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Soya added to list of diet don'ts for pregnant mums

Posted on: Sunday, 9 March 2003, 06:00 CST

Soya added to list of diet don'ts for pregnant mums

Source: The Press - Christchurch

Who would want to get pregnant these days?

Soya has been added to the growing list of forbidden food for expectant mums amid fears it might damage babies' sex organs.

The warning comes after United States scientists found mutations among male rats whose mothers were fed genistein, a chemical from the plant used in soya products such as flour, oil, and tofu.

The levels of genistein, which is a plant version of oestrogen, were equivalent to those consumed by vegetarians eating soya-rich diets. Research published in the New Scientist magazine found the rats grew to have unusually large prostate glands and small testicles. They also seemed unable to ejaculate.

The rats which did not eat genistein after weaning suffered just as severe effects as those which continued to eat it, suggesting the biggest impact was from exposure in the womb and during breastfeeding.

The discovery comes after research last week which claimed pregnant women who drank more than eight cups of coffee a day doubled their risk of giving birth to a stillborn baby.

The latest findings add to the growing list of pregnancy dos and don'ts which could understandably make an expectant mother feel like hibernating for nine months.

A check on the Internet revealed several classic must and must nots for mums-to-be compiled by a United States doctor.

The list of must nots advised women not to eat unpasteurised cheese which could result in miscarriage, premature delivery, or death of the baby. They should not drink vast amounts of diet soda or herbal tea and not eat spicy foods.

Soaking in a hot tub is not prudent either because it is probably best not to overheat.

In the list of musts, pregnant women are told to "gobble up" spinach. It is also suggested that they sleep on their left side after the fourth month to minimise pressure on the uterus.

University of Otago senior lecturer in human nutrition Winsome Parnell reacted with humour to the revelations.

"Poor pregnant women, they won't have much left to eat," she laughed.

Mrs Parnell said New Zealand women should follow 1996 Ministry of Health (MOH) nutrition guidelines.

"They have come up with the minimum in restrictions and ideas," she said. "As yet they haven't come out with any announcement that soy is unsafe. Let's face it, in New Zealand how much soy do women have?"

Mrs Parnell said the guidelines might be revised if further research highlighted the danger of soy.

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