soy protein/protein powders while pregnant?

[EStreetMama]

I'm not doing so well on the protein intake. Does anyone know anything about using protein powders during pregnancy? I remember seeing something once that cast some doubt on using a lot of soy, but I have no idea if that was reliable information.

I looked in the store and it looks like the protein options are mostly soy, but also rice, whey and goat milk proteins.

Thanks for any info you may have to share!!!

--Adrienne

[liawbh]

I figure soy is fine as long as it's not all you're eating. If it was that bad, Japanese babies would have all sorts of problems, YK?

My mom's nutrition prof. at the naturopath college said whey protein is really, really good for you. I can't stand the taste of it in shakes, so I've been using half soy, and half whey, and it's much better. I like Nature's Life Super-Green for the soy. It is indeed green, but it's lightly vanilla flavored, and tastes great with banana and berries or o.j. PLus the green stuff is really good for you. They make other varieties with other nutrients. Wild Oats and New Seasons both have a good selection.

[peaceful herbivore]

I don't do any shake type things, but being a near vegan for 10 years, I do get my fair share of soy, and I love ittttttt!!

I don't buy the hype and the bad press about it, as another poster pointed out, asian cultures have made soy a main staple of their diet for thousands of years and they have among the lowest cancer, heart attack, illness rates in the world...so there!

Seriously though, soy is a great source of protein and I recommend it! There is also much debtate and information about it's plant estrogen properties and the fact that it takes the *edge* off menopause. I plan on using soy as a tool postpartum when estrogen levels plummet, sometimes causing PPD or contributing to it---can't hurt anyway!
Good luck!

[AugustLia23]

I try to stay away from soy, personally, as a pregnant woman I'm trying to limit the amount of extra estrogens going into my body. It's impossible to avoid all of it, as it's in everything, but I wouldn't drink soy protein shakes or things made mainly from soy. Because yes the Japanese do use it, but not to the extent that some Americans take it. It's a much smaller amount per day that the Japanese take in. Everybody has there opinion on it, and that is mine. Also Soy is one of the most genetically modified products available today, so if you are going to take soy, make sure it's organic, or at least not genetically modified.

[Palmetto210]

I take some soy, but in moderation. The risks of not getting enough protein is greater to me than the highly debated risks of soy protein. I limit myself to no more than four soy products a week. I totally agree that *most* Japanese women eat less soy than *some* Americans. So, I am playing the moderation game. :)

Now that I am in the 2nd trimester, I can once again stomach eggs, fish, and meat, so I can reduce the number of shake and protein bars I was eating for snacks.

[Gabesgrrrl]

The way I figure it, there are always good and bad "press" about everything we consume. In our world, there is so much info available to us, and much of it is biased.

I think if you choose your lifestyle in accordance with your own personal belief system, and weigh all the info against your own intuition, you can't really go wrong. There are bound to be things we do that aren't the best health choices...and there will be some that are.

Eating soy, as long as it's not abused, IMO, can be beneficial, especially to people like me, who don't drink cow's milk or milk products...:)

~Marcie

[Fluffhead]

I just finished a protien drink (fresh strawberries, blueberries, protien powder and spring water/ice mixed in the blender)..mmmmmmmm good stuff.
I use a soy based protien powder made by Shaklee...its REALLY REALLY good....infact its probably one of my biggest cravings. I use it in my orange juice on the days I dont do the smoothies. Once a day limits your soy intake and gives you adequate protien intake...BUT you also need to acquire a good bit of protien from natural sources (beans, nuts, legimes, etc). You can get several sizes but I get the great big tub of it and it lasts me a good 6 months. I have to mail order mine from my aunt who is a distributor, but I think you can order it from several places.

7 years ago during my first pregnancy I began nutrition maintainence with a nutritionist who advocates natural products as much as possible...it took me several years to learn the little things most people dont even think about (like genetic altered soy, etc). I had intense problems with fibromyalgia and the regimine I have been on has basically cleared up 99% of the problems I was having. I am a believer in nutrition now. Ive used soy based protien powder for the last 7 years and had two children who are as healthy as larks. I think I would be weary of some of the mainstream soy products you find in the groceries and etc....but that doesnt apply to all of them because there are some products that ARE genuinly organic and have very good benefits, if used in moderation.

Hope this helps a little bit mama!!

[chasmyn]

Asian cultures use *fermented* soy, which is very different chemically than unfermented soy, as in protein powders and soy milk. And the phytoestrogens in soy bond to human cells as human estrogen does and acts the same way.

Fermented soy doesn't have the same issues. So tofu, soy sauce, miso - these are all fine.

Personally because of the lack of research on unfermented soy and also the possible concers - "when in doubt, abstain". I use whey protein because of that.

[mrzmeg]

Whey protein powder is an alternative to soy. During my last pregnancy, I did a lot of research that made me decide that whey was a better, safer choice for me, especially since I was preggo with a boy.

[lunamegn]

I've had the same questions about soy products. I try not to eat too much, but I DO NOT like cow's milk. I love Soy Silk. But I usually don't exceed a cup or two a day. But then you have to think about the hormones and whatnot in cow's milk versus what your getting in organic soy milk. I eat/consume dairy in other forms, just not milk. I've been making the protein shakes as well - strawberries, blueberries, soy protein, soy milk, yogurt, wheat germ, really good. I also try and get my protein in other forms than just soy. Legumes are a good source - beans, lentils, etc...

[NYCVeg]

For the record, I will probably use rice protein powder in smoothies when pregnant, but that's only because I already eat a lot of soy. Frankly, I think you should eat whatever kind of protein powder you can stomach!

I did want to clear up one misconception, though. People think that eating soy raises the level of estrogen in women's bodies. This isn't true. The phytoestrogens have MUCH less estrogen than the estrogen produced by the body. When you consume soy, they attach to your estrogen receptors so that your body actually produces LESS estrogen, rather than more. I don't know how pregnancy affects any of this, however. And, as lunamegn said, unless you drink organic milk and eat organic meat, you're getting lots of hormones in your diet already! The natural phytoestrogens in soy seem much less scary to me than consuming bGH, for example.

Another thing: I know several people who say they avoid soy products, but eat lots of packaged food (bread, crackers, frozen dinners, cookies, dressings, etc.). Soy fillers (of the GMO variety) are used in more things than most people realize. Personally, I think a moderate level of healthy soy--non-GMO soy products like edamame, soy milk (homemade is great), and tofu that are not too heavily processed--but that avoiding too many soy fillers in packaged food is probably a good idea.

[Boof]

Hi! :-)

I'm a raw vegan so I've been [aying particular attention to my nutrient intake. I use www.fitday.com to keep track (it's free to use). Fruits and veggies have protein too. My salads average 20g protein. I also use hemp protein in my smoothies. 2 - 3 bananas + hemp protein + whatever berries I'm in the mood for + some carob andone smoothie averages 15g protein. With one smoothie a day and two salads (plus whatever other fruits nuts and veggies I eat during the day) I get upwards of 60g protein daily.


Good Luck!


Beth

[Bookworm]

I'm waiting for the dust to settle on the soy issue before I make a final decision, but since I'm pregnant, I'm limiting my intake, though not avoiding it altogether. I do opt against soy protein drinks, though.

I'm just starving all the time now that I'm entering the second trimester, and some days, I am just sick to death of eating, and feel I can't do it anymore! So I found some egg-white protein powder (made from eggs of non-hormone injected chickens) and some rice protein powder. I got them both at Wild Oats, and both are really simple, without alot of extra stuff or mega-doses of vitamins. So far, they're helping! I just put them in a smoothie or some juice. In a smoothie, you don't even know it's there.

[tilly2321]

I am curious to know the brands of some of the whey based protein powders?
can those who use them and have tried them post which ones they like? I have decided to try the egg white protein, rice protein or whey, but don't know which brands to try?
Thanks,
Elle