Is it good for children to drink soy milk?

Many people in the process of raising babies often choose soy milk to replace cow's milk to help children receive many health benefits. In fact, is it good for children to drink soy milk?

If mothers have been choosing soy milk to replace cow's milk or infant formula, it is very important to pay attention to the characteristics of these two types of milk to avoid harming the health of their babies.

To find out if it is good for children to drink soy milk, let's learn about the benefits as well as recommendations when you give your baby the above replacement milk.

1. Choose soy milk that contains fat

At toddler's age, babies can drink soy milk instead of cow's milk. However, there are a few notes that parents should keep in mind when giving their children to drink. Fat is extremely essential for the brain development of children under 2 years old, so parents should choose whole soy milk instead of low-fat or skim milk for children. If your child has cardiovascular disease, hypertension or genetic obesity, the doctor will recommend low-fat milk first.

2. Choose soy milk that contains vitamins A, D and calcium

When choosing to buy soy milk for children, parents need to pay attention to buy the type with added components vitamin A, vitamin D and calcium. Parents should enhance their toddler's diet with calcium-rich and other calcium-fortified foods because soy milk contains phytates. This is the organic matter found in whole grains , legumes, and nuts that can reduce the absorption of calcium and minerals.

If a bottle of fortified soy milk produces a glass of milk with 200−300 mg of calcium, studies show that the body can only absorb 75% of that calcium. Parents need to choose calcium-rich foods such as broccoli, cornflakes, yogurt, cheese and calcium-fortified juices, cereals, waffles or breakfast cakes.

Due to its plant origin, soy milk does not contain the same vitamin B12 as animal foods such as cow's milk. The best way for children to start their day with full nutrients without missing a favorite drink is to offer them nutritious cereals with soy milk.

3. Soy milk can also cause allergies

If your baby is allergic to cow's milk, there is a 10−14% chance that he or she will also be allergic to soy milk. Therefore, you should not assume that soy milk is the right substitute if your child is having problems with cow's milk allergy. Parents can also choose to buy flavored soymilk or add flavoring themselves if the child doesn't like to drink light milk.

In addition to protein, many soy milk companies also emphasize their products contain isoflavones. This ingredient is similar to the hormone estrogen found in plants such as whole grains, potatoes, dried beans, and apples. Ingredients in this soy protein often appear in infant formula and there is currently no evidence that this substance has a serious effect on your baby.

Milk is an indispensable part of a baby's diet. However, if children drink soy milk or not, parents can refer to the above sharing to find out the best choice for your baby to develop healthy.