Page 60 - Special Issue: Healthy Baby

stantial amounts of cereal, they may suffer from DON’T FEAR FATS!
low concentrations of zinc and reduced calcium Pediatric clinicians have known for some time that children fed lowfat
absorption. and low-cholesterol diets fail to grow properly. After all, a majority of
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In the U.S., Dr. Nancy Krebs headed up a mother’s milk is fat, much of it saturated fat. Children need high levels of
large infant growth study that found breastfed fat throughout growth and development. Milk and animal fats give energy
infants who received puréed or strained meat and also help children build muscle and bone. In addition, the animal fats
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as a primary weaning food beginning at four to provide vitamins A and D necessary for protein and mineral assimilation,
five months grew at a slightly faster rate. Kreb’s normal growth and hormone production.
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study suggests that inadequate protein or zinc Choose a variety of foods so your child gets a range of fats, but em-
from common first foods may limit the growth phasize stable saturated fats, found in butter, meat and coconut oil, and
of some breastfed infants during the weaning monounsaturated fats, found in avocados and olive oil.
period. More importantly, both protein and zinc
levels were consistently higher in the diets of the FOODS TO INTRODUCE
infants who received meat. Thus, the custom Egg yolks, rich in choline, cholesterol and other brain-nourishing
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of providing large amounts of cereals and ex- substances, can be added to your baby’s diet as early as four months, as
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cluding meats before seven months of age may long as baby takes it easily. (If baby reacts poorly to egg yolk at that age,
short-change the nutritional requirements of the discontinue and try again one month later.) Cholesterol is vital for the
infant. insulation of the nerves in the brain and the entire central nervous system.
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Meat is also an excellent source of iron. It helps with fat digestion by increasing the formation of bile acids and
Heme iron (the form of iron found in meat) is is necessary for the production of many hormones. Since the brain is so
better absorbed than iron from plant sources (non- dependent on cholesterol, it is especially vital during this time when brain
heme). Additionally, the protein in meat helps the growth is in hyper-speed. Choline is another critical nutrient for brain
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baby more easily absorb iron from other foods. development. The traditional practice of feeding egg yolks early is con-
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Two 1998 studies 19,20 examined iron status in firmed by current research. A study published in 2002 issue in The American
breastfed infants who received meat earlier in Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the nutritional effects of feeding
the weaning period. While researchers found weaning infants 6-12 months of age regular egg yolks, enriched egg yolks,
no measurable change in breastfed babies’ iron and an otherwise normal diet. The researchers found that both breastfed and
stores when they received an increased amount of formula-fed infants who consumed the egg yolks had improved iron levels
meat, the levels of hemoglobin (iron-containing when compared with the infants who did not. In addition, those infants
cells) circulating in the bloodstream did increase. who got the egg yolks enriched with extra fatty acids had 30 percent to 40
Meat also contains a much greater amount of zinc percent greater DHA levels than those fed regular egg yolks. No significant
than cereals, which means more is absorbed. 21 effect on blood cholesterol levels was seen.
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These studies confirm the practices of traditional Thus, the best choice for baby is yolks from pasture-fed hens raised on
peoples, who gave meat—usually liver—as the flax meal, fish meal, or insects since they will contain higher levels of DHA.
first weaning food. Furthermore, the incidence of Why just the yolk? The white is the portion that most often causes allergic
allergic reactions to meat is minimal and lower reactions, so wait to give egg whites until after your child turns one.
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still when puréed varieties are used. 17,22,23,24 Don’t neglect to put a pinch of salt on the egg yolk. While many books

FOODS TO AVOID
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UP TO 6 MONTHS: Certain foods, such as spinach, celery, lettuce, radishes, beets, turnips and collard greens, may
contain excessive nitrate, which can be converted into nitrite (an undesirable substance) in the stomach. Leafy green
vegetables are best avoided until 1 year. When cooking vegetables that may contain these substances, do not use the
water they were cooked in to purée.
UP TO 9 MONTHS: Citrus and tomato, which are common allergens.
UP TO 1 YEAR: Because infants do not produce strong enough stomach acid to deactivate potential spores, infants should
refrain from eating honey.1 Use blackstrap molasses, which is high in iron and calcium. Egg whites should also be avoided
up to one year due to their high allergenic potential.
ALWAYS: Commercial dairy products (especially ultra-pasteurized), modern soy foods, margarines and shortening, fruit
juices, reduced-fat or lowfat foods, extruded grains and all processed foods.

58 Wise Traditions