Make no mistake: the best food for baby is breastmilk from a healthy mother.
However, many situations call out for a good substitute: adopted and orphaned babies, babies born to mothers with serious
health problems, and babies whose mothers do not have enough milk (a situation that does happen occasionally) deserve to receive
something better than commercial formula. The following questions have been compiled by the authors over a period of several
years and should cover most situations encountered by parents giving homemade formula to their babies. 7-part article
Healthier Baby Formulas - For the infant to remain as healthy as possible, he must obtain a
proper balance of all the essential fats, which is difficult to impossible, especially when you are changing mother nature
and trying to create a formula. Infant Formula Fortification Protocol ---- Recipes for Homemade Baby Formula
The La Leche League International mission is: To help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education
and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and
mother.
Introducing milk other than breast milk to infants younger than 4 months old increases the risk of asthma and
atopy (a predisposition to certain allergies). In the first study of its kind, the investigators followed over two thousand
children from before birth through their 6th birthday, questioning their parents regarding various manifestations of asthma
and allergy. Children who were fed milk other than breast milk before 4 months of age experienced higher rates of all indicators
of asthma and allergy, the report indicates. Such children were 25% more likely to be diagnosed with allergy and 30% more
likely to have a positive skin test for allergies than were children who received only breast milk during their early months.
The total duration of exclusive breastfeeding was less important, though longer breastfeeding was associated with less asthma
and allergy. Because the introduction of non-breast milk was more closely associated with asthma and atopy than the duration
of breastfeeding, the investigators postulate that the exclusion of potentially allergy-causing components in milk other than
breast milk may account for the protective effect. British Medical Journal September
25, 1999;319:815-819.
Cow Milk and Soy Milk Allergy Milk allergy occurs when the
child's immune system mistakenly sees the milk protein as dangerous and tries to fight it off. This starts an allergic reaction,
which can cause an infant to be fussy and irritable, and cause an upset stomach and other symptoms. Most children who are
allergic to cow's milk may tolerate goat or sheep's milk (not always) or sour milk (buttermilk). A great number of babies
are also allergic to the protein in soy milk. Infants who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing a milk allergy than infants who are formula fed. (danger of soy products)
Although goat milk is rich in fat, it must be used with caution in infant feeding as it lacks folic acid and is low
in vitamin B12, both of which are essential to the growth and development of the infant.
Childhood Vaccinations and Juvenile-Onset (Type-1) Diabetes by Harris Coulter, Ph.D. Testimony before the Congress of
the United States, House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies Moore
BREAST FEEDING FOR GROWING HEALTHY CHILDREN
Breastfeeding is the single
most important item needed after birth to produce a healthy child. The milk of the mother is uniquely suited for the
growth of a human child. No other milk will do if one wants one’s child to be in the best of health throughout
life.
WHY BREASTFEED?
Mother’s milk is a rich source
of many, many nutrients, antibodies and much more. Calcium and vitamin D in mother’s milk, for example, create
a strong and properly calcified skeleton and a properly functioning nervous system.
Amino acids build body proteins.
Fatty acids, such as DHA, in particular, and many others as well, create brain tissue and are needed for cell membranes and
many other body tissues as well. Other nutrients in mother’s milk include all the vitamins, minerals and even
some that are not yet catalogued by nutritionists and scientists.
Mother’s milk also is just the right temperature
and a consistency that is not too watery, yet not too thick or difficult to eat. It is also generally free of harmful
bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that can be in tap water used to make formula. Many other reasons for breastfeeding
exist, including the psychological benefits for both mother and child. It is a shame this is not taken for granted.
Colostrum. This is the first milk that comes when
the baby is born. It is the finest milk in the sense that it contains special immunoglobins and other substances that
help prepare the intestinal tract of the baby to receive all food items in the future.
Recall that until a baby begins to feed, the intestinal tract is not in use, since all nutrition and development depends on
the blood that flows from the placenta to the baby through its naval or bellybutton area. Thus the intestinal tract
must be primed, so to speak, with bacteria and other flora in order for it to work correctly.
For this reason, the horrible practice of starting a newborn on formula in the hospital if the mother cannot begin to breastfeed
immediately is a totally insane practice that causes lots of illnesses in babies, mainly food-related allergies and others.
Every effort should be made to assist a baby to obtain colostrums immediately when he or she want to begin feeding.
There is no reason to force this process, as the baby may require rest or sleep for hours after a difficult delivery, or any
birth, for that matter.
Every effort should also be made to assist
the mother to start breast feeding, since the colostrum is the finest product for the baby. If the mother cannot breastfeed
and the baby is calling for milk, another woman should be found to offer some milk, preferably, before resorting to formula.
This may sound unclean, but it is far healthier in most cases than formula of any kind and would result in far healthier babies.
In
many nations formula is given out to hospitals and birthing centers at no charge by companies that want to “hook”
the babies on the taste of formula. Then they will never want to breastfeed. This supports the formula company,
but does nothing beneficial for the child or the mother. The mother is left with engorged breasts and a colicky child
in most instances. We can only hope that the practice of giving formula in the hospital to newborns will be abandoned
sometime soon, though I doubt it as it is “convenient” and inexpensive.
HOW
LONG SHOULD ONE BREASTFEED?
Ideally, breastfeeding
should continue for between two and three years, and ideally even longer if the baby will take it. This is different
advice than that given by almost all pediatricians and other doctors. However, that is the time that most primitive
cultures breastfeed their children for optimum health.
Let us
explain why. The child’s digestive system is extremely delicate. Although a child can start with food after
a few days to a few months, the benefits of mother’s milk are many, as explained above. It is also sufficient
for nourishing most children for several years. There is no reason to introduce food, particularly meat and grains,
until the child is at least one year old.
Some children will ask for
more than breast milk at a certain point, and some will outright stop breastfeeding at a certain age. However, this
is often because the mother’s milk is not sufficient in nutrients. This can often be remedied by a change in the
mother’s diet or health status via a nutritional balancing program. However, it is late to begin such a program
once one is breastfeeding. It is certainly possible, but it is preferable to begin a healing program before one gets
pregnant or during pregnancy.
Other reasons for continuing to breastfeed
for several years are the bonding that occurs between mother and child and other subtle benefits for both mother and child.
I realize this may be inconvenient for modern-day mothers who may need to work. However, methods exist and are discussed
below to allow the child to have the benefits of breast milk even if the mother cannot always be present.
PUMPING THE BREASTS
If you must be away from your child, important bonding with
the child will not occur as well. However, breast milk can be pumped out and saved, using a breast pump. Refrigerate
it if and only if it will be used more than an hour or two after it is pumped. It will have to be heated a little, or
the child will usually vomit.
Also, if mother is very upset at feeding time, using a breast pump may also be best.
A baby is very sensitive to the vibrations of the mother. If the mother cannot relax, pumping the milk and then handing
it the child in a cradle may actually be better than holding a baby in an agitated state and believing the child can assimilate
the milk properly.
Children must be relaxed, as with adults, to feed properly. Children, however, will
often vomit if they are uncomfortable, whereas adults usually will just develop bloating, gas and other problems by eating
when upset, anxious, in a hurry or not chewing or resting while eating.
Pasteurized and certified Milk. Two hundred years ago, certain diseases were passed to people
through drinking milk from diseased cows such as tuberculosis and brucellosis. Dr. Louis Pasteur figured out that by
heating the milk to about 140° F. and keeping it there for a certain amount of time, the germs would be killed and the
milk was safer to drink. This is called pasteurization in honor of Dr. Pasteur. Moore
Infant and Children Nutrition
In 1996, Laura J. Stevens, of the Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University,
and co-investigators published an extremely important paper in Physiology and Behavior. The researchers found that boys with
lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood showed more problems with behavior, learning, and health than those with higher levels of total omega-3 fatty
acids. Dr. Weston Price - "If a native abandoned his ancestral eating habits in favor of modern foods, ill health
and dental caries followed. If that same person switched back to the original eating pattern, however, health returned and
the progression of dental decay stopped and reversed itself. This is perhaps the most uplifting aspect of Price's work: one
can always reverse the trend; there is always hope. "
Breast Milk It's well known that breastfeeding, especially for the first four months of an infant's life, is associated
with fewer ear infections. Your breastfed child will not only have fewer ear infections, but
protection against other infections. Breastfeeding provides protection against diarrhea,
gastrointestinal and respiratory infections; in fact, infections of every kind. .
Dr.
Mercola - "A mother's breast milk is nature's perfect and complete food for babies and can't even come close
to being reproduced. With so many substances known to be present in breastmilk, but unable to be replicated in breastmilk
substitutes (formula), plus all of the as-yet unidentified constituents, it should come as no great surprise that children
today are suffering from a vast myriad of illnesses and disorders." more
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that 15 brands of powdered infant
formula are contaminated with perchlorate, a rocket fuel component detected in drinking water in 28 states and territories. The two most contaminated brands, made
from cow’s milk, accounted for 87 percent of the U.S. powdered formula market in 2000, the scientists said. The CDC
scientists did not identify the formula brands they tested. The CDC findings, published in the March 2009 edition of the Journal
of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, raise new concerns about perchlorate pollution, a legacy of Cold War rocket
and missile tests. Studies have established that the chemical is a potent thyroid toxin that may interfere with fetal and
infant brain development. The new CDC study provides some of the strongest evidence yet that a legally enforceable safe drinking water level for perchlorate should
be a priority for the Obama administration. Rocket Fuel Found In Most Powdered Infant Formula. Read more...
There was a time when doctors thought that infant formula was superior to breast milk. They were wrong about
that. Mothers were told to "not spoil their babies and to let them cry". Later, doctors realized that infants wither
and die without human touch. What about all those Soviet children that were left on their own, crying in their cribs without
proper attention? Now these children, who were adopted into this country have all sorts of horrendous emotional problems and
learning disabilities. Babies need nurturing and it is not spoiling them to provide it. Spoiling means "ruining"
and you cannot ruin a child with love and affection, you ruin him by abandoning him and ignoring his needs.
Dr
Robert Mendelsohn, M.D.- "The bottlefed human baby is substantially more likely to suffer a whole nightmare
of illnesses: diarrhea, colic, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, meningitis, asthma, hives, other allergies, pneumonia,
eczema, obesity, hypertension, atherosclerosis, dermatitis, growth retardation, hypocalcemic tetany, neonatal hypothyroidism,
necrotizing enterocolitis, and sudden infant death syndrome. From a scientific, biological standpoint, formula feeding cannot
be considered an acceptable alternative to breastfeeding, especially since more than ninety-nine percent of new mothers are
perfectly capable of doing it.
Even premature infants should get breastmilk. When I had my pediatric training more
than twenty-five years ago, I was strongly (and thankfully) influenced by one of the great nurses in the field of premature
babies, Evelyn Lundeen. Miss Lundeen not only encouraged but insisted that mothers supply breastmilk to their premies even
to those who weighed only two pounds. I can remember watching husbands deliver the bottles of milk their wives had pumped.
There's no doubt in my mind that the premature infant fed breastmilk does much better than the premature infant fed formula
In my own practice I have discharged from the hospital many babies who weighed less than five pounds, all breastfed, of course,
since now I won't accept a child as a patient unless the mother is determined to breastfeed." more
The Deadly Influence of Formula in America While the dangers of formula feeding aren’t something you’re likely to hear in your doctor’s
office, the conclusions can be derived through an examination of the available scientific research on infant mortality in
the United States and across the world. There are studies showing artificial feeding’s impact on overall infant death
rates in both developing and undeveloped countries. While studies offering comparative death rates are not available for industrialized
regions, there are numerous studies providing comparative occurrence rates for many illnesses and disorders in the United
States and other industrialized nations. Many more reports are available extolling superior survival rates and decreased illness
rates among breastfed infants, but only those with solid numbers are useful here. We can assemble the statistics from these
studies to build a firm picture of the ratio of infant deaths for U.S. formula-fed babies against those who are breastfed.
The FDA found melamine and cyanuric acid, a related chemical, in samples of baby formula made by major U.S. manufacturers. November 28, 2008 - Melamine can cause kidney and bladder stones and, in worst cases, kidney failure and death.
If melamine and cyanuric acid combine, they can form round yellow crystals that can also damage kidneys and destroy renal
function. Melamine was found in Good Start Supreme Infant Formula With Iron made by Nestle, and cyanuric acid was detected
in Enfamil Lipil With Iron infant formula powder made by Mead Johnson. more
The FDA has been reviewing reports of abnormal behavior and other brain effects in more than 1,800 children who had taken
the flu medicine Tamiflu. The symptoms have included convulsions, delirium or
delusions, and in Japan, five deaths have been reported in children under 16 as a result of neurological or psychiatric problems.There
have also been nine deaths among older teens and adults, attributed to neuropsychiatric problems or brain infections. Dr.
Wolfgang Wodarg MD - "Swine flu is not very different from normal flu. On the contrary if you look at the number
of cases it is nothing compared to a normal flu outbreak.” Swine Flu Vaccination Poses Serious Threat to Your Health.Moore
WHAT IF A BABY WILL NOT BREASTFEED?
At times, for various reasons, a child
will not feed at the breast. Let us examine some of the most common reasons and what can be done about it. However,
this short article is not intended as a breastfeeding manual. For this, and other information, I refer the reader to
groups such as La Leche League International (www.lllusa.org). Let us look at a few reasons for breastfeeding problems.
Problems in the baby. These must
be checked by a doctor. More and more children are born today with digestive defects or developmental delays that prevent
normal feeding. The sucking reflex must be developed sufficiently, for example. Other are the inability to grip
the breast or to signal when to eat and swallow in coordination. These must be dealt with by a competent physician.
Problems
in the mother. A second group of reasons has to do with the mother. More and more mothers are unable to breastfeed
today. The cause is usually nutritional depletion. Mothers must literally “eat for two” while breastfeeding,
although admittedly, the youngster does not consume anywhere near the amount the mother does in terms of calories or any other
measure, simply because of his size.
However, nutritional difficulties leading to breastfeeding problems are rampant.
The nipples may not function as needed. They may become very sore and not respond to standard treatments such as lubricating
gels. One of the best products for sore or inflamed is called Bag Balm.
The baby may throw up the milk
or become colicky, the mother may become ill or depressed, and many other variations. Most of these causes can be dealt
with at home by a suitable nutritional balancing program. This is discussed in other articles on this website.
For many breastfeeding problems, I strongly recommend calling La Leche League, as they often know a lot more about breastfeeding
than most doctors or nurses.
Preparing for breastfeeding. In fact, pregnancy is such a stressful
experience, and a thrilling one, that preparation must begin early. In fact, the earlier the better. Grade school
would be a good time to separate out the girls and explain that childbearing is both a great honor as well as a burden and
responsibility for women.
Do it well and you will feel wonderful. Create defective children and you will feel
so guilty that it destroys some mothers, as many know. Wise indigenous cultures that value child-raising much more than
we do start preparing girls for child birth very young. Western cultures seem far more interested in their daughter’s
good looks, whom she marries and other things that are important, but do not produce the best children.
If the
culture cared about children a little more, young women would be prepared, starting in grade school, for the most important
task of their lives – that of bearing the children for the future of the race. Instead, they are treated to junk
food in the cafeterias and at home, late nights, insane pleasures and distractions such as movies, computer games and others,
and a moral code that degrades women to a degree that is just sad to see.
The new moral code is called “women’s
liberation” but it is nothing of the sort. It often involves literally deadly birth control pills and patches,
and exposes the girls to sexually-transmitted diseases that affect many for the rest of their lives. This is not liberation,
but a new form of tyranny and bondage.
Wet Nurses. If a child will not breastfeed and the cause is
the mother, an ancient method to handle this situation is the use of a wet nurse. Any woman will do who has milk.
Some women have too much milk and would welcome the opportunity to get rid of it. This will come about more as women
learn more about their unique role as wet nurses and the great service it provides to themselves and society.
Now
let us discuss what else can be done if breastfeeding is not to occur.
COW’S
MILK AND OTHER MILKS
Cows and other animals have been used for feeding babies for thousands of years.
Today, this is still the case. Animal milks are good, but none come close to breast milk. Each of the others has
its problems. A common problem to many, however, is hybridization.
For example, cows today are bred to provide
five or six times as much milk as those of 100 years ago. While this increases production drastically, the quality is
lower. The cow simply cannot eat enough grass, hay or other food, unfortunately, to produce as good a milk in such quantity.
As a result, except for organic milk, which is a little better, all animal milks are now suspect. Pasteurizing and homogenizing
makes them much worse.
Raw, Certified Milks. Until 50 years ago or so, most well-informed doctors
recommended only certified raw milk for children. This is milk from cows that have been rigorously inspected for disease
by government authorities and must meet very high standards of cleanliness.
This is a very safe product. This
excellent food is outlawed in most states for political reasons. The dairy lobby wants their contaminated milk to be
sold as equal to certified raw milk, which it is not. Their method of ‘competing’ with the raw milk producers
was simply to outlaw their product, claiming it causes illness when this is not so. The standard milk is pasteurized
to control its bacteria count, but this damages the milk quite a lot. Let us discuss this horrible practice
Pasteurization.
This is the practice of heating milk, usually by splashing it over very hot rollers, for 10 minutes or more. While it
may have had some value 100 years ago to prevent some disease, this harmful sterilization method unfortunately allows milk
from sick cows to be sold on the open market. It also permits lax standards of cleanliness on a few huge dairy farms
that supply large areas of America.
In addition, cooking the milk renders its calcium less biologically available to
the body. It also damages the protein in the milk to a degree, making it much harder to digest.
Homogenization
is another insult to milk. Vigorous shaking breaks up the fat particles so they stay in solution instead of rising to
the top. However, the small particles are absorbed directly into the blood stream instead of being digested properly.
This renders the milk much less healthful as well.
Goat, sheep or other milks. Goat milk is less damaged
by pasteurization, for which reason it is preferable, though goats are also hybridized to a large degree, today, which renders
the milk less ideal than previously.
Sheep milk is very good, but not very available. Other animals may be used
as well, although none is as good as a wet nurse or the mother of the child.
Soy, rice and almond milks.
These are not worthy of the name “milk”. Almond milk is a bit better, but not that much. These drinks,
and that is what they are, should be reserved as a substitute for water. They do not contain nearly the nutrition needed
for a growing child, even if they say “fortified” or “enriched” on the label.
The exception
is if one makes them at home, with fresh ingredients, and adds many more nutrients so that a truly soy-based or almond-based
baby formula is the result. Once again, consult books on this subject for the details.
Like most babies with his medical condition, Austin DuPonte of Hudson was not expected to live long - He
was born prematurely and developed intestinal problems so severe that surgeries left him unable to absorb enough nourishment.
Babies with bowel troubles can be fed intravenously, but most quickly develop liver problems. Without a costly liver transplant,
and sometimes even with one, these children usually don't make it to their first birthday. But over the last two years, a
simple finding made by doctors at Children's Hospital Boston has apparently saved the life of Austin and 15 other babies.
It's long been known that the intravenous fluid that kept the babies alive -- called total parenteral nutrition -- was also
destroying their livers. The Children's doctors, led by Dr. Mark Puder, figured out why total parenteral nutrition seemed
to be causing these problems and how to fix it. They swapped the IV feedings, giving the babies fluids with fish oils, known
as omega-3's, instead of the standard plant oils, or omega-6. Within weeks, the patients' livers began to rebound, and they
no longer needed transplants.
There are many serious consequences of generation after generation having diets deficient in an element essential for normal
development of the nervous system. Following are a few observations of the effects that inadequate nutrition is having on
social and economic conditions today.
A widespread alienation and pervasive depression in young people, truly alarming
to observe in an age group usually known for its boundless enthusiasm and enjoyment of life.
An increase in
suicides and killings among young children, almost unheard of a generation ago.
The ongoing increase in drug
and alcohol abuse.
An unparalleled growth of immune system disorders like Epstein Barr, Candida, allergies,
chronic sinus and ear infections, and digestive disorders.
A serious decline in the level of scholastic achievement
among school children.
A continued deterioration of the quality of goods produced by American industries. (A
nation of people that lives on hamburgers, french fries, milk shakes, cola drinks, TV dinners, and other toxic foods is destined
to lose its competitive edge, and will continue to foster drug abuse in the workplace.)
Toxicology Department, Forsyth Research Institute, Boston, MA
Sodium
Fluoride is currently added to the majority of municipal water systems in the U.S. to prevent cavities in children. Its use
has risen rapidly since the 1950’s. Sodium Fluoride is also registered with the EPA as a rat poison, although advocates
say its use in low levels in water poses no adverse health concerns. There has been considerable research done on fluoride
regarding cancer, birth defects, and risks to the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems, however, very little
has been done on its neurological effects. moreFluoridation- Its pros and cons
FORMULA
Home made meat and milk-based formulas. If milk from a woman
or a healthy animal is not available or does not work due to allergies or other reasons, a meat-based formula, properly prepared,
is often by far the best substitute. It is far better than commercial formula, most nut or seed or grain milks and often
very non-allergenic for the child. A meat-based formula recipe is given in the book, Nourishing Traditions by Sally
Fallon, New Trends Publishing, Washington, DC, 1999 and 2001. This is far better than commercial ones, but still falls
short of breast milk, when available. This book also contains a home-made milk-based formula that is probably even better
than the meat-based formula if a child will tolerate it.
Commercial Formula. This is nothing but
a euphemism for deficient milk. I expect it will be banned from use once medical scientists discover the harm it produces.
Please do not give it to babies, or anyone else for that matter. Most brands are based on milk sugar that has been altered
by heat and chemicals. The manufacturers add synthetic vitamins, but often many chemicals as well.
This is not a food,
but a phony concoction that should be labeled as a drug, not a food. This is how harmful it is for the delicate, balanced
chemistry of the young child – and adults as well.
It interferes with proper development, which is every child’s
birthright. Thus it is one of the worst products for growing children. It is also used for the elderly in a slightly
different form, such as Ensure and other trademarked products. This, too, is harmful. However, at least in the
elderly the person has lived his or her life, so the damage is minimal by comparison.
SODA
POP AND JUICES FOR BABIES
Never feed babies or children any fruit juices, lemonade, soda pop or
sweetened beverages at all for optimum health. This merit a more detailed discussion because companies that produce
juices and sodas, often target children and young mother’s due to their “convenience”.
These are not
food for children, however, or even most adults. Therapeutic use of carrot and green vegetable juices in limited quantities
are one thing. Drinking sweet fruit or even sweet vegetable juices or worse, soda pop, is a horror for all people.
The fact that sodas are still sold in schools, along with fruit juices, should make parents remove the children from this
environment. However, this level of awareness is a long way off. Reasons to avoid all fruit juices and soda pop,
sweet teas and other sweetened beverages are:
1) Very Little calcium. Soda pop and juices supply
little if any calcium, even if “enriched”. If calcium is added, it is usually a cheap form of supplemental
calcium. Orange juice has some calcium, but even this product is not healthful for anyone, in our opinion, due to its
high sugar content and other reasons today. Citrus juices, such as grapefruit, are better, but only if made with ripe
fruit, which is rarely available since the fruit is usually picked green. Even fresh grapefruit juice is extremely yin
and should be strictly limited, in my view, to a small glass once in a great while.
2) Fruit acids or phosphoric
acid. Sodas, in particular, and orange juice, too, are quite acidic foods. This means they contain fruit acids
or, in the case of sodas, phosphoric acid is added to the soda pop. These are hard to digest, no matter what the ‘health
authorities’ say. Grapefruit is somewhat better because it has so little sugar. However, the fruit acids
are not always converted correctly and are often harmful to the body, especially in children.
3) Calcium
versus phosphoric acid and fruit acids. Phosphoric acid, used in most soda drinks to provide a “kick”, binds
and absorbs calcium in the intestinal tract. When it binds to calcium, it forms low-solubility calcium phosphates.
This prevents the bound calcium from being absorbed properly into the child’s body.
It is silly to believe you
will get much calcium from a food or beverage that has phosphoric acid added for “fizz” or some other reason.
Fruit
acids, which include phosphoric, malic and others, can also do the same thing. This is one reason that people who consume
a lot of fruit have decayed teeth. It is not just the surface effects of fruit acids on the dentine of the teeth.
It is also the absorption and binding of calcium by fruit acids, rendering them less absorbable
This is not to be confused
with the fact that absorption of calcium requires an acid medium in the stomach. This is the truth. However, the
proper acid is hydrochloric acid. This enables calcium, if it is unbound, to be mixed with amino acids and thereby chelated.
This word means to be bound to a mineral transporter, such as the amino acid glutamate or others. This, in fact, permits
greater calcium absorption.
However, binding calcium with other materials, such as phosphorus, creates insoluble compounds
that are poorly absorbed. This is why one should not buy a calcium phosphate product in the health store. This
will not be as well absorbed as a calcium chelate product in most cases.
Phosphoric acid and fruit acids may also bind
other minerals such as magnesium and zinc.
4) Sugars to saturation. The many problems of consuming sugar,
especially for children, are discussed in other articles. Simple carbohydrates are a very damaging food for children,
unless combined as in natural milks, especially mother’s milk.
They upset calcium metabolism more than
any other single factor in many instances. Melvin Page, DDS wrote extensively about this in his book, Degeneration,
Regeneration, Nutritional Development, FL, 1949,1980. and in his other books. Many other excellent books about sugar
have also been published.
5) Too much liquid. This is another problem with feeding babies sodas, soymilk,
juices and other dilute beverages. The nutrient density of these beverages is so low the baby must drink too much liquid
to get any nutrition at all. This causes stomach upsets and more problems. It is a subtle problem with formula
and all substitutes for mother’s milk, in most cases.
6) Low in essential fatty acids. One of the
great benefits of most mother’s milk is the fatty acid content. This is absolutely essential for childhood development
of the nervous system.
One contributor to conditions such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
and many other developmental delays and learning problems stem from inadequate or the improper balance of fatty acids in the
body.
It is not easy to obtain the needed ones from modern food. Also, children fed exclusively formula
are all deficient in fatty acids and other nutrients, some of which have not been discovered and will not be so for some years.
This applies even when vitamins and other nutrients are added to the milk formula.
The body needs a wide range
of fatty acids for its development. Fish oils can supply most of these. Today’s food is deficient in many
of them, however, some of which are known and many are not known.
7) Unknown Needs. A hidden reason for
using breast milk is that we have not discovered all the nutrients needed for life. In particular, more amino acids
are needed than are recognized. An example is L-taurine. This very essential nutrient is missing from many commercial
formulas and not too abundant in many nut and seed milks.
8) Caffeine And Many Chemicals. These are common
in almost all beverages except simple herb teas, which may be given to children in small quantities. Otherwise, however,
one is feeding the child a chemical cocktail and that is pretty much all they are.
Sugar substitutes, especially
aspartame (Equal or Nutrasweet) are even worse than sugars for many children. The other fake sweeteners are less harmful,
but not too much better in most cases. They upset the delicate taste detection mechanism in children, leading to obesity,
cravings, addictions and other problems of metabolism, as well as psychological problems in a few cases.
9)
Tap water toxins. Some forget that tap water is not a healthful product, with its added chlorides, fluorides, aluminum
(used in most every municipal water system), copper in some areas, and much more.
For example, most urban water supplies
have some degree of contamination with medical drugs. Your baby gets a dose of antibiotics, sleeping pills and much,
much more with each bottle of formula mixed with tap water. No wonder so many are sick.
10) Radiation
and even more toxins. Breast milk is also purer in terms of bacteria, parasites, viruses and other harmful microorganisms.
Babies are also exposed to radiation poisoning through the municipal water used in many nations. Only a foolish mother
would dilute formula with this kind of water, but for many mothers this is one of the only alternatives to breastfeeding,
and it is an important “profit center” for the food companies.
If you care about your child, breast feed,
use a wet nurse or only add distilled or spring water, if possible, to any formula. Carbon filtered water is also okay,
though not as good as it does not remove toxic metals, another common problem with American and foreign tap waters.
Boiling water does remove chlorine and kills some germs, but does not remove all chemicals or any of the toxic metals.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
If possible, breastfeed your child for at least three years.
If problems arise, do not give up easily, even if your doctor tells you to forget breastfeeding. Consult La Leche League
International first. Do as they say, as they are far more knowledgeable than 99% of doctors. The smart doctors
refer the women directly to this or similar groups.
The elusive infant condition called colic has perplexed parents and health professionals alike
for many years. The seemingly endless crying spells, sleep loss and worry leads to stress and anxiety for all. Each baby is
unique and is affected by a myriad of factors, but all respond in their own ways. Nevertheless, current research and the principles
set forth by Weston A. Price give parents the best chance of maximizing their wee one's happiness and preventing excessive
toe-curling scream sessions.
Colic--What We Know
Crying is baby-communication and has many possible drivers;
crying babies could be hungry, cold, wet, under-stimulated, over-stimulated, bored, in pain, sick, moody or anything else
under the sun. It often takes some trial and error to figure out what will soothe a baby. When crying becomes loud and persistent,
when soothing efforts are fruitless, and when potential physical conditions have been ruled out, the doctor will generally
give a diagnosis of colic,1 which means, "We have no idea why your baby will not stop crying!" How frustrating!
The average infant cries between two and three hours a day.2 The commonly accepted clinical definition of colic is the "rule
of three": crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for more than three weeks
in an infant that is well-fed and otherwise healthy.3 However, when a baby is in the throws of a high-pitched crying-fit,
five minutes can feel like three hours. Some people are just better able to tolerate the noise and feelings of helplessness
than others. This is what makes the term colic, or even excessive crying, so subjective. A Brazilian study found that as many
as 80 percent of mothers believed their infants had colic; however, using the definition above, only 16.3 percent actually
had the condition.4 Thus, as with many things, "excessive crying" really is in the eye--or ear--of the beholder.
Ultimately, science doesn't know much about colic, but there are many gimmicky "colic cure" sale pitches
to make your wallet burst into more tears than your child. Nevertheless, there are a number of contributing factors that if
remedied may improve the situation. These issues may or may not be directly involved in the cause of colic, but they are all
things that should be evaluated by every parent. It all fits into the realm of learning about your unique bundle of joy and
encouraging his or her best possible health. more
Colic can be very trying for both parents and baby. It
can often result in endless sleepless night and midnight drives around the neighbourhood in an attempt to comfort a distressed
baby.
Homeopathy is a natural system of medicine in which the remedies that are used stimulate the body’s own
healing powers. It is concerned with treating the whole person—not only the disease. For this reason, people with the
same problem may often be treated with different remedies. The homeopathic alternative to treating infants' colic and children's
digestive problems is an individually chosen homeopathic medicine. When homeopathy is used by a skilled practitioner and the
case is individualised according to the patient’s history and physical exam, it is safe and can help even those
stubborn cases of infant colic.
The following are brief descriptions of some of the more commonly used homeopathic
remedies for colic:
BRYONIA is for the infant who is irritable and does not want to be carried. He
is worse from movement and touch with a tendency toward constipation.
CHAMOMILLA is for the "impossible cranky
irritable" baby who moves about in agony. He cries one minute for something and then pushes it away the next. Both baby
and parents are miserable. He is better from being carried. One notable feature is that one cheek is red and the other is
pale.
COLOCYNTHIS should be considered for severe colic. The baby screams with gas pains and is doubled over. The
pain is better with firm pressure on the tummy.
MAGNESIA PHOSPHORICA is used when relief is brought on by gentle
abdominal pressure. The baby also feels better with warmth on the belly.
PULSATILLA is for the affectionate baby
who is irritable and desires sympathy and attention; although they may be irritable from the pain they experience, they are
still basically friendly.
Some people theorise that the reason for colic is that the infant is allergic
to milk or to some other food. The homeopathic view of food allergies is basically that the food is not "the problem."
Rather, it is the individual's underlying state of health. The disease process produces poor assimilation and utilization
of the food, which then ultimately creates symptoms. Homeopaths have found that the homeopathic medicines are effective in
re-establishing health and thereby reducing food allergies.
Homeopathic medicines have wide applications for paediatric
complaints and it is usually worthwhile seeking out safe, effective alternatives to paediatric problems first. Homeopathic
medicines may not only help to improve the health of infants and children, but will probably also help them to become healthy
adults. "
Sheilagh King is a Licenced Homeopath currently practicing alongside GPs and other complementary therapists at a private clinic, Westover
House, located in Earlsfield, South West London. Battersea clinic. 72 White House, Vicarage Crescent, London SW11 3LH.
020 79784140 and Earlsfield clinic. Westover House, 18 Earlsfield Road, London SW18. 020 8877 1877.
According
to Shé D'Montford, Shambhallah, from Australia ‘The human body "WILL HEAL"... If we get out of our
own way and allow it, it heals itself. It is our basic nature. Anybody who tells you other than that is trying to sell you
something. No matter what you have been told. Don't give up on yourself and don't buy into the lines like ... ‘oh well
you've had a good life'... 'at your age'... and the worst of all ...'there's nothing further I can do, I suggest you finalize
your affairs'... How dare anyone tell you to give up! So much in society combines to convince us of the propaganda that some
things never get better. It's up to you ... do you want to get better? Make things better? It is human nature to make things
better, evolve and grow.”
This site is intended to provide general information only and is not a substitute
for medical evaluation or treatment. All matters regarding health or a particular health situation should be supervised by
a licensed health care professional.The author and the publisher shall not be held responsible or liable for any harm or loss
allegedly arising, directly or indirectly from any information in this site
