Health & Fitness >
Kids Nutrition
RSS FeedIs organic milk safe for infants?
Results so far:
| Safe | 69% | 90 votes | Total: 130 votes | |
| Unsafe | 31% | 40 votes |
Safe
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesToday's grocery stores are flooded with organic foods. Milk is no exception. But what exactly is organic milk?
Cows today are fed antibiotics to keep them healthy because of the fact that they live in such conditions where there are massive amounts of cows in close proximity to each other. Also, these cows are injected with BGH, Bovine Growth Hormone. This hormone is used to increase the cows productivity of milk.
Organic cows are not fed these hormones or given BGH. Organic is intended to mean that something is allowed to grow in its natural habitat without interference from humankind. But organic cows are often fed grains, rather than allowed to graze as they would normally. As a result, they are not completely organic.
Milk unfortunately, will never be 100% organic due to the fact that there is processing involved. Homogenization comes into play with all milk that we see on the grocery shelf, organic or not.
Raw milk has the most benefit, t his is the most natural form of cow's milk. Unfortunately, without the homogenization process, milk sours and goes bad very quickly.
Raw milk can only be purchased fresh from the farm and not available in most places. Some places will offer raw milk to their customers, but only on the basis of pre-orders to ensure that it does not go to waste. Amish farms are often the source of this raw milk.
Anything that we eat that is produced naturally is better for us. So when choosing milk, it is best to go with one that is labeled 100% certified organic.
But what about infants? We know regular milk is safe for children to drink, as is organic. But can infants drink organic milk safely?
Infants should always be fed breast milk or formula. These items are specifically designed for infants; they have everything in them necessary to ensure that they develop properly.
Infants, unlike adults can digest milk products better. The older someone gets, the less of an ability they have to digest these products because an enzyme essential to the process diminishes with age.
Technically, it is safe for infants to drink organic milk, or any milk for that matter, in general. But milk from a cow might not be the best option for development.
Allergies can also be present in an infant that a parent might not be aware of. Giving infants milk that they might be allergic is not safe. Approximately 1% of the population is allergic to cow's milk.
Any changes to an infant's diet should be consulted with a physician. Making any changes without first talking it over with a doctor might have unwanted effects.
Learn more about this author, Sarah Sanuth - Buying and Selling Cars Steward.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
Unsafe
Organic milk. What exactly is organic milk? Organic milk comes from cows who have not been fed GM cattle feed, or given antibiotic treatments, or have chewed on grass covered in synthetic pesticides. Organic farmers use traditional methods to produce purer, more natural, organic milk. The result is that organic is immediately better for consumption.
So is organic milk safe for infants?
Unless the infant is allergic to dairy, milk is a generally acceptable alternative to breast milk, or baby formula. The fat in milk is essential for infant development, the calcium in milk is good for bone development, and organic milk includes essential minerals such as omega 3 - which is a fatty acid with various health benefits and suitable for adults and children. However it is not advised to be taken as a replacement feed to replace breast milk, or the most artificial item, baby formula, which is specially designed to include a whole range of balanced essential vitamins and minerals so that the baby grows physically, and mentally, with the least of belly aches.
What does mothers milk have that organic milk doesn't?
Mother's milk is the most natural form of milk an infant can be fed as it comes from the child's mother with the least of manufacturing. It includes necessary fats and essential minerals and vitamins, it is always on hand as long as the mother is around, and it comes warm - a superb health benefit, as it settles more gently on the babies stomach making it easier to digest, and easier to keep down.
Cows milk on the other hand comes from cows - this makes it an animal product, and different children have different responses when consuming products which come from an animal, even when it has been taken from cows who have eaten no pesticides, or GM modified cattle feed, and have been given absolutely no antibiotic treatment.
Infants often love cows milk, it tastes great, and when sweetened it becomes a delicious snack; it only takes an adult to read the label that says it provides daily calcium needs, and a rage of other health benefits, for them to start feeding the child a drink that they may well consume for the rest of their lives. However the downside to cows milk is that is it actually one of the hardest milks to digest, it doesn't provide enough iron or Vitamin E, and though it contains protein, sodium, and potassium, the levels are too high for infants.
So should infants be fed organic cows milk?
Plain or organic cows milk is not suitable for infants despite the fact that they easily consume it. Breast milk and/or baby formula are the two most recommended types of milk and milk substitute that should be fed. When the infant grows into the weaning stage, a little dairy becomes more suitable. However for some, dairy will never be the choice as it contains enzymes which cause allergies to break out, and if a new type of milk is introduced it will come from the more anti-allergy source which is sheep, goat, and soy beans.
Learn more about this author, Monica P.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
