Page 58 - Special Issue: Healthy Baby
P. 58

Food Feature


                                        NOURISHING A GROWING BABY
                                                  By Jen Allbritton, CN





                                  Food is what nourishes the body and makes  olive oil, cod liver oil and egg yolks, as well as
                              us healthy and strong—especially when one’s  complex carbohydrate-rich foods like vegetables,
                              weight hovers around 20 pounds! Infant nutri-  whole grains and legumes—think whole food,
                              tion is critical for ensuring proper development,  natural and seasonal, with a big emphasis on
                              maximizing learning capacities and preventing  healthy fat.
                              illness. At no other time in life is nutrition so im-     The bottom line: in a perfect world, with
                              portant. But which foods are best? The research  perfect nutrition, every woman would breastfeed.
                              clearly points in the direction of Weston A. Price  Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world.
                              Foundation principles.                     What about low milk supply, an unwell mother
                                                                         or adoption? Luckily, it is possible to make a
                              BREAST OR BOTTLE                           wholesome whole food baby formula. (See page
                                  Numerous studies support the benefits of  20 in this issue.)
                              breastfeeding. For example, breastfed babies tend
                              to be more robust, intelligent and free of allergies  AFTER (OR WITH)
                              and other complaints like intestinal difficulties.   THE BREAST OR BOTTLE
                                                                      1
                              Other studies have shown that breastfed infants     Ideally, breastfeeding should be maintained
                              have reduced rates of respiratory illnesses and ear  for a year, with a goal of six months for working
                              infections.  Some researchers believe breastfed  mothers. The first year of life requires a full
                                       2,3
                              infants have greater academic potential than for-  spectrum of nutrients, including fats, protein,
                              mula-fed infants, which is thought to be due to  cholesterol, carbohydrates, vitamins and miner-
                              the fatty acid DHA found in mother’s milk and  als. Once breast milk is no longer the sole source
                              not in most U.S. formulas.                 of these nutrients, where should one go?
                                                    4
                                  However, other studies show the opposite.     There are three concepts to keep in mind.
                              In 2001, a study found breastfed children had  First, make your little one a “whole foods baby”!
                              more asthma than bottle-fed.  A Swedish study  Avoid processed and refined foods as much as
                                                       5
                              found that breastfed infants were just as likely to  possible, including many brands of baby food;
                              develop childhood ear infections  and childhood  they are usually devoid of nutrients and have
                                                         6
                              cancer as formula-fed babies.              added “undesirables.” It is always best to make
                                                       7
                                  So, what is best for baby? It comes down  your own baby food from organic, whole foods.
                              to nutrition! Hands down, healthy breast milk is  (You can freeze it in one-serving sizes for later
          Jen Allbritton      perfectly designed for baby’s physical and mental  use.)  Better-quality,  additive-free,  prepared
                              development, but this is only true when mom  brands of baby food, like Earth’s Best, do exist,
                      is an   supplies her body with the right nutrients.   but it is still better to make your own baby food
                adoptive          The typical modern diet is filled with prod-  to be assured of the quality—plus making baby
            mother and        ucts based on sugar, white flour, additives and  food puts mom on the right track for home food
                              commercial fats and oils, which do not nourish  preparation for the years to come.
              a certified     and build. The proper nutrients are necessary to     Second, go slowly and be observant; every
             nutritionist     create breast milk that will provide all a growing  baby will have an individual response to different
          in Evergreen,       baby needs. These include good quality proteins  foods. Introduce new foods one at a time and con-
                              from foods such as grass-fed meats and organ  tinue to feed that same food for at least four days
              Colorado.       meats, good-quality fats from butter, coconut oil,  to rule out the possibility of a negative reaction.


         56                                         Wise Traditions
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