What dairy products should babies consume less of
For babies under 3 years old, besides breast milk, dairy products are the most important source of nutrition; for babies over 3 years old, 2 cups of milk a day have a good effect in supplementing calcium. However, if a child does not like to drink fresh milk or formula milk, can other dairy products be used as substitutes?
There are many dairy products on the market today, in addition to fresh milk and formula milk, there are various types of children's milk, yogurt, yogurt drinks, etc., which are loved by babies, and many parents also believe that these dairy products are healthy foods and can be consumed in large quantities. Traditional Chinese medicine reminds you that it is best for babies to drink less of the following three types of dairy products, as they are not only useless, but also harmful.
First: Children's milk
In order to attract consumers, many merchants have launched children's milk, and have subdivided many types of products, including those that supplement calcium, zinc, iron, and even have cognitive benefits. But have you noticed that many babies prefer to drink children's milk over fresh milk? This is because children's milk contains more food additives, such as the addition of white sugar, edible flavorings to enhance taste, and some even add concentrated fruit juice, vegetable powder, etc.
Although children's milk itself is not harmful, excessive consumption can lead to a preference for sweet taste in babies, and even lead to poor tooth development and obesity.
Second: Yogurt drinks
Some parents easily confuse yogurt with yogurt drinks, but in fact, there is a big difference between the two. Yogurt is made by fermenting pure fresh milk, and the protein content is generally ≥2.3%, while yogurt drinks are actually processed and prepared by mixing water, white sugar, powdered milk, fruit juice, sour agents, flavorings, etc. It is a non-fermented formulated beverage with low nutritional value. If children frequently drink yogurt drinks, it may cause problems such as obesity and tooth decay.
In addition, yogurt drinks contain many added ingredients, such as strawberry flavoring, carmine, etc. Although yogurt drinks have certain nutritional value, they cannot replace milk and yogurt.
Third: Milk tablets
Many milk tablet manufacturers advertise that "one tablet of milk tablets is equivalent to one cup of milk", so many parents believe it and even hope to replace fresh milk or powdered milk with milk tablets. In fact, milk tablets cannot replace milk in terms of calcium supplementation.
Firstly, calcium in liquid milk is more easily absorbed by the human body, while milk tablets have been dried and pressed, and the calcium has solidified, resulting in a relatively lower absorption rate. Since the digestive system of children is not yet fully developed, the solidified calcium in milk tablets is likely to accumulate and precipitate in the liver, kidneys, and other organs, eventually forming stones.
Secondly, 2 cups of fresh milk a day can supply 400 milligrams of calcium, while the same amount of calcium requires eating 50-70 milk tablets, which is obviously impossible to achieve. Even if it is really ingested, it means consuming a lot of sugar and additives, which is very detrimental to health.
Finally, I would like to remind all parents that for babies under 2 years old, it is recommended to drink breast milk or formula milk. For babies over 3 years old, it is best to drink yogurt or pure milk. Other dairy products can be consumed occasionally, but not in large quantities!
