(Download this photo here)
Breast Milk: The Perfect Food For Infants
When your baby comes into the world, an amazing thing happens. You suddenly discover that you not only want the best for your child, you will do everything possible to keep your baby healthy and happy. Choosing to breastfeed is one way to help give your baby the best opportunity for nutritional intake – and an important way to enhance his or her growth and development. Although it can be an emotional decision, and many moms choose to bottle-feed their children with successful results, there are clear advantages to breastfeeding. There’s a good reason why breast milk is often described as “the perfect food for infants” and why breastfeeding is recognized as the best way to feed and nurture your baby. Why? Your breast milk is uniquely designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of your baby. While the main components of human milk are relatively similar, each woman’s breast milk is slightly different and can vary with the time of the day, the time of year, baby’s eating pattern, baby’s health and growth, and mom’s diet and nutritional health.
Human milk versus cow milk: Which is better?
Research indicates that breast milk contains unique nutrients that are important to baby. Here is how human breast milk compares to cow milk when it comes to baby’s nutrition:
When your baby comes into the world, an amazing thing happens. You suddenly discover that you not only want the best for your child, you will do everything possible to keep your baby healthy and happy. Choosing to breastfeed is one way to help give your baby the best opportunity for nutritional intake – and an important way to enhance his or her growth and development. Although it can be an emotional decision, and many moms choose to bottle-feed their children with successful results, there are clear advantages to breastfeeding. There’s a good reason why breast milk is often described as “the perfect food for infants” and why breastfeeding is recognized as the best way to feed and nurture your baby. Why? Your breast milk is uniquely designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of your baby. While the main components of human milk are relatively similar, each woman’s breast milk is slightly different and can vary with the time of the day, the time of year, baby’s eating pattern, baby’s health and growth, and mom’s diet and nutritional health.
Human milk versus cow milk: Which is better?
Research indicates that breast milk contains unique nutrients that are important to baby. Here is how human breast milk compares to cow milk when it comes to baby’s nutrition:
- Although there is less protein in human breast milk than cow milk, the amino acids found in breast milk are critical to baby’s brain growth and eye development.
- Breast milk contains more lactose, a form of sugar, than cow milk and helps to aid brain development.
- Unlike cow milk, breast milk features special enzymes that helps baby in the digestion process. One of these enzymes breaks down the fat component of breast milk so that baby efficiently absorbs the milk.
- Breast milk minerals have special carriers that allow for easy absorption into baby’s digestive system. The vitamins in breast milk enhance this mineral absorption and provide the proper balance of nutrients necessary for baby’s growth and health.
Why human breast milk is the healthy choice.
Unique components found in breast milk are thought to enhance baby’s immune system, promoting immediate and life-long health benefits. In addition, studies have shown that fully breastfed infants have a lower risk of developing diarrhea, coughs, and vomiting than infants who are not breastfed. Breastfeeding also offers a healthy benefit you might not expect. Recent research indicates that breastfeeding may be a preventative measure against adolescent obesity. The study found that infants that were fed breast milk for the first six months were 22% less likely to be overweight nine to 14 years later. There are many proven benefits to breastfeeding your baby. Breast milk features the key nutrients your baby needs, in the right amount, all in an easily digestible form. It’s the best way to give your baby the specific nutrients he or she needs for physical and mental development – and a great way to give yourself peace of mind in knowing that you are making a smart choice for your baby that offers healthy benefits now and in the future.
Article contributed by Simplisse - Breastfeeding Tips
