Page 30 - Special Issue: Healthy Baby
P. 30
We do not some acceptable substitutes? I would think that Most important, the cows should be on
recommend if I cultured the raw milk with kefir powder or pasture as much as possible, and in the winter, in
kefir grains, then the beneficial bacteria would a well ventilated barn and fed mostly hay. We do
using any kill any bad bacteria that might be in the milk. not recommend using any kind of milk, even raw
kind of milk, Another alternative that I thought of was to pas- milk, from cows kept in confinement, especially
even raw teurize the milk from the farm myself and then when the diet is based on grain and includes such
culture it. My only concern is that what if I don’t additives as citrus peel cake and bakery waste.
milk, from pasteurize properly, will the beneficial bacteria We recommend using cultured pasteurized
cows kept in from the kefir powder take care of any mistakes milk only when raw milk is unavailable and in
confinement, I made. (I already experimented with this and it this case, the meat-based formula is probably
was difficult, even with constant stirring, to keep preferable, given the way milk is processed today.
especially the top layer of milk at the right temperature.) A We do not recommend pasteurizing your own
when the third alternative that I thought of is to use some milk. It is too risky.
diet is based good quality yogurt from the health food store.
What do you think of these ideas? Can you help PASTEURIZED COWS MILK
on grain and alleviate any of my fears about bad bacteria? I OR RAW GOAT MILK?
includes such don’t want to take any unnecessary chances with Q: If you have a choice of cow’s organic,
additives as my child. pasteurized unhomogenized milk that you have
A. Farmers need to be careful when speaking cultured or raw goat’s milk supplemented with
citrus peel to the public, but you can be assured that if basic raw liver, which would you choose? We do not
cake and sanitation measures are followed, raw milk is have access to organic liver.
bakery waste. completely safe—in fact—safer than pasteurized A: Use the raw goat milk plus liver recipe. Just
milk. Raw milk contains many bioactive com-
use the best that you can find. Probably in this
ponents that get rid of bad bacteria. When bad case, you should use calves liver or lambs liver,
bacteria such as E. coli are added to raw milk, which would be a cleaner product than chicken.
these components get rid of them. Another solution is to use desiccated liver (Carl-
Of course, this marvelous system for son’s brand is good).
getting rid of pathogens can be overwhelmed
if the cows are very unhealthy and the milk SAFETY OF RAW LIVER
gets dirty. Basic sanitation measures include Q. I am afraid to use the raw liver, as called for
testing of the cows to make sure they are in the raw goat milk formula.
disease free; washing the teats with iodine A. As long as you freeze the liver for fourteen
solution before milking; using a milking days, it is safe; however if you are concerned,
machine; and storing the milk in a stainless you can simmer the liver before adding it. An
steel bulk tank, glass bottles or hard plastic bottles alternative is the liver-based formula which calls
at a cool temperature. for simmering the liver in broth.
FEELS GOOD TO MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS
I needed to supplement my breastfed baby at about four months. My nutritionist showed me the homemade for-
mulas in Nourishing Traditions. There was a concern in making my own baby formula for a variety of reasons including
sterile conditions, proper measuring and vast uncertainty. I thought about it for a long time. In the end, I knew this was
my decision to make. I realized that I have a hard time letting anyone take care of my child because I don’t think anyone
will care for him like I do. It just took me a little bit longer to carry that thinking over to feeding my baby.
My son is now 13 1/2 months old. At his 12-month check-up, the doctor said he was as advanced as an 18-month-
old. He already has about 15 different words that he says. Strangers tell me he’s a smart baby just by looking at him, as
he’s alert and attentive to his surroundings. Everyone tells me what a good boy he is no matter where we go. After all that
worry and uncertainty, making my own baby formula seems so natural, so normal. I can’t begin to tell you how good it
feels to make my own decisions for my baby.
Allison, Annapolis, Maryland
28 Wise Traditions