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/finished meats. One area that people sometimes overlook is what we feed our babies.

Breastfeeding provides probiotics and other nutritional benefits for a healthier immune system. Breast milk has essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, medium-chain fatty acids, and enzymes and many people agree that breast milk is best. 

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.

But what if you cannot breastfeed or have adopted a baby? Formulas may be your only option, and this is a good thing if the formula you are using is nutritious. But unfortunately, most are not.

So, you may ask, what is wrong with baby formula?

Most baby formulas contain milk from A1 cows (read more about the difference between A1/A2 animals here), various forms of sugar including corn syrup, harmful toxic seed oils (typically soy oil and sunflower oil — which are known to cause inflammation as they are heavily processed and considered toxic to humans — you can google for more information or learn more about it in Dr. Robert Lufkin’s book, Lies I Taught in Medical School), artificial ingredients, and genetically modified soybeans are usually added via DHA. DHA is an essential fatty acid that is good for feeding our brains and nervous systems however soybeans is not the optimal source for this. 

Buying Breast Milk

Some women sell breast milk, but this can be expensive, inconvenient, and something you might be uncomfortable with. You may not know the other persons eating habits or anything else they may be ingesting into their body.

Photo by Nandhu Kumar on Unsplash

Photo by Nandhu Kumar on Unsplash

Goat 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, just 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 in the human body.

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.”

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 can be 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.

What I did for my son

Once I stopped breastfeeding, I gave goat milk to my son, and I have recommended goat milk for my clients 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.

Homemade baby formula

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 avoid soy lecithin. Sunflower Lecithin is a better choice. 

Colostrum is another beneficial nutrient you could add: the first milk mothers' product for their babies is colostrum, 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. And be careful of adding too many vitamins, such as vitamin C, as it is a laxative and can move baby’s bowels 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.

About the Author

Kasara is educated as a Mental Health Therapist, Master Herbalist, Traditional Naturopath and Energy Worker with over 35 years of helping thousands of clients find alternative health options that work. She writes articles on Medium, and on her website http://truhealth.com. You may subscribe to her Medium account or her newsletter to stay connected.