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Expert Q&A
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| By Melanie Wilson Vegetarian Cooking and Lifestyle Expert | ||
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I've heard eating lots of soy products can change hormone levels. My son eats soy due to food allergies. Should I be concerned?
The nutrition experts I've spoken to all say the same thing: the evidence against soy is inconclusive, while the benefits are clearly noted. However, it's important to consider getting your son's calcium and protein needs met with a variety of foods. While soy provides valuable nutrients, there is no reason to limit other foods that are also good sources of vitamins and minerals. I assume you're using soymilk for calcium, and that's fine. Some other good sources of calcium are dark, leafy greens, almonds and almond butter, tahini, blackstrap molasses and fortified cereals. For protein, you can add lentils, beans, whole grains, nuts and nut butters and seeds. I caution against an overabundance of any particular food and recommend a wide variety for a healthy diet.
Melanie Wilson
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