Optimal Baby Formula
Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash
The public is becoming more aware that the “food” we are being sold at the typical grocery store is not as nutritious as it could be.
Because of this, many people choose to make healthier choices for themselves and their families by switching to healthier food forms such as organic, homemade, raw foods, and grass-fed meats. One area that people sometimes overlook is what we feed our babies.
Many people agree that breast milk is best, but what if you cannot breastfeed or have adopted a baby?
So, you may ask, what is wrong with baby formula?
Many people don’t realize that breast milk and have essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, medium-chain fatty acids, and enzymes that are also alkaline. This is a good thing because our lives are very stressful, and stress produces acidic conditions in our bodies, and unfortunately, most food sold to us is also acidic. This makes our bodies acidic, and acid bodies create environments beneficial to harmful organisms and create dis-ease in the body.
Unfortunately, the majority of baby formulas fall into this category as well. They contain milk that is not grass-fed, sugar/corn syrup, artificial ingredients, and genetically modified soybeans are added via DHA. DHA is an essential fatty acid that is good for feeding our brains and nervous systems. However, with much-mixed research on soy products in general (fermented soy being a preferred option), this may be not helping as much as would be hoped. Several recent studies show that breastfeeding is associated with healthier weight gain – setting up healthier eating patterns for children as they grow – it is then inferred from this that infant formula increases the production of fat cells, fueling weight gain throughout childhood. Breastfeeding also provides probiotics and other nutritional benefits for a healthier immune system.
Other Options:
Some women sell breast milk, but this can be expensive, inconvenient, and something you might be uncomfortable with.
Another option is to give your baby goats milk. Some people choose raw goat milk (sold in several states by local farms and some health food stores) or powdered goat milk. Many regular grocery stores also sell pasteurized goat’s milk. Goat milk is a good choice as it is alkaline like breast milk, is much easier to digest and assimilate into the bloodstream. Goat milk fat globules are one fifth the size of cow milk globules, making it much easier to digest. Goat milk digests in 20 minutes, whereas cow milk takes from two to three hours to digest.
Goat milk is also high in natural sodium (which helps sensitive stomachs) and natural fluorine, which helps build healthy teeth.
Three-fifths of the world today live on goat milk. Goat milk is also high in potassium and calcium. Dr. William Lee Secor M.D. of Kerrville Texas, (a recipient of the Hare Gold Medal in Therapeutics) stated, “I am a surgeon, but since discovering the value of goat milk in the treatment of stomach and intestinal ulcers, I have not operated on a single ulcer case in over 12 years.”
Also, the Journal of American Medical Association lists under the heading Dietetics and Hygiene, “The goat is the healthiest domestic animal known. Goat milk is superior in every way to cow’s milk. Goat is the ideal food for babies, convalescents, and invalids, especially those with weakened digestive powers. Goat milk is the purest, most healthful, and most complete food known.”
Once I stopped breastfeeding, I gave goat milk to my son, and I have recommended goat milk for my customers for many years for their babies, animals, and people trying to recover from illness. My customers have seen amazing results from using goat milk. Goat milk works wonders through its cleansing and rebuilding abilities. Goat milk and breast milk are very similar, much closer in nutritious properties than cow’s milk, which is why it is so beneficial for humans.
One reason goat milk is so beneficial is that fluorine is a chemical element that is often missing in our system. Fluorine is volatile; it is precarious; heat destroys it. Pasteurized milk causes tooth decay for this reason. Fluorine is the chemical element that keeps teeth from decaying. Goat milk has ten times the fluorine content of cow’s milk, in a form that our bodies can utilize. Pasteurized milk is constipating, and calves that are fed pasteurized or homogenized milk don’t do well. Babies’ bodies must have enzymes that they normally would be getting from breast milk. Raw goat milk has enzymes. If you feel uncomfortable using raw milk products, you can always give pasteurized goat milk and add enzymes.
In addition to enzymes, there are other nutrients that you might want to add to your homemade baby formula. If your baby needs iron, you can add a small amount of blackstrap molasses as it is high in iron. Coconut oil is another beneficial item to add to your babies’ diet. Coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid. Ask any nurse that works with premature babies what they feed preemies, and they will tell you that they give them MCT oil, which stands for medium-chain triglycerides. These MCTs come from coconut/palm oils. Coconut oil is high in these medium-chain fatty acids, which are already present in breast milk. Coconut oil is also high in caprylic acid, which prevents fungus (thrush is a type of fungus) from growing, and it is high in lauric acid for the immune system, which breast milk is also high in. Lauric acid helps the immune system and assists in killing viruses.
There are many homemade baby formulas on the web you can choose from. I usually recommend less is better. Be careful, adding too many sweeteners or ingredients that may be too hard for your baby to digest, like garlic. Probiotics could be a good idea if your baby had intestinal issues. Lecithin is another beneficial essential fatty acid, but it is from sunflower instead of eggs or soy as eggs and soy are on the top 7 allergies. Colostrum is another beneficial nutrient you could add: the first milk mothers product for their babies, which is high in natural antibiotics and nutrients to prevent infection and build the immune system. There is goat milk colostrum available on the market.
If you purchase cow milk colostrum, make sure it is made from cows that have not been fed hormones. Be careful of adding too many vitamins, such as vitamin C, as it is a laxative and can move their bowels too much if you give them too much, but it can help those constipated.
Of course, it is always best to check with your health professional that you trust to get your baby’s best food. Muscle testing as to which nutrients would be best is optimal, and this will, of course, change as your baby grows and their nutritional needs change.
Your baby is worthy of the best nutrition, and remember you know your baby best and can make the best choices with your health professionals’ advice.
