Soy milk is not as good as cow’s milk

There are many childcare tips that have been passed on from mother to mother and become “pocket” knowledge that many people apply and trust. However, not all of these word-of-mouth tips are correct. Below is the truth about some common rumors in the field of nutrition for your beloved baby that mothers should also refer to and learn from.

Soy milk is just as good as cow’s milk

Not true! Cow’s milk is the best option to replace breast milk because cow’s milk protein is quite similar to the protein in breast milk. Soy protein is completely different from animal protein, while newborns grow based on animal protein. Soybeans are quite safe, but not always necessary. Parents whose children are gassy often tend to switch to soy-based formula in the hope of reducing gas, but soy milk is not necessarily easier to digest than cow’s milk.
For babies who are allergic to cow’s milk protein, soy milk can be an alternative, but an even better choice is hydrolyzed formula, in which cow’s milk protein is broken down to avoid causing an allergic reaction. In general, soy milk is only recommended for full-term, healthy infants who are not breastfed and are intended to be raised on a vegetarian diet. This type of milk can also be used for children with congenital carbohydrate metabolism disorders, who cannot digest the sugar in cow’s milk due to metabolic problems.

Cannot replace cow’s milk

You should not replace cow’s milk with soy milk or any other type of beverage. Clearly, protein in milk of animal origin is different from plant-based protein.

Soy milk contains a lot of protein and fat but it is only plant protein and cannot provide all the essential nutrients for children. Especially for infants under 6 months of age, 100% of their nutrition needs to come from animal protein. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition; in addition, animal milk can be used as a replacement or supplement. Animal milk is processed with formulas that add micronutrients, such as iron, to meet the nutritional needs of children and ensure good development.

Soy milk only contains natural nutrients that are available in soybeans and cannot fully meet nutritional needs. Therefore, you should not think of using soy milk as a substitute for animal milk.

No one can deny the benefits of soy milk. Soy has the effect of lowering blood pressure, reducing blood cholesterol levels, and preventing arteriosclerosis in the elderly. The protein content in soy milk is very high and contains many essential amino acids, which are very beneficial for health… However, because it is of plant origin, it still cannot replace cow’s milk. According to nutrition experts, using soy milk to replace cow’s milk is unnecessary and can lead to the risk of malnutrition in young children.

Choosing safe milk products and maintaining the habit of using this type of food is still the best way to bring good health to your family.