Dear Hetal,

Hi, hope your health is not giving u any trouble now? How is Nirja doing....looking forward to having a lil brother or sister very soon.

Hetal i wanted to know something...u had mentioned in one of your previous replies to introduce soya protein in the babies diet. I assumed it to be soya kheema which is available in the market (Nutrela). I have been adding that to my daughters diet now for more then a month. Just the other day someone had come home, she told me that soya is not good for girl child since it affects the fertility level in girls. Is it true? Also some people say that soya helps in reducing cholestrol level so should not be given. Pls let me know.

Also u had told me that during the 15th month visit to ask my ped for the milestone and growth chart, the thing is I am not in US now. I will return only in Jan. So is there any website where i could get a rough idea of the growth chart.

Waiting for your reply. Pls take your time in replying no hurries. Take care of your health and goodluck. Have a nice long weekend with your family.

Regards,
Preeti. Preeti replied. Dear Hetal,

Thank you very much for your reply. You have taken great pains in writing such a long and detailed reply. Really appreciate that. Sorry if I have offended you in the way of my question. I was very comfortable giving soya to my daughter, its just that when someone told me such a thing I wanted to clarify that with you.

Thank you once agian.

Regards,
Preeti. Preeti replied. Dear Hetal,

Thank you very much for your reply. You have taken great pains in writing such a long and detailed reply. Really appreciate that. Sorry if I have offended you in the way of my question. I was very comfortable giving soya to my daughter, its just that when someone told me such a thing I wanted to clarify that with you.

Thank you once agian.

Regards,
Preeti. Hetal replied. 1.i have mentioned specifically tofu, tempeh, in my post,,which is a processed form of soya bean,,and in that process the harmful anti-nutrients are often deactivated or lemme say are not harmful for human consumptn.if they were, they would have been banned by now !

the anti nutritional substances that might cause the infertility in women,,are reduced to insignificant level. hence does not give ne harmful effect even with considerable amts of consumptn.
japanese woman intake of soy proteins is higher than ours or what you might be giving to your baby,,but the research shows the soy isoflavones in breastmilk were low even in woman who consumed only tofu, soy protein shakes,soy nuts in thr diet !! surprisngly they expected that there should be high levels of phystoestrogens in thr breastmilk ...but the levels were lower even in women who were 100% pure vegie diet and majority of foods were soy based.......so the study failed there...

also, note that even if you are offering unprocessed soya bean,,your diet is full of vegetables(which i have always recommended highly from the day your child starts solids),,which ensures proper minerals and vitamins to your child..also that is the only reason why i have always recomnded that offer lots of greens,vegies,fruits in your baby diet,esp spinach and fiber so that your baby gets enough fiber as well iron,,and that is how in some cases i have suggested offering soy pwder that is iron fortified ! as soy lacks iron or is an insignificant source of iron !!!!
since soy bean in itself reduces iron absorption,,but for that,,,the amt of soyabean consumed has to be extremely large,which is not the case with babies or even toddlers.by the time you are reaching to age that is 8months, complete, and that they are ready for soy products,,,,its expected that your child has accepted all the vegetables, fruits,,which has been our guideline !

other studies shows that intakes of soy and its products have a long history of some 40years in US and 30years in UK,,but there is no evidence of any fertility problems in these women....

you are not consuming only soy,,you eat alot of many things with it,,and thats the combination that works out for a healthy body and not only soy diet.

ne one type of diet is not recommended,,if you keep having garlic for milk boost,,and dont drink enough dairy,,you will have ulcers in your intestines and your baby will suffer from reflux !!!

thats how it works with soy,,,if you have soy and no other source of nutrition of protein or ne other vitamin or iron or ne other foods,,your baby will not get enough nutrients out of one food(soy) and she will result in infertility,,,which will happen not because of soy but because baby was on one type of diet or child is not on proper diet or let me say is malnutritioned or is overnutritioned with one type of food !!!!

and i dont say that what you heard is a myth and not a fact, but it is too early for neone to jump to conclusions regarding 100% soy diet. there is lack of clinical evidence in all the claims that have been made so far,,and that is the reason why FDA, nutritionist, and ped recommends giving soy products to infants from 8months and onwards,,for healthy bringing,,esp if the child is vegie diet or child is sensitive to animal protein nd was not able to consume lactose foods.,,and there are very less sources of proteins available....and for those with allergies,,soy has been a blessing...every 5 out of 9 kids consume 100% soy diet or let me say iron fortified soy formula as thr regular intake,,of which some 60% are girl infants ! some have grown to age of 45,,with healthy 3-4kids and having a perfect sex life !!!! if soy was the reason of infertility,,these practical evidence would not have existed or let me say,,all these women would have been staying a single life or would have been diagnsd with other diseases,,which was not the case !!!

the isoflavones found in soy can help reduce the post menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, improve the bone density and provide the important antioxidant capabilities...so its good for consmptn for girls as of now.Currently, FDA is examining the health concerns related to levels of the toxin furan in soy protein isolate and other foods which also includes our indian legumes !!!!! but the research is on prilimnry levels and the results so far found are all negatives,,and its too early for one to jump to conclusion..if at all if had proved harmful by ne means,,FDA or ne other organsatns would have come forward to stop the consmptn or recently like sale of fresh spinach is banned in stores,,tofu would have been out of US market !!!

considering places like china, japan, eastern countries and now other asian countries, all where soybean has been major diet,,and surprising it sounds,,the population in these countries esp the china,japan is highest ! thr fertility ratio is higher thn women in western world,,even though soy enterd westerrn countries quite late ! and is still not major food like it is in eastern countries !!!
also they claimed that women with soy will have breast cancers,,surprisngly,eastern countries or asian countries that consume soy as thr staple/main diet have lower breast cancers rates/cases thn of american women !! further,,
even the fertility rate as well as fertility period was high in eastern/asian women compared to western countries,,when stats were put to paper !!!! women in asian countries were able to deliver healthy babies without ne serious complication even after age of 40s or 50s and thr menopause period starts after the age of 40 and not before that,,,on wstern side or europe,,the cases start from 35 and onwards !!!! and not to mention the health ratio in US and europe countries are less thn that in asian countries when infants are lined up for health checkups !
this was a part of study mentioned in release news along with ref to info on women and fertility,,by national infertility association.

2. FDA recmds 25grams of soy protein per day as a part of diet in low in saturated fats and cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease(for adult).
so lowering choloestrol levels has been good for health !
it reduces risk of coronary heart disease, helps prevent osteoporosis,some types of cancers, and some menopausal symptoms.
an unhealthy diet is the one tht is high in fat and does not contain enough fiber..a cup of boiled soy beans givs around 6grams of dietary fiber,both soluble and insoluble fiber...so its healthy and does not contain bad fats !

at 8months when we start offering our babies cheese, yogurt and all high fat diets,,they also need a diet or let me add a serving that is low in saturated fats and that provides them full protein,,which esp in vegetarian diet, only tofu can give !

Polyunsaturated fats help control cholesterol by lowering the low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol which is the bad form, and also by raising the high density lipoprotein (HDL) which is considered to be the good cholesterol. Most polyunsaturated fats come from corn, soybeans, and fish...and this is how it gives positive effect on blood cholesterol...

since vegie diet doesnt accept fish and some non-veg kids have shown aversion to fish from 8months onwards,,we are left with corn and tofu !!!! a complete protein contains significant amounts of all the essential amino acids that must be provided to the human body because of the body's inability to synthesize them.
since the corn has smaller amts comprd to soy,,soy is given a name of complete vegie protein or let me say is called equivalent to meat,milk or eggs.also to add that well cooked tofu is easier in digestion compard to fish or corn !

so please dont mistake cholesterol with fat ! fat and cholesterol levels both mean dffrnt,,and tofu does not reduce or replace fat..

please note that,,you are giving cheese, ghee,sweet potatoes,,and paneerss and other sources of fat like milk, cheese pots,,until 2 years of thr lives,,and so your baby is not only on soy diet !!!
100grams of firm and raw,, tofu contains : approx : 11grams of protein,,one half cup of raw,firm tofu contains : 5grams of fat ( and is cholesterol free food ),around 229mg of calcium(often depends on brand you are using,,silken in US has around 135mg),and iron around 1.82mg (ths varies in acc to iron fortified brands)....and other types like other brands have added minerals,vitamins and high iron or low fat options.

also,,to add,,we are not replacing tofu with paneer here,,,although can be done considering a healthy alternative but i will rarely include that in my diet charts,,,,and i will include only in cases where kids were not able to eat enough after a paneer diet ! which explains that apetite was not able to handle paneer diet and so alternatively,,giving tofu is a better source of diet,,if that is what ensures good intake of solids(all the other foods full of vegies and fruits),,instead of just paneer !

3..now about the nutrela brand you mentioned :
as to what i have known : the nutrela is easily digestible,,cooks easily thn regular tofu and blends in foods pretty well,,,,and its good to an extent that drs have recommended it for infant diet..it contains calcium and magnesium(gives strong bones),has iron in it, and also has Bgroup vitamins along with E and K,,as to what i know about it...and thus its not a normal soy protein,,its protein that is made just right for consmptn.

it ensures good growth instead of fat levels and provides good nutritional benefits.hence its safe to use !! its not a natural direct product like tofu but has added value to it,and is safe for consumption,,check for mfg dates though....

4. now about growth charts,,its better to rely on the ones that are given by your dr because he is local to your baby birth place and he knows it well how good your baby is growing,,thn to rely on sites..
almost all parenting sites have these and all you have to do is login in it, and check your baby developmental milestones...please note that dont make it a golden rule to follow them,,the reasons and some inputs about these things i have already mentioned in one of my prev post,please go thru it...

http://www.indiaparenting.com/boards/showmessage.cgi?messageid=1074&table_name=dis_milestones

http://www.indiaparenting.com/boards/showmessage.cgi?messageid=1093&table_name=dis_milestones

hope this sufcs,,,after all this,,if it still gives you even 1% doubt that soy might cause probs in future for your baby,,you are the mother,,,,its your decision to give !

my work is done here.
guess m done for the day,,have a nice time !