SEARCH:
Sign in | Join | Help
search Mercola.com
 
FREE Subscription 
The World’s Most Popular Natural Health Newsletter
An Urgent Warning to Parents About the Dangers of Soy Milk for Babies

Two vegan parents have been convicted of murder and given life sentences in prison for starving their 6-week-old baby to death.

Though the parents may have thought they were doing the right thing, they were feeding their child a completely inadequate combination of soy milk and apple juice along with a small, but insufficient, amount of breast milk.

Now, soy experts are again calling for clear and proper warning labels on all soy milk products -- indicating that it should NEVER be used in place of infant formula -- following this and several other babies' hospitalizations or deaths under similar circumstances.

Soy infant formula, which currently constitutes 25 percent of the bottle-fed market, is required by law to be heavily supplemented with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids that are not found in brands of soy milk. Though it does not pose an immediate danger to babies, as is the case with soy milk, the Israeli Health Ministry, French Food Agency, British Dietetic Associations and other government bodies have warned parents and pediatricians that it poses health risks to the developing baby and should only be used as a last resort.

WholeSoyStory.com May 11, 2007


Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Soy milk does not contain the nutrients that children need for their growth. In fact, the idea that soy milk is healthy, in and of itself, is a complete myth. Feeding your baby soy milk will lead to severe vitamin, mineral, fatty acid and amino acid deficiencies that can clearly be deadly.

Soy infant formula is not a healthy alternative; it is one of the worst foods you can give your child.

Soy formula poses some serious health hazards, including:

  • ADD/ADHD, brain damage, and altered behavior due to very high levels of manganese
  • Thyroid disease and interference with proper reproductive development due to elevated isoflavone levels; a soy-fed baby receives the equivalent of five birth control pills' worth of estrogen every day, and they have isoflavone levels 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than normal
  • Speech disturbances and reduced brain function, as it contains more than 1,000 percent more aluminum than conventional milk-based formulas

Please, never, ever feed your baby (or any child under the age of 18) soy infant formula or soy milk. And remember, this includes all organic varieties as well.

What you should feed your babies is the food nature intended: breast milk. Studies have also shown that babies who are breastfed exclusively have better functioning immune systems, as well as added protection against:

  • Heart disease
  • Immune system cancers such as lymphoma
  • Asthma and allergies
  • Respiratory infections
  • Eczema
  • Type 1 and type 2 diabetes

If for some reason breast feeding is absolutely not an option, you should take a look at this recipe for a healthy infant formula.

Related Articles:





 
 Do you find this article interesting?
Comment on This Article Community Comments (53)
 
 
Posted On May 28, 2007
Keep sounding the alarm regarding soy for ANYONE. I nearly killed my thyroid gland with several years use of soy isoflavone products for pms and perimenopausal symptoms. My hair fell out, gained weight, suffered severe joint pains, depression and severe exhaustion to the point I would cry every morning when I had to get up. It 2 years after stopping all soy to find a doctor to treat my thyroid symptoms rather than my thyroid lab test. Then I found Dr. Mercola and an antiaging doc who gives me armour thyroid. I exercise now and follow a no grain, whole food diet and I feel great! I can't imagine what soy is doing to a baby's body.

 
qtface
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 6/2006
qtface  
 
 
 
Posted On May 29, 2007
I hope my memory is correct---Being an X contractor i used to make trips to the DUMP often. One day i was unloading my waste material and the boy that worked there ask me to guess what was in a huge dumpster. I noticed it smelled bad, looked even worse and was smoldering even worse than that. He said they were holding it there for another place to accept it for disposal because they couldn't dispose of hazordess material. He also said that his info was that the U.S. made it but couldn't sell it here, it was shipped to other countries for use. Well, I almost grapped my paints when he told me it was a mixture they use in BABY FOOD! I just couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. I kept trying to eliminate even the thought of it from my mind. There is NO WAY this could be possible, not in this country. But over the years and with more disturbing info coming out, it seems it is a natural occurance for the making and selling of hazordess products---even for the comsumption of the most precious thing known to mankind. I wonder what goes through a persons mind when he puts a dollar sign above the safety of a childs health? Very disturbing!

 
Rogway
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
Rogway  
Replied

Rogway
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Rogway  
 
Posted On May 29, 2007
PS:----I have been giving this isue a lot of thought. Please excuse me for even thinking such a thing but I have to add this in. Wouldn't this be a form of slow and suffering abortion? Where are all of the abortion activist on issues like this? Doesn't this matter too! I don't know about the rest of you guys but I am fed up with the this kind of crap. I was going to put the other word i had in mind but i wouldn't want Dr. Mercola to remove me from commenting.


Rogway
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Rogway  
 
Posted On May 29, 2007
gammagirl--I know where you are coming from-believe me. We fed our grandaughter one after the other formula until we found one that she could hold down. We were told she was just having a reaction to it. After all it was baby food. I realize a lot of us yet know anything about the food we consume, or feed our children, especially me. I was only trying to point out that those who make this food should not be allowed to add in stuff that might harm a child. They should be forced to add in only good and healthy ingredients, as we are sometimes forced to eat bad and unhealthy ingredients. I could never accuse a mother of knowingly harming a child just by feeding it something that she doesn't know what is in it, as we didn't. I have seen mothers give the miracle of birth and no, I wouldn't think of one as being a criminal at all-not after what she went through. The phrase "slow and suffering abortion" was not meant in any way toward a parent. It was meant directly toward the knowingly makers of BABY food who are allowed to market and sell their hazordess products-not to parents who unknowingly feed it. Remember the baby-carrot article? I fed them to my grandson unknowingly what the hazards were, but now I do not buy them anymore thanks to the info from Dr. Mercola and fellow Mercolains. A lot of information that is coming out now is helping me side-track a lot of harmful things for me and mine. And yes, I do believe that those bi-cameral minded cracker jacks in washington shold share more of a responsability for allowing food makers to sell their harmful stuff to the public. That is why I WILL remember them come election day. Once again, my comment on this article was in no way meant toward a parent. Thanks gammagirl for pointing it out for me so I could have the opportunity to fully explain my view.

 
 
 
Posted On Jun 14, 2007
How does one go about milking a soybean anyway? Must be time consuming...you must need very small fingers...

 
Alaskadude
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 2/2007
Alaskadude  
Replied

carebear_203
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2007
carebear_203  
 
Posted On Jun 14, 2007
I just laughed out loud at that one... :)


mama_of2
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
mama_of2  
 
Posted On Jun 14, 2007
Alaska dude- you made my day! I was laughing so much with tears  and I could not see my keyboard!
Dr. Mercola- can you find out why they call it soy MILK? ( has nothing to do with milk.)

 
 
 
Posted On May 28, 2007
If people are going to have children, they need to educate themselves. People are so afraid of all these good quality fats that are in milk, for god knows what reason. Little do they know that the fats and nutrients that are in breast milk are essentially what makes the baby's GI system and CNS grow

 
Josh Rubin
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 6/2006
Josh Rubin  
Replied

Wedgirl
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 3/2007
Wedgirl  
 
Posted On Jun 14, 2007
Not only is breastfeeding most healthy for the infant, but it is beneficial to the mother as well.  I miss that special bonding time most now that my children are older.  It is conveniently packaged and instantly ready to go anytime of the day and yes even in the quiet of the evening.   I credit breastfeeding for the close bond that my family still shares today. 

 
 
 
Posted On Jun 14, 2007
All said above, case closed..

The only soy products that should be consumed should be the fermented soy like natto, tempeh, miso etc..

For those who have been giving their kids soy based formula STOP RIGHT NOW and seek help from a qualified doctor to determine the extent of damage if any and treatment options; hopefully for most all is not lost and can be treated successfully.
 
The human body is the most forgiving "instrument" i know of, but don't wait till the horse is out of the stable.....

 
seg
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
seg  
 
 
 
 
© Copyright 2009 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.