Brand of Soy Milk

Updated on December 04, 2010
K.L. asks from Rocky River, OH
23 answers

Does anyone have a particular brand of soy milk they recommend? My doctor recommended giving my 13 month old daughter soy milk instead of regular milk. I've been getting the Silk brand with DHA and Omega. I'm not sure if this is considered "whole" soy milk though.

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D.S.

answers from Columbus on

I get the same Silk soy milk as you do for my son, and he's doing great after almost 3 years of drinkg it. It is whole milk but fortified.

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J.F.

answers from Columbus on

My daughter drinks Great Value Original Soy Milk (Walmart brand) and has had no problems. She loves it, and is developing right on schedule!

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D.H.

answers from Cleveland on

My six year old has been drinking soy milk since he was 12 months old. I use the same brand you do. So far, he has been doing great. I am not too concerned about what everyone says about soy.

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D.B.

answers from Cleveland on

My children are soy milk drinkers, I know of many brands, I don't know if they're considered whole soy, but I'll tell you of them. My kids drink Silk, but there's also 8th Continent, and Giant Eagle brand soy, (which my father loves), also if you want to be consistent, my kids love soy yogurt made by Stonyfield Farms; called O'Soy. They make a variety of flavors like raspberry, peach, strawberry and blueberry. They sell it at Dave's and certain Giant Eagles. Hope this helps.

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H.M.

answers from Cincinnati on

By "whole" do you mean like how they recommend "whole milk" for 1 year olds? If so I wouldn't worry about that as much with Soy as that refers to the amount of milk fat. Soy will be different. I'm not sure where you live, but I buy the Kroger Private Selections brand (it's quite a bit cheaper than the Silk), although it is in a completely different section (believe me we have complained about this before as it took months before I even knew there was a Kroger brand. At Kroger, all of the other Soy Milk is near the produce section with the organic and "natural" products, but the Kroger brand soy milk is in the dairy case next to the regular milk.

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C.H.

answers from Columbus on

K L, My daughter (22 mos.)is sensitive to cow's milk (and wheat), but just a quick note: I found that Soy milk made her EXTREMELY moody. I don't think it's anything to worry yourself over; just something to watch for... If she seems to be fussy after having Soy milk - you may want to try Almond Milk or Rice Milk.
They also have Ice Cream made from Rice Milk (at Raisin Rack) - it's actually really good!!
If you're concerned about her getting DHA, Omega, and calcium, maybe your doctor could recommend some additional foods or supplements. My daughter actually likes things like salmon and avocados...

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H.D.

answers from Youngstown on

I give my son Shaklee's all-natural Soy Protein mix. It is non- Genetically modified soy and completely safe for him. I have actually been giving it to him since he was 6 months old & he loves it. And, he is very healthy. Has your doctor told you that most soy is genetically modified and can be very harmful to you and your child? I would recommend ordering Shaklee's soy mix. I add a teaspoon to 8 oz. of water or juice for my son.
You can find it on http://www.shaklee.net/heatherdoyle

Hope this helps!

H.

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G.Y.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know if it is available in your area, but I buy one called West Soy at my local Dollar Tree store. It comes in quart cartons that do not have to be refrigerated until they are opened. I think Walmart also sells it. I get the plain but it comes in vanilla and I think chocolate as well. It is as good as any out there and I can buy in bulk and store in my pantry until I am ready to use it. I keep 2 cartons in the fridge cooling at all times. Pour it into a pitcher to dispense.

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H.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

Why Soy Milk? I would suggest you do an internet search on Soy to find as much as you can about soy. There is a lot of information on soy mimicing estrogren - so it is best to avoid feeding soy products to young children ESPECIALLY girls. My daughter went on a nursing strike when she was young and had difficulty with formula - so my doctor recommened goat milk. You can purchase it at Krogers and other grocery stores in the organic section. It is the most like breastmilk and easy to digest. She drank it from 3 months on and all the gastro/colic problems cleared up.

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S.A.

answers from Kokomo on

We gave our son soy milk and he is just fine now. All the research has shown that soy is more "dangerous" to men than women because it reduces perm count. He occasionally still drinks it. It does not contain the same hormones that have been injected into animals and exist in animal milk. It can have pesticides since it is a bean and the plants are sprayed so try to stick with an organic version, which most of the companies have We drink 8th Continent plain or unsweetened, it is usually a little less expensive than Silk. We have even found that the Meijer, Walmart, and Kroger organic soys are quite tasty.

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J.W.

answers from Dayton on

We used Silk for our daughter and son. They loved it and with the DHA and Omega its a good choice. If your really concerned about it ask your doc what he/she recommends.

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K.V.

answers from Columbus on

There is a lot of confusion about the safety of soy. I find it interesting though that there is such huge reaction on the use and connecting it to the increase of breasts, etc. Soy wasn't commonly used that long ago. The biggest factor has been cow's milk and meat which we eat little of and have gotten a lot of flack thinking we're not getting the nutrients we need. My 3 kids all had almost exclusively soy milk and rice milk. I breastfed all at least 10 months and my last 20 months. They then went to soy and rice milk. They never had bottles of any drink...just sippy cups at meals or sips between meals. They also drank a lot of water. I have been more careful about giving them tons of soy milk just because I know there are some concerns about it mimicking hormones. Just so you know though, my kids are all very healthy, have only had about 2-3 sick kid visits combined, are ahead at least a grade level academically, and are all very well behaved, etc. Don't get too freaked out that you'll ruin your child. As for all the fat, etc I gave them natural (no added oils, etc) peanut butter when they were a little older, avocado, olive oil on pasta and other things, eggs, etc to give them the fat that was healthy. You will find a lot of conflicting information and it can be very confusing. Most doctors are not up on nutrition or holistic medicine and just spit out what they learned years ago in school. Do your research and then make your own educated decision. Anytime you do something different from the norm, you'll get a lot of flack. I would suggest doing things in moderation. Use a variety of almond milk, rice milk, and soy milk. I prefer the Silk Soymilk but we used to use Soy Dream. I use Rice Dream for rice milk. I also got the Enriched and not the low fat. Good luck with the search and enjoy your sweet little girl. What a fun age of growth and discovery!

K.

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S.J.

answers from Dayton on

Feeding your kids soy milk isn't what it is cracked up to be. There are a lot of problems with it the first is that it is like giving your child birth control pills because it is very high is estrogen. The second is that it contains a lot of aluminum, which has been linked to dementia in older people. Can't be good for a developing brain. Try goat, rice or almond milk instead.

God Bless,

S.

http://www.3000health.com/newsletter/July_2007.pdf
Couldn't copy this one but it is interesting.

http://www.3000health.com/newsletter/March_2008.pdf
Today’s Milk
Modern feeding methods substitute high-protein, soy-based feeds for fresh green
grass and breeding methods to produce cows with abnormally large pituitary glands
so that they produce three times more milk than the old fashioned scrub cow.
These cows need antibiotics to keep them well. The pasteurization destroys many
valuable enzymes in the milk that are needed to aid digestion. The human pancreas
is not always able to produce these enzymes which will over-stress of the pancreas
can lead to diabetes and other diseases.
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) is a genetically engineered, potent
variant of the natural growth hormone produced by cows. Injection of this hormone
forces cows to increase their milk production by about 10%. rBGH makes cows
sick. Monsanto has been forced to admit to about 20 toxic effects, including
mastitis, on its POSILAC label. rBGH milk is contaminated by abnormally high pus
levels, due to the mastitis commonly induced by rBGH, and antibiotics used to treat
the mastitis. rBGH milk is chemically and nutritionally different than natural milk.
rBGH milk is contaminated with rBGH, traces of which are absorbed through the gut.
rBGH milk is supercharged with high levels of a natural growth factor (IGF-1), which
is readily absorbed through the gut. Excess levels of IGF-1 have been incriminated
as a cause of breast, colon, and prostate cancers. IGF-1 blocks natural defense
mechanisms against early submicroscopic cancers.
Some researchers and “experts” suggest that IGF-1 from outside sources cannot be
absorbed because the digestive enzymes destroy it while it’s in the GI tract. In
1999, the ADA published research demonstrating that people who consumed 3
servings of milk daily had a 10% higher serum IGF-1 level and almost a 10% lower
level IGF Binding Protein 4 (IGBP-4) than those drinking less than 1-1/2 servings.
Constipation
A double-blind trial found that chronic constipation among infants and problems
associated with it were triggered by intolerance to cows’ milk in two-thirds of the
infants studied. Symptoms disappeared in most infants when cows’ milk was
removed from their diet. New England Journal of Medicine 1998;339: pp,1100-4
Dairy Induces Immunization to Insulin
Cow's milk feeding is an environmental trigger of immunity to insulin in infancy that
may explain the epidemiological link between the risk of type 1 diabetes and early
exposure to cow's milk formulas. Diabetes, Vol 48, Issue 7 1389-1394.
High intakes of milk, but not meat, increase serum insulin and insulin
resistance in 8-year-old boys.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2005 Mar;59(3):393-8

http://www.3000health.com/newsletter/April_2008.pdf
Today’s Milk
In part 1 of this newsletter on Reasons to Eliminate Dairy, we discussed
documented research which correlates dairy consumption with many types of
cancer, constipation, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. While we hope you were
convinced of the need to severely reduce and eventually eliminate dairy from your
diet, you were probably left wondering “What about my calcium?”.
Calcium Deficient
In 2001, Americans consumed 23 gallons of milk per person and 30 pounds of
cheese. [USDA’s Economic Research Service] Despite the country's appetite for dairy
products, one out of every two women over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related
fracture in her lifetime. The number of physician visits for osteoporosis increased 4-
fold between 1994 (1.3 million visits) and 2003 (6.3 million visits). Even stranger, in
many dairy-avoiding countries, people get through life with far fewer of the agerelated
hip fractures that plague Americans.
Calcium Supplementation (not dairy) Associated with Greater BMD in Women
Cross-sectional results indicated that higher dairy product consumption is
associated with greater hip bone mineral density (BMD) in men, but not in women.
Calcium supplementation protected both men and women from bone loss in the
longitudinal study.
Dairy intakes affect bone density in the elderly. Am J Clin Nutr 2004
Supplements of calcium (792mg/day) have been effectively shown to increased the
build up and bone mineral content in teenage girls
Calcium supplementation and bone mineral accretion in adolescent girls: an 18-mo randomized
controlled trial with 2-y follow-u“. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. February 2008
Dairy, Calcium and Osteoporosis
Milk and other dairy products contain only small amounts of magnesium. Without the
presence of magnesium, the body only absorbs 25% of the available dairy calcium
content. In turn, the excess remaining calcium can cause problems. Calcium builds
up the mortar on arterial walls which becomes atherosclerotic plaques. It can be
converted by the kidneys into painful stones that can block the urinary tracts.
Excess calcium also contributes to arthritis. Osteoporosis is not a problem that
should be associated merely with lack of calcium intake.
Processed Foods and Bone Health
Research has found that lifelong consumption of foods rich in potassium and
magnesium, notably fruits and vegetables, made for strong bones in aging men and
women. Am. Journal of Clinical Nutrition, [3/99] People who consume highly processed
foods often don’t get enough potassium and magnesium. Sources of potassium are
bananas, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, and melon. Sources of magnesium
are whole grains, nuts, beans, dark green vegetables and fish.

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S.R.

answers from Cleveland on

i am allergic to dairy products, i drink westend soy vanilla...its really good

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J.W.

answers from Columbus on

We use Silk Soy. It's great to use in baking and casseroles and the dishes are much more filling. Also, this brand can be purchased in a box of 3 soy milks at Sam for $7 something and in a box of 2 at Wal-Mart or Meijer for $5 something. Otherwise you'll pay $2.50 to $3.99 for a half gallon.

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T.P.

answers from Canton on

Silk is good, but I love 8th Continental. Especially their chocolate soymilk.

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S.F.

answers from Fort Wayne on

SunSoy tastes great and it is a bit less expensive than other brands. They have some very rich flavors such a very very vanilla that is almost like a dessert it's so good. They have chocolate, strawberry and regular vanilla. You can use it for recipes for cooking like in baking, pasta dishes and cereal. It tastes great in everything.

My second best selection is Silk by Whitewave. They have multiple flavors as well. There is just a bit more of an aftertaste, but you can use it in all sorts of recipes as well. You can find SunSoy and Silk in the dairy section or in the health food section at your regular grocery store. I think it's the cheapest at Wal-Mart or Meijers. It's a bit more expensive at Kroger, Scotts and corner drug stores.

I've tried other brands, but these are the best in my opinion. I've tried Eden and I think it tastes horrible. Way too much cardboard aftertaste... too chalky.

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L.U.

answers from Cleveland on

I like Silk Unsweetened. It's in a green carton.

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A.O.

answers from Indianapolis on

Silk. My daughter wouldn't drink any other brand of soy milk. She has been drinking soy formula and "milk" since she was about 10 months old. She had a milk allergy. I have heard that giving girls soy will help to prevent breast cancer in the future.

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A.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I am shocked that a doctor would recommend soy milk for a child, especially a baby. Soy is NOT as healthy as people think it is and it mimicks hormones in the body. Ever wonder why all these girls are getting boobs and pubic hair at age 5? I'd be willing to bet it's from soy and from hormones in meat and milk. If you're not still breastfeeding I would use goat's milk or maybe an almond milk. Here's a passage below from Dr. Mercola's website, www.mercola.com

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.

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R.H.

answers from Cleveland on

similac Isomil it is soy based. that is what my grandson is on and it is for babies.

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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

We use the Organic Silk for our son, and are planning on trying whole RAW milk because we have heard great things about it. The Almond Milk by Blue Diamond (especially Vanilla flavored) is really good! Our son was allergic though. :(

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E.J.

answers from Columbus on

I had to drink soy milk for awhile to see if there was an allergy to cows milk (and thank goodness there wasn't....I love cow's milk). The one I thought tasted the best was the vanilla Continent 8. I think that is what it is called. I just know there is an 8 on the front of the jug. Good Luck.

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