Is it Healthy for Children to Eat Soy Products?

Soy products have grown to make up a large percentage of the ingredients in food products currently on the market.  You will find soy in everything from infant formula to meat replacements and more.  However, recent studies have suggested that soy products might actually be bad for children.  Is this true?  And, if so, what harm might come from giving soy to your children?

First, the concern about this food product and children stems from the estrogenic isoflavins in the product, particularly in infant formula.  The effects seem most prominent in male children, though female children can also experience issues.  The issue is actually fear of a delayed onset of puberty caused by eating large doses of soy, but these fears so far have proven to be unfounded.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has gone to great lengths to assure the public that soy products are actually quite safe for children.  In fact, your kids can eat up to three servings of soy per day and never be in any danger from the estrogen in the product.

In fact, adding soy products to your kids’ diets is actually a good thing.  You will find that it can help to lower cholesterol levels, as well as improving lung function.  You will also find that this is a great way to add more fiber to your kids’ diets, which can have long lasting benefits for their health.

Finally, soy also contains lots of protein, and if eaten as a meat supplement or replacement, you’ll be helping prevent some types of cancers in your child, such as cancer of the stomach.  The key – as with all things – is eating soy products in moderation.