Cow and goat milk for children - why is it harmful and dangerous?
After nine months of intrauterine life, the child, being born, finds himself in conditions that are absolutely new, incomprehensible and unusual for him. This is very similar to the state of weightlessness. The infant needs to learn to adjust, breathe, move and eat.
Mother's milk is the first product that a baby gets acquainted with and eats. In the first year of life, it is very important to establish feeding, the health of the child, its further growth and development depends on it. Breastfeeding is the main factor in the adaptation of children in a new world for them. Mother's milk is unique by nature and ideal for a child, it is the best option for baby food, the surest way to health and full development. A worthy replacement for breast milk has not yet been invented.
Unfortunately, not all women have the opportunity, and sometimes the desire, to teach a child to breastfeed. In such cases, you have to resort to additional power sources. Their choice can be a big problem for inexperienced mothers. What kind of milk can you give, and what is better to refuse? Is dairy products dangerous for babies and at what age is it recommended to give milk to a child? Let's try to understand the issues that most likely concern both expectant mothers and those who already know the joys of motherhood.
Content:
- Is cow milk suitable for children under one year old?
- How is goat's milk different from cow's and mother's?
- Can I drink milk from a nursing mother?
- Goat milk for children under one year old
- Is milk possible for children after a year?
- What milk is best for children?
- Diseases transmitted to humans when drinking fresh unboiled milk
- And a few more facts
- Conclusions!
Is cow milk suitable for children under one year old?
The most common fear of young mothers is considered to be the endless fear that the baby is malnourished and remains hungry due to a lack of breast milk. Then the question arises of how to feed and how to diversify the baby's diet. Errors in nutrition must be eliminated, in the first year of a child's life this is especially important. We are in a hurry to calm down mothers who are breastfeeding. If the feeding proceeds correctly, the baby does not need additional nutrition, he always has enough of everything, he is full and satisfied.
Until now, the effect of cow's milk on the body of babies up to a year and older has not been fully studied, but certain conclusions have been made. Pediatricians say that animal milk for small children is an unadapted product. The cow belongs to herbivores, and a meat type of food has developed at the genetic level in humans. It turns out that a person and a cow have a completely different set of amino acids and the composition of milk.
Together with milk, hormones, trace elements and antibodies of cattle enter the human body. And it doesn't matter what kind of milk it is, camel or cow, deer or goat. Scientists are very concerned about the effects of this hormonal effect on young children. Hormones in animal milk stimulate earlier sexual development and an increase in cancer in the future. The harmful effects are not limited to this. Consider all aspects of the impact of cow's milk on the health of young children.
Chemical composition and properties of cow's milk
Cow's milk contains huge reserves of macro and microelements. The content of these components is several times higher than the indicators of the composition of breast milk. In this case, an excess of components can be considered a disadvantage, it can be dangerous. For a child, this is extra ballast. The load on the kidneys and excretory system exceeds the permissible values by almost 5 times.
There is very little iron in milk, but even it is not absorbed, since it belongs to the heme type.
Children in the first year of life develop very actively, and iron deficiency can cause iron deficiency anemia.
In the composition of cow's milk there are almost no components that can strengthen the immune system. It is low in carbohydrates, zinc, vitamin C.
Natural foods are dangerous for babies, and cow's milk is no exception. Excess protein is a direct route to a diagnosis called allergic hemocolitis (blood in the stool).
Lack of essential enzymes in an infant
The enzymes for the digestion of cow's milk are not produced in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. The body spends too much energy on the breakdown of foreign amino acids, and this is also a doubled load. Diarrhea is a common reaction of the body to this process. There are no such problems with mother's milk, it is perfectly absorbed and provides the body with all the necessary components.
Aggressive Effects of Cow's Milk Protein
The protein in milk is casein. Its aggressive effect on the intestines of the child leads to an excess of histamine levels, which causes allergic reactions. In addition, the intestinal walls are injured, hemoglobin begins to fall, and iron deficiency anemia develops.
With the constant use of cow's milk, ulcers appear on the intestinal mucosa. Heavy bleeding is possible.
High risk of allergies
Even if allergic reactions did not occur in infancy, in the future the child is not immune from their occurrence. Allergy develops and does not act immediately, accumulating, it can declare itself at any time. Allergies can start unexpectedly and violently. Defense mechanisms may not cope with complications. Fermented milk products are safer in this regard.
How is goat's milk different from cow's and mother's?
- Foreign proteins in goat and cow milk. The proteins in a woman's breast milk are involved in the construction of new cells. Proteins in animal milk are alien. To assimilate them, the body spends too much energy, for a child this is a heavy product.
- Goat milk contains more fat. This promotes the growth of subcutaneous adipose tissue. If the baby is underweight, this is not bad, otherwise it is harmful.
- Goat milk contains less carbohydrates than cow's milk. For a child with lactose deficiency, this is good, the usefulness of this property is manifested only after reaching the age of 2-3 years.
- Goat milk contains more vitamins and minerals than cow's milk. This is an advantage for the product, but it loses its significance, since almost all vitamins die during boiling or pasteurization.
- More calcium and phosphorus than cow. The presence of these components strengthens
musculoskeletal system. This is a good prevention of diseases such as caries and rickets, however, without vitamin D, calcium is poorly absorbed, and an excess of phosphorus, on the contrary, is quickly absorbed. The load on the kidneys increases markedly, and this is a direct path to urolithiasis. The kidneys of the child are finally formed by the age of three, at this age it is possible to give milk within reasonable limits. The norm is no more than one glass a day.
Can I drink milk from a nursing mother?
Disputes over whether a nursing woman can drink animal milk has been going on for decades. Medical scientists reached agreement on the issue of the first month of feeding. During this period, it is not recommended to drink milk, here opinions agreed.
Further disagreements:
- Some people believe that regular consumption of milk during feeding is harmless, moreover, large reserves of calcium are useful for the baby, in particular, for the formation of bone tissue.
- Some are convinced that milk in the diet of a breastfeeding mother can cause pain in the intestines and colic in the child, therefore it is recommended to use fermented milk products.
- Still, most physicians tend to be moderate and extremely cautious. Milk can be added to tea and porridge, it is better to refuse whole milk. You should not overuse it with quantity, excessiveness is inappropriate.
Initially, animal milk is intended for feeding newborn babies. Its task is to increase the weight and volume of muscle mass. A woman's breast milk has a different purpose. A person is a completely different biological type, breastfeeding, first of all, provides the brain of a small child with polyunsaturated fats, so animal milk will never replace mother's milk.
Goat milk for children under one year old
Some parents believe that goat milk is healthier and better than cow's milk. This is a misconception, since there are even more vitamins and microelements in goat milk.
At an early age, the immature organs of the child's excretory system experience a colossal load on the assimilation of goat's milk, which is extremely undesirable for an actively developing organism.
Goat milk contains triglycerides and casein, their negative effect on the body is always noticeable. Any milk, interacting with gastric juice, curdles. Casein milk is poorly absorbed, it turns into clots, with which a small unformed stomach is not able to cope.
It is better to refuse goat milk in baby food. In the absence of allergies, it is recommended to give milk after the child is 2.5-3 years old.
Anemia is the most serious consequence of using goat milk to feed a baby
In the absence of other food sources, megaloblastic anemia may develop. Irreversible processes will begin in the body, which can lead to disruption of all vital organs. (List of foods to increase hemoglobin)
Is milk possible for children after a year?
Observe reasonable limits - this is how you can outline the main rule when introducing animal milk into a child's diet after a year. Start with a small amount, cook porridge with the addition of milk and watch the reaction. It is very important to be aware of the signs of allergies and respond promptly to its manifestation.
By the way, the preparation of milk porridge requires knowledge of certain nuances. Due to the high calorie content, such cereals can harm health. For children's meals, it is recommended to dilute milk, for 150 ml of milk 90 ml of water. If a child has a hereditary tendency to be overweight, the porridge is boiled without milk, just on water.
As for the age when you can safely give milk to a child, everything is individual here. The main thing to remember is that the enzymes needed to break down milk appear in the body after the age of two. Before that, it is better not to take risks, and if breastfeeding is impossible, use high-quality milk formulas.
Carefulness and attention will be required when introducing milk into baby food and at a later age. In the absence of allergies and normal stools, milk can be given, but within reasonable limits and preferably diluted.
To avoid the development of allergies, the baby's reaction to milk should always be monitored.
What milk is best for children?
The benefits of milk are not lost during pasteurization, only pathogens are killed, but pasteurized milk can be dangerous, especially for young children with an immature digestive system. To save animals from epidemics, they are injected with animal antibiotics. In America and most European countries, this is prohibited, there are very strict standards and farmers comply with them. In our country, the situation is different. Antibiotics enter the body of animals, and together with milk and into the human body.
Useful qualities of pasteurized milk are also deprived of synthetic hormones. They are used to increase productivity in dairy farms. Cows are given special preparations that increase milk yield. This gives results, the volume of milk really grows, however, the mammary glands of the cow are not always ready for this. Inflammatory processes begin, requiring surgical treatment of animals.
In addition to pathogenic bacteria and infections, pesticides, antibiotics and other elements harmful to the health of the child enter milk.
Raw milk can also be dangerous. Domestic cows are not always looked after properly. No one will confirm the cleanliness of the hostess and the absence of diseases in the animal. Sanitary control is often not carried out, there are infections and diseases that can proceed without symptoms. It turns out that if a cow is sick, it is difficult to determine.
Raw milk from domesticated cows can be infectious and dangerous to humans. There is a risk of getting sick with tuberculosis, brucellosis or tick-borne encephalitis. You can avoid infections, for this it is recommended to boil milk.
Diseases transmitted to humans by drinking fresh (not boiled) milk
Many have heard about the miraculous properties of fresh milk. It is unique in composition and contains almost all the nutritional properties a person needs. In our case, when it comes to young children, all risks must be eliminated. Fresh milk is obtained in the same way, cows are milked at home or on farms. Violation of sanitary and hygienic standards is not excluded, therefore, no matter how wonderful fresh milk may be, it should not be given to children in unboiled form.
Fresh milk provokes the development of a number of serious, life-threatening diseases:
- Leukemia;
- Foot and mouth disease;
- Tuberculosis;
- Anthrax;
- Gastroenteritis;
- Q fever;
- Brucellosis;
- Tick-borne encephalitis;
And a few more facts
There are many interesting pages in the history of breastfeeding. Once upon a time, women who did not have the ability or desire to breastfeed turned to wet nurses. In the 18th century, skinny young ladies wrapped in corsets did not want to feed their own children. The environment required compliance with strict fashion norms regarding social behavior and appearance. In these conditions, in addition to the services of nurses, another alternative was found, the children began to be fed with cow's milk. For a long time, it was actively used in baby food, but in our time, priorities and attitudes towards animal milk have changed. Doctors are no longer so friendly about this product and loudly declare the possible risks and consequences.
Potential dangers of milk for children and adults
Scientists at Harvard University have found a link between excess milk consumption and the development of cancer. In women - breast and ovarian cancer, in men - prostate cancer.
The opinion about the preventive benefits of milk for osteoporosis has been refuted. The breakdown of bone tissue in adulthood cannot be prevented by diets based on daily dairy products. Excess calcium in milk does not strengthen bone tissue. This statement was made by American scientists in a study involving more than 75 thousand people. Among the subjects were women, they were followed for 12 years. As a result, it turned out that regular consumption of milk with a gradual increase in the amount does not have a protective effect. Moreover, bone fragility increases markedly.
The promising study that three times daily milk intake reduced weight was also not confirmed. Those dreaming of losing weight have lost hope of losing weight using an affordable and reliable product. It turned out that milk is powerless in the fight against fat, no matter how much you drink, the result will be zero.
In the early 1960s, milk was introduced to the school menu in Japan. Over the past 30 years, the number of patients with hay fever and dermatitis has increased markedly in this country. Some scientists associate this outbreak with milk, the oxidized fats in its composition lead to the multiplication of harmful bacteria and destroy the intestinal microflora.
Conclusions
Future and established mothers should know that their milk is exactly what the child needs. The composition and properties of breast milk change with the age of the baby, depending on the diet, time of day, and psychological state. It kind of adjusts to the situation and provides what is necessary for normal life. The emotional contact of the child with the mother is also of great importance. From childhood, the kid feels closeness, security and trust. This condition persists for life and affects further adaptation and development.
If breastfeeding is not possible for some reason, use adapted milk-based formulas. There is less protein in them, there are no extra minerals, they do not pose a danger. When choosing artificial mixtures, the health and physical development of the child is taken into account. You cannot do without a pediatrician in this matter, only a doctor can choose the best option for milk formula and give the necessary recommendations.
The author of the article: Sokolova Praskovya Fedorovna | Pediatrician
Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.
