Every mom knows that breast milk is an ideal food for the crumbs of the first year of life. But there are times when circumstances force the baby to be artificially fed.
Why do some mothers persistently choose infant
formulas without palm oil, and many manufacturers continue to add it to their baby food? To understand this issue, you need to learn about the useful and harmful properties of this product.
Why do mixtures contain this component?
Scientists around the world are constantly working on the question of how to create a product that is as close as possible in properties and composition to mother's milk and is ideally suited for crumbs. Then why do they not only create infant formulas without palm oil, if its use causes such controversial opinions? The fact is that the researchers proved: one-fourth of all fats in breast milk is palmitic acid. It is very useful for defenseless crumbs. Scientists have been asked how to replace it. For example, the fats in cow's milk are very different in composition from the fats of human milk, so the baby is poorly absorbed by the body. For this reason, some manufacturers of infant food for infants choose vegetable analogues as a source of fat, most often palm oil. Companies claim to be a rich source of palmitic acid.
This statement is true. But mothers need to know that palmitic acid obtained from palm oil is much less absorbed by the child's body than a similar component found in breast milk. The best infant formula should contain palmitin in the amount necessary for the baby, while not having palm oil inclusions. The difficulty lies in the fact that the production of such products requires expensive equipment and specialized technologies. That's why many companies add palm oil to baby food for their first year of life.
Composition, properties and reasons for use
Palm oils are obtained from the fruits of palm trees of Pancake week varieties grown in tropical countries. They differ in production technology. There are oils that are produced by squeezing the fleshy area of the fetus. They are called palm. Palm kernel varieties are produced from palm seeds. They vary in properties and cost. The component obtained from the meaty region of the fetus is much cheaper, therefore, with its use, inexpensive baby food is produced. Mixtures containing fleshy oils have a low cost, but at the same time they have dubious quality and do not fully fulfill their obligation to provide crumbs with essential fats and calcium.
Palmitic acid has many useful substances: vitamin A, tocopherol (vitamin E), coenzymes. In addition, it is similar to the equivalent of breast milk. But at high temperature, this product loses most vitamins and the ability to be absorbed well.
Why do manufacturers prefer this product? The fact is that its addition to infant formula for baby food significantly increases the storage period. Palm oils have a pleasant sweetish flavor, so small gourmets like products with their content, which helps increase sales. The most important thing is the low price of these oils in comparison with analogues, therefore, savings on the cost of food are provided.
Why is it harmful?
Of course, palmitic acid, obtained from the fruits of palm trees, is not toxic at all and is not dangerous, but simply does not cope with the required functions. It should replace palmitate of breast milk and be easily digested. In fact, palmitic acid, produced from the fruits of palm trees, enters into a biochemical reaction with calcium in the intestines of crumbs. There, it turns into insoluble substances, which are completely excreted naturally. Thus, babies receiving infant formula with palm oil suffer from calcium deficiency and lack of fat, which they really need.
Is palm oil proven harmful?
Scientists around the world are interested in the question of how to make the composition of baby food perfect. Therefore, studies were conducted aimed at proving the effect of palm oils on the body of crumbs. 128 kids participated in them. They were divided into two categories: the first was given infant formula without palm oil, and the second with it. At the same time, products were selected that are absolutely identical in composition, with the exception of this component. Before the study, the mineral density of bone tissues and the level of mineral substances were determined in infants. Three months later, and then six months later, the measurements were repeated twice. It turned out that after a three-month period in children of the second group, the indicators became lower than in peers from the first category. Six months later, the values of bone mineral density and the content of mineral substances in them in infants of the two groups significantly differed. In the second category, they were lower. This scientists have proved the harm of infant formula with palm oil.
What are the consequences of consuming palm oil?
Based on international studies, which involved about 7,000 babies, scientists have proved the harmful effects of palmitic acid obtained from palm fruits. Babies receiving infant formulas without palm oil had regular stools of soft consistency.
While babies with artificial feeding, who consumed food with the product in question, had such side effects:
- irregular stools;
- frequent constipation;
- low bone mineralization;
- bloating;
- belching and frequent burping;
- pronounced intestinal colic.
The fact becomes obvious: palm-based nutrition can cause crumbs problems not only with well-being, but also with health.
Is there a mixture without palm oil?
There are companies that have created baby food similar to human milk, but lacking palm oils, for example, Similak and Nanny. Palm-free infant formulas offered by them have a unique combination of vegetable fats, providing the baby with everything necessary for development. There are manufacturers who changed the structure of palmitic acid and turned it into beta palmit. It is well absorbed and does not cause digestive problems. These are Nutrilon, Cabrita, Heinz and some others. When buying such an important product, you must definitely study its composition.
What are the mixtures?
There are various types of infant formulas. They are classified according to the following criteria:
1 . According to the form of release : dry powder, requiring dilution with water in certain proportions; a concentrate in liquid form intended for connection with baby water; ready-made meals, packaged in special containers.
2 . By destination: conventional and created to correct digestive problems.
3 . The composition and content of animal milk. Dairy-free mixtures made on the basis of soy protein and other components are available for babies with lactase deficiency. For the rest of the children, there are milk mixtures made from the milk of animals, usually cows or goats. They are more useful for the full development and growth of crumbs.
4. The degree of proximity to the composition of breast milk emit: highly adapted, less adapted and partially adapted mixture.
How to choose the best option?
Baby formulas from birth to 6 months are especially controlled by the composition and proportions of their constituent substances. By the degree of proximity of the components to breast milk, they are highly adapted and partially adapted.
The composition of highly adapted mixtures includes such substances: milk serum, choline, taurine, lecithin, inositol. For premature babies, they are indicated by the index O or PRE, and for babies from birth to six months of age, they are indicated by the number 1. Partially adapted mixtures differ from highly adapted formulations - they do not contain some bioactive components (choline, taurine and others) and many fatty acids.
Such highly adapted mixtures can be purchased on the Russian market: Nan-1, Pre-Hipp, Hipp-1, Nutrilon-1, Heinz-1, Pre-Heinz, Bona, Humana ”and others. Examples of partially adapted mixtures that can be found in the children's departments of stores: “Baby”, “Agusha”, “Baby”, “Detolact” and others.
For babies from 6 months, less adapted mixtures are produced, which are indicated by index 2: "Similak-2", "Nan-2", "Nutrilon-2" and others.
Some parents give babies in their first year of life cow or goat milk in pure or diluted form. According to pediatricians, this is the wrong step, which can lead to problems in the digestive system. Cow or goat milk is not suitable in composition and properties for infants. In the absence of human milk for babies of this age, you need to choose only infant formula from birth. Moms' feedback on the choice of manufacturers is different: some prefer Russian mixtures, others prefer imported analogues. When choosing food for the crumbs of the first year of life, you need to consult a pediatrician. However, the final choice is up to the parents, because each baby is individual. Only mom knows that the baby is best suited, observing his health and body reaction to a certain mixture.
Features of goat milk mixtures
A mixture based on goat's milk is an excellent option in the absence of breast milk in mothers and intolerance to cow's crumbs. They do not belong to the class of medicinal products. These are the usual highly adapted mixtures containing goat milk proteins, which, when put in the baby’s stomach, form a tender clot. It is easily digested and practically does not irritate the walls of the baby’s ventricle. Baby formula in goat milk is suitable for crumbs, which are characterized by frequent spitting up.
The protein of goat milk has a structure different from that of a cow analog. Crumbs with an allergic reaction to cow's milk can try to use such mixtures. In most cases, in children, when replacing food based on cow's milk with goat milk, allergy symptoms disappear and digestion normalizes. In babies, the rash disappears, intestinal motility improves, stool problems cease, bloating is less of a concern.
What do goat milk mixes consist of?
The basis of such a product is goat milk protein. However, it is not considered a panacea for allergies, so allergy babies need to enter the mixture gradually. The product is suitable or not, you can find out only by trying it. Goat milk-based mixtures consist of the following components:
- prebiotics - create a favorable microflora in the baby’s intestines, which improves digestion and promotes the formation of soft feces in the baby;
- nucleotides that beneficially affect immunity;
- vitamins and minerals in optimal proportions.
Goat Milk Manufacturers
Nutrition for babies, based on goat's milk, is suitable not only for babies allergic to cow's milk protein, but also for absolutely healthy crumbs. Baby formula in goat milk is easily absorbed and strengthens the immune system.
Today on the Russian market these products are represented by the following brands:
- "MD Mil Goat" is made in Spain. It consists of whey protein and skim goat milk.
- "Nanny . " Country of origin - New Zealand. The product is based on goat milk powder, therefore it is considered casein.
- Cabrite - is produced in the Netherlands from whey protein.
The mixture “MD mil goat” can be suitable for babies suffering from mild lactase deficiency, as the lactose content in it is much lower than in other similar products and in human milk. For babies with a tendency to indigestion, Nanny Classic without prebiotics is suitable. Unfortunately, not every store can find products from these manufacturers. And the cost of mixtures made from goat's milk is higher than analogues based on cow's milk. But each listed manufacturer has the entire necessary range of nutrition in goat milk:
- for babies from the first day of life to six months;
- for babies from 6 months to a year;
- for babies older than 12 months.
About Nutrilon mix
Good baby food, replacing breast milk, should consist of high-quality and natural ingredients, have a hypoallergenic composition and a complex of prebiotics to normalize the intestinal microflora. All these indicators correspond to the Nutrilon infant formula. Reviews of mothers whose babies ate products of the specified company are more positive.
In addition, the manufacturer produces a wide range of mixtures: for premature babies, from birth to six months of age, from 6 months to a year, for babies older than 12 months. In addition to age criteria, you can choose a sour-milk, hypoallergenic and
lactose-free mixture for children with health problems.
"Baby"
The formula of this baby food was developed on the basis of many years of scientific research to improve the composition, which are carried out by the NUMICO center. Mixture "Baby" is produced in Russia for about 40 years. Today it is manufactured by Nutricia, which is known worldwide for its achievements in the field of baby food. The company’s specialists have proved that the prebiotics contained in Baby food have the following advantages:
- contribute to the formation of soft stools;
- improve the digestive process;
- help prevent constipation;
- support healthy intestinal microflora.
A balanced composition, maximum control over the safety of components and the production process, continuous research achievements to improve quality - all these requirements are met by the Baby mix. Reviews of pediatricians and parents of infants are usually positive.
Experts say that this mixture contains all the necessary components for healthy development and growth, and also does not cause allergic reactions and problems with the digestive system. The manufacturer offers baby food, taking into account the age category. Since the brand is domestic, a small gourmet will receive a high-quality and modern product at a reasonable cost.
conclusions
You should never rush and feed the crumb with artificial analogues of breast milk. Even the best infant formula is not able to replace mother’s milk, which is ideal in terms of composition and quantity of the necessary crumbs of substances. According to statistical studies, only about 3% of women have health problems incompatible with breastfeeding, while 60% of mothers are transferred to mixtures of babies from birth to 2 months. In many cases, the transition to artificial nutrition is unreasonable, so every woman should do everything possible to provide her baby with breast milk.