Table of contents:
- Benefits of soy milk for pregnant women
- 1. Increase energy
- 2. Meet the needs of vitamin D and calcium
- 3. Good source of protein
- 4. Reducing the risk of congenital diseases
- 5. Reducing the risk of anemia
The nutrients in milk can help meet the nutritional needs of the mother and fetus during pregnancy. However, not all pregnant women have a high tolerance for lactose in animal milk. To overcome this problem, vegetable milk such as soy milk is often the solution. So, are there any benefits of soy milk for pregnant women?
Benefits of soy milk for pregnant women
Source: Livestrong
Soy milk is the easiest milk to find and the price is more affordable when compared to other vegetable milks.
Here are some good things that can be obtained from drinking soy milk:
1. Increase energy
Pregnant women are more prone to experiencing fatigue due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. Carbohydrates as a source of energy are one of the most needed nutrients.
Soy milk can be a healthy source of carbohydrates for pregnant women and the fetus in their stomach.
The complex carbohydrate content in soybean seeds takes longer for the body to process. This makes the energy produced will also last longer.
2. Meet the needs of vitamin D and calcium
For some pregnant women who are sensitive to sunlight, soy milk can be an alternative to meet daily vitamin D needs.
In addition, the calcium content in soy milk is equally beneficial for both mother and fetus.
Known to be beneficial for skin and vision health, the combination of vitamin D and calcium also helps build strong bones and teeth in babies.
3. Good source of protein
According to The Journal of Perinatal Education, the protein in soybean seeds can be an equivalent substitute for meat protein.
In fact, soy protein has fewer calories and saturated fat.
High-quality protein promotes the formation of organ tissues that support fetal development and can help repair body cells.
Soy milk can be used as a source of protein intake for pregnant women, whether they are on a vegetarian diet or not.
4. Reducing the risk of congenital diseases
Soybean seeds contain vitamin B9 which is known as folic acid. Adequate consumption of folic acid is needed because it can increase the development of nerve cells in the fetus.
In addition, the folic acid content in soybean milk also reduces the risk of babies born with congenital defects such as fetal or neural tube defects neural tube defects (NTD).
For this reason, pregnant women are encouraged to consume enough folate, one of which is by drinking soy milk so that your baby is born healthy and perfect.
5. Reducing the risk of anemia
Anemia is a condition that often occurs in pregnant women. Anemia occurs when a person is deficient in iron, which can cause various side effects.
Some risks such as premature birth and low birth weight babies will increase if anemia is not treated.
During pregnancy, the blood supply needed is twice as much. Iron is needed to form red blood cells which will provide oxygen for the baby.
Therefore, pregnant women need more iron intake than usual during pregnancy. Drinking soy milk can be a solution to meet the iron needs of pregnant women.
Even though soy milk has a lot of goodness in it, excessive consumption of milk is also not recommended.
Keep in mind that soybean seeds contain glycinin and conlikinin which can trigger an allergic reaction in people who have certain food allergies.
Consult your obstetrician before deciding to choose soy milk as a regular drink during pregnancy.
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