What is sugar, why do we need it, its benefits or harms – let’s find the answer to these and many other questions.
Breast milk is the healthiest food for a baby. The baby develops a strong immune system and gets the vitamins his body needs thanks to breast milk. It is good when breastfeeding occurs, but there are situations when it is impossible for various reasons. And then, there is the question of what kind of formula to choose for the baby, so it meets all the baby’s growing body requirements.
When you start formula feeding, it is worth knowing some finer points in baby food, its content, and composition.
Sugar in breast milk
In the first year of life, a baby gets all the necessary nutrients from breast milk. Sugar is not an exception. Lactose is the main carbohydrate in breast milk. It is also called milk sugar. In addition to its energetic function, lactose is a source of galactose – a substance formed in the small intestine during the breakdown of lactose. Galactose promotes the development of the baby’s central nervous system and participates in the normal gut microbiome. At this point, an important conclusion can be made that, in general, an infant becomes familiar with a mildly sweet taste from the first days of life.
Sugar-free infant formula
Let’s talk about infant formula that does not contain sugar. Breast milk does not contain sugar in its pure form. It contains lactose, which is beneficial for the digestion and development of the baby.
As for sugar in the diet, it is simply poison for the baby. It can cause a lack of many essential vitamins and elements for the baby. When choosing infant formula, carefully read the composition on the box. It should not contain:
• Sugar
• Glucose
• Sucrose
• Fructose
Adding such ingredients to a baby’s diet causes malfunctions in insulin metabolism, gas, and fermentation.
How can sugar affect the immune system?
The more sugar and its components enter the child’s body, the less the immune system fights infections, which can cause the development of chronic diseases.
Too early or excessive introduction of sugar into a baby’s diet leads to several problems:
• Increased fermentation processes in the intestines, which provokes bloating and painful colic. Products of the incomplete breakdown of protein from the intestine are absorbed into the blood, thereby causing allergic reactions;
• Excess sugar is deposited in fat depots, and there are prerequisites for the development of obesity, diabetes, and central nervous system changes;
• Sugar in babies and toddlers is addictive! No matter how scary it sounds, but this pattern has been proven many times: a child receiving a portion of glucose is experiencing an emotional lift, but as soon as the blood sugar level drops to normal, lethargy and boredom set in, so the child will start to ask for, and then demand sweets.
When choosing food for your baby, you should remember that some manufacturers add sugar to their products to make them cheaper. But when choosing such a product, parents should understand that it can affect the baby’s health.
organicsbestshop.com helps parents take care of balanced nutrition for babies and their proper growth and development! And by understanding the role of sugar in the body, you will form your baby’s right taste and eating habits!
