health issues or food allergies may want to consult with their doctors to make sure that the benefits of this popular drink with outweigh any health risks.
If you have any opinions, we’d love to hear them. You can register for free and make comments about your positive or negative reactions to soy milk.  You can also join the forum discussion on the benefits of soy milk.

[ycnim]

This is ALL so interesting!   I plan to spend more time researching before diving into anything just yet.

[KITTYCAT1]

 My kids don't drink cow's milk. They drink Almond milk and Coconut milk (which has more calcium than milk!). I give my kids soy, but not a lot. They eat whole soy (edamame & tofu). I think it's fine in moderation.