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My mother reminds me that as a baby, I was very fussy.  It wasn’t until her and my pediatrician switched me to soy formula that the “colic” went away.  I’ve never been able to tolerate milk.  Up until I got pregnant with my son 2 1/2 years ago, I never worried about the soy products I was consuming.  Now I’m faced with a toddler who we suspect may have an allergy to dairy products.  And I’m nursing a baby girl and am concerned about the potential hormonal effects of soy consumption.

Last week I had an opportunity to speak with Dr. Alan Greene.  I had an opportunity to meet him in person last year at a Los Angeles Spa Event for Episencial and Sprout Baby.  Dr. Greene has an incredible repertoire of knowledge and experience as a physician, professor, and father.  Here is a brief bio:

Dr. Alan Greene is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, an Attending Pediatrician at Packard Children’s Hospital, Senior Fellow at the University California San Francisco Center for the Health Professions, and a father of four.  Dr. Greene is a regular columnist for Kiwi Magazine, and is the online Pediatric Expert for Healthy Kids, and American Baby.  He also runs Dr. Greene.com, a source for parents, family members, students, and healthcare professionals to find answers and engage in discussions related to children’s health. He is also the Pediatric Expert for The People’s Pharmacy on NPR and Healing Quest on PBS. DrGreene.com teamed up with Silk soymilk in September of 2009 to help teach families about important issues concerning nutrition and soy.  In addition, Dr. Greene is the author of a number of books, including Feeding Baby Green, Raising Baby Green, and From First Kicks to First Steps.

[Hellos and Greetings]

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me and answer a few questions I have about soy.

There is a lot of controversy about soy.  We think my son has an allergy to dairy.  We’ve tried rice and almond milk without any success.  I grew up drinking soy milk because I have a lactose intolerance.  What is your opinion about estrogens and hormones in soy and their effect?

There has been a lot of controversy in the past couple years stating that plant nutrients resemble estrogens called phytoestrogens.  Some studies have shown wonderful health benefits including the prevention of cancer. Interestingly enough, phytoestrogens are not just in soy.  In fact, flaxseeds contain the highest levels.

Can soy trigger premature puberty in children and can children have too much soy?  If so, is there a limit to how much they should consume?

I can’t find any evidence of that coming from soy. It is true that the age of puberty is falling. In terms of the influence of estrogen, I’m much more concerned about the estrogens in plastics and skin care products and pesticides.  Children can consume 2 cups of soy milk a day, just like they would if they were consuming cow’s milk.

Are there any benefits of soy consumption for children?

Soy is a wonderful whole food with health benefits. It is a complete protein and serves as a source of Calcium and Vitamin D.

What should I be looking for in a soy product?

I prefer organic, non-GMO soy products made from whole soybeans.

Can you tell me a little more about GMO’s?

Genetic modifications are pretty common now in soy. They insert DNA into soy that makes [the plant] more resistant, rather than spraying more pesticides. I prefer not to consume products with this type of soy, but there is not any solid evidence that this is a problem.

Is soy an effective alternative (nutritionally) to dairy for a child who is allergic?

Many of the soy milks on the market are fortified with Calicum and Vitamin D and thus can be used as an alternative to cow’s milk.

I’m nursing a baby girl.  Should I avoid soy?

There should be no reason to avoid soy and I would recommend no more than 2-3 cups of soy milk day.

What about soy consumption in women at risk for breast cancer?

Soy consumption (as part of a balanced diet) is safe for women at risk and has actully shown to decrease the risk by 20%.

I definitely learned a lot about the positive benefits of soy.  Here is a brief recap on soy: