Benefits of soy are multiple: soy is nature’s nutritional treasure, especially for individuals who cannot tolerate cow’s milk. It contains important nutrients similar to cow’s milk including protein, calcium, B vitamins, iron and zinc.
Unlike cow’s milk, soy milk is very low in saturated fat and is cholesterol-free. Soy is an excellent and natural source of important nutrients which are essential for a growth and overall health.
A key benefit of soy is that it provides a complete source of high quality dietary proteins. Unlike most plant proteins, soy contains all the essential amino acids we need in our diet1. This is why it is commonly consumed by vegetarians or those who cannot tolerate animal protein.
Unlike cow’s milk, soy formula is free of lactose. Lactose intolerance can cause symptoms such as gas, abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, breathing difficulties and irritability2. This is because bacteria in your large intestine produce gas from the undigested lactose.
You may also develop a temporary case of lactose intolerance due to injuries to the gut linings, caused by conditions such as acute gastroenteritis and persistent diarrhoea.1
Soy formula is free of proteins found in cow’s milk, which can cause an allergic reaction in some young children.
Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is often confused with lactose intolerance but differs in that the proteins (not the lactose) in cow’s milk are the cause. It is also the most common food allergy in young children and may persist up to school-going age3. Symptoms include spit-ups, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, blood in the stool, skin rash, swelling of the lips or eyelids, breathing difficulties, colic and gas.1
Soy formula is a type of formulated milk that consists of soy protein isolates, supplemented with the amino acid L-methionine. It is not a form of soy drink which is found in supermarkets. It is similar to a cow’s milk formula in terms of nutrient profile.
Like cow’s milk, soy formula has also been shown to support normal cognitive development4. It is also enriched with essential nutrients to support a child’s growth and development. Today, improvements in soy formula have enriched the nutritious drink with added DHA, AA, lutein, prebiotics and calcium.
References:
1Julia R. Barrett. The Science of Soy: What Do We Really Know? Environ Health Perspect. 2006 June; 114(6): A352–A358. Retrieved on Dec 30, 2015 from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1480510/.
2WebMD. Lactose Intolerance. Retrieved on Sept 1, 2015 from: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/lactose-intolerance-topic-overview.
3Academy of Medicine Singapore. Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines – Management of Food Allergy. 2/2010, June 2010. Retrieved on Dec 30, 2015 from: https://www.moh.gov.sg/.
4Skripak J, et al. The natural history of IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2007; 120(5): 1172-77. Retrieved on Dec 30, 2015 from: http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(07)01589-8/abstract.
Keep an eye out for 2’-FL, known to support your child’s natural body defences, the next time you visit the formula milk section.
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Cow milk allergy is the second most common food allergy in young children. Learn more about CMA and how you can diagnose it and manage it.
Choose a formula with no palm olein for with better absorption of key nutrients such as DHA, AA and calcium.
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