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Today’s generation of children could aptly be called Generation A where the “A” stands for allergies. Food intolerances and of all kinds are rampant with the very first frequently becoming apparent when a formula-fed infant demonstrates an allergy to commercial milk-based formula. The typical recommendation by a conventional doctor in this case? Put baby on a soy formula such as Isomil or ProSobee immediately.
About 25% of American babies are fed soy infant formula according to the website of Dr. Sears.
Elemental infant formula might also be suggested, but these are usually reserved for preterm infants and those with specific medical problems such as severe allergies to both milk and soy. Elemental formulas also tend to be foul-tasting compared with milk or soy-based formula and babies tend to reject them for this reason.
Many parents make the switch to soy formula in haste hoping to ease the digestive discomfort their child is experiencing on commercial milk formulas not realizing the full implications of their decision.
In some cases, parents may never even try a dairy formula at all if a milk allergy already runs in the family. There is no evidence that using soy formula reduces the risk of a dairy allergy later, however. For this reason, the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of soy formula in infants who are potentially allergic to cow’s milk. A milk-based formula should still be the first choice even in those situations.
The Three Reasons Why Soy Formula is So Bad for Babies
The primary problems with soy protein found in non-dairy commercial formulas are threefold: trypsin inhibitors, phytic acid, and phytoestrogens.
Trypsin Inhibitors
These are proteins found in plentiful amounts in soybeans that inhibit digestion and absorption of nutrients. They are large in size and require the application of high heat for appreciable periods of time to neutralize.
The industrialized process of producing soy infant formula deactivates the majority of trypsin inhibitors. Unfortunately, some remain and even in low amounts, they have been found to prevent normal growth in rats. Given that a baby’s brain grows at its most rapid rate the first year of life, growing to about 75% percent of adult size (it is 25% of adult size at birth), even slight retardation of growth could be devastating to the development of the brain and nervous system.
Note that protease inhibitors in soy are also an issue, as they greatly hinder the digestion of protein. Potential harm to the pancreas is another grave risk.
Phytic Acid
Phytic acid is an organic acid, which like trypsin inhibitors, is present in large amounts in soybeans. Phytates are present in the outer portion of all seeds and block the absorption of critical minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron and particularly zinc. Phytic acid is also extremely irritating to the digestive tract.
Unlike other seeds, soybeans have extremely high amounts of a type of phytic acid. This anti-nutrient is particularly resistant to deactivation. Researchers testing soy formula in 1967 found that soy formula caused zinc deficiency in every single infant who received it. Again, this is due to the mineral blocking effect of phytates within the digestive system.
Zinc is known as the intelligence mineral because it is critical for the optimal development and functioning of the brain and nervous system. As a result, deficiency of this nutrient in infants at a time when the brain is growing at its most rapid rate could have lifelong implications and possibly reduce IQ.
Phytoestrogens or Isoflavones
Phytoestrogens represent the most serious problem with soy infant formula. These estrogen-like compounds have the potential to disrupt the baby’s hormonal system for life.
According to the Weston A. Price Foundation:
Toxicologists estimate that an infant exclusively fed soy formula receives the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day. By contrast, almost no phytoestrogens have been detected in dairy-based infant formula or in human milk, even when the mother consumes soy products. A recent study found that babies fed soy-based formula had 13,000 to 22,0000 times more isoflavones in their blood than babies fed milk-based formula.
Soy Formula Health Problems for Boys
Flooding of an infant boy’s bloodstream with female-like hormones has the potential to cause serious developmental problems at puberty. During the first few months of life, a baby boy has testosterone levels that could be as high as that of an adult male. This “testosterone surge” readies the baby boy’s hormonal system for puberty both for normal development of the sexual organs and also patterns of male behavior.
Could soy infant formula be responsible for the increasing problem of boys where physical maturation is delayed or even completely absent with retarded development of the sexual organs?
Soy Formula Health Problems for Girls
Baby girls fed soy infant formula may suffer negative hormonal impact as well from early soy exposure. In a 2011 published study, time-to-menarche was assessed in nearly 3,000 girls.
Those girls identified as early soy-fed via soy infant formula had a 25% increased risk of menarche specifically in early adolescence.
Early sexual development in girls can herald serious problems with the reproductive system later in life such as unexplained infertility and breast cancer.
Research from 2012 published in Biology of Reproduction’s Papers-in-Press describes the effects of plant estrogens found in soy on the mouse oviduct. The study was specifically designed to model the effects of soy-based baby formula on human infants. The results of the study suggest that exposure to estrogenic chemicals in the womb or during childhood has the potential to negatively affect a woman’s fertility as an adult.
Organic Soy Formula No Protection from Soy Dangers
Some parents mistakenly believe that genetically modified soy is the main problem and that buying organic soy formula is protective for their infant.
Nothing could be further from the truth. While organic soy formula does indeed provide a better quality source of soy, organic soy still has the same problems as GMO soy. Trypsin and protease inhibitors, high levels of phytic acid, and large amounts of hormone-disrupting plant estrogens can devastate the baby’s digestive development and hormones potentially for life!
Healthy Options to Soy Formula
Parents wishing to provide the highest quality formula for their baby should breastfeeding not be an option should consider a homemade formula made from grass-fed raw cow milk.
If cow milk is a problem, goat milk formula can be tried instead. Goat milk has a slightly different fat composition and protein profile that is easier for some babies to digest. Please note that powdered goat milk is not recommended. The powdering process denatures the fragile proteins in goat milk. Powdered goat milk is not as nutritious as whole raw goat milk. Moreover, the chances are high that it will cause an allergenic response in the baby at some point.
If all dairy even if unprocessed and grass-fed is still problematic, a homemade nondairy formula based on homemade bone broth can be utilized instead.
Thousands of mothers have successfully used these homemade formulas with their babies in recent decades with excellent results!
Weaning after Formula
One more point of note. When your child is ready to be weaned off homemade formula at one year old, skip the soymilk! Soy as a food or beverage is not any more appropriate for toddlers than it is for babies! If your child is allergic to raw milk from pastured animals (best choice), wean him/her onto a nutritious milk substitute instead.
Sources
How neonatal plant estrogen exposure leads to adult infertility
Soy Formulas?
More Information
Estrogenic Foods, Herbs, and Supplements
Soy Lecithin in Baby Formula
My 22 year old son was started on Soy milk at 3 weeks old at the advice of a neighbor who had recently put her 4 month old daughter on it. My neighbors daughter had been breast fed up until that point and then she was having trouble adjust to regular formula. My son was having trouble as well so I changed his formula. He did great and he continued on the soy milk until he was 12 months old. Fast forward. He is very small for his age 5’5 and 125 lbs. He is extremely smart but he did get testicular cancer when he was 16 years old. My neighbors daughter has 2 older siblings that are very tall and lean, however this young woman is very short, maybe 5′ tall, and very large breast. When she about 9 her mother noticed she was going through puberty very early. She was actually sent to a specialist because of this problem. I would NEVER give my babies this formula.
Both my sons were fed soy formula frm birth till 3 now 11 and 12 have growth delay GI issues autism the younger one has asthma and gi issues what can I do to reverse it
Well this info was informative but what about the vegan community . We don’t believe on feeding our infants cow’s milk because we don’t feel it is necessary and it hurts animals and the environment. Haven’t seen any alternative for vegans
Sorry, but there isn’t an option for vegans. I would encourage you to revisit your nutritional beliefs before they damage your health and the health of your children. Even medical doctors recommend strongly against a vegan diet for growing children. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/12-year-old-vegan-has-the-degenerating-bones-of-80-year-old/
Wow this is very interesting. I have three daughters my youngest was switched to soy formula she is now 9 years old. She is as tall as her sister and her teeth started falling out very early she has also needed to use deodorant since she was 5 years old. She started her menstrual cycle this year at age 9. Her sisters and i started between 12 and 13. I totally blam soy formula after reading this.
I have read books that correlate diary with eczema.
Actually I’m guessing you haven’t spent much time in Asia Sally. Soy in products is very common as well as drinking soy milk across all age groups. Not too surprising is it given the higher number of people who are lactose intolerant? I won’t comment on the validly of your article given I’m no expert. I however can say every person probably has their own reasons for feeding their kids soy. We are considering giving it to our baby as she is refusing all the regular formulas out there and our doc had no concerns about us trying. This article can probably be made more relavant to people if it had a more balanced pros vs cons view.
Traditionally, soy has only been consumed in small amounts as a fermented condiment in Asia.
Your claims about soy milk drinking and soy eating in Asia are inaccurate: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/soy-milk/
Dear Sarah,
Thankyou for the information. I would love to have you send this info to First Lady Trump. Maybe she will care about our children.
I wonder about China, Japan, and other Asian countries. They feed their children soy products the moment solids are introduced. Persumably if soy was so harmful to infants and children, the World Health Organisation would have publicized a warning? I don’t believe I have read anywhere about sexual development issues being specific to Asian children given how much soy is a part of their regular diet. Fertility also doesn’t seem to be a problem. I have read the findings; however, I do wonder how much is speculative or, if these issues are specific to the Caucasian race.
Um, have you actually ever visited these countries? If soy is fed at all, it is in tiny amounts. The ONLY soy that was eaten traditionally in these countries, was fermented soy as tempeh, natto or miso and again, in SMALL amounts. Not a predominant or only food in the diet like disastrous soy formula which only came on the market in the 1970’s.
My baby was feed soy formula until 12 month old after that she drank soy milk until 2 years old now she doesn’t have any soy does she will have any problems ? What can I do now to avoid any future hormonal or what ever problem ? Thanksp
My daughter was fed a soy based formula and she is now at college studying biomedical science I wouldn’t put too much stock in this article
I’m glad your daughter is so successful. I am wondering though, does she experience hormonal issues? Soy formula is going to harm the endocrine system the most … not necessarily intelligence.