Vital Nutrients for Infants
You are an educated
consumer. You read labels. Reading a baby formula nutrition label, however, can
be challenging to even the most astute parent. What are the ingredients on that
baby formula nutrition label, and how do they help your baby's development?
We've got the answers.
Protein
Proteins serve a number of important functions. Babies use protein to build
muscles, to carry nutrients in the blood, and to help fight infections. In
addition, protein can also be used as a source of energy. Consuming sufficient
amounts of protein is especially important in periods of rapid growth, like
infancy.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein
Proteins are composed of substances called amino acids. An easy way to
understand proteins is to think of proteins as chains. The amino acids are the
individual links in the chains.
Essential amino acids
The human body can make all but ten amino acids. Because babies must get these
ten amino acids from their diet and because they are necessary for normal
healthy growth, they are called essential amino acids.
Breast milk is the 'gold standard'
Like almost all other nutrients, the amount of essential amino acids in human
milk is felt to be ideal for babies. Breast milk is thus the model, or 'gold
standard', after which Bright Beginnings milk-based formula is designed.
Bright Beginnings is a good source of essential amino acids
Bright Beginnings formulas use milk proteins to supply essential amino acids in
amounts like those found in breast milk.
Whey and Casein
Breast milk contains two types of proteins: whey and casein. Whey is naturally
found in greater amounts than casein and is easier to digest because it is less
likely to form curds, or clumps, in the stomach of infants. Bright Beginnings
contains whey and casein in a ratio like that found in breast milk. In addition,
Bright Beginnings has been heat-treated to make the casein protein more
digestible.
Cow's milk has excess protein for infants
Whole cow's milk contains about three times more protein than breast milk and
has much more casein than whey. Cow's milk also has a much higher mineral
content than breast milk and baby formula. For these reasons, cow's milk can
stress a baby's intestines and kidneys and should not be offered to infants
until twelve months of age.
Fat
Although there is much attention paid to reducing consumption of fat by older
children and adults, fat is an important nutrient in an infant's diet. In
addition to being used as a source of energy by growing babies, fat is an
essential component of various structures. For example, fat is a very important
building block for myelin, a substance that surrounds nervous tissue in healthy
children and is necessary for nerves to function normally. DHA and ARA are two
fats, or lipids, which are particularly important in brain and eye development.
Essential Fats
Like the amino acids used to build protein, there are fats that babies cannot
make themselves and therefore must be included in their diet. These are called
'essential' fats because they are required for normal healthy growth. Linolenic
and linoleic acid are essential fats.
Vegetable oils are good sources of essential fats
Bright Beginnings uses vegetable oils to provide fat because they are safe and
are better sources of essential fats than cow's milk fat. Corn oil and soybean
oil, for example, are rich in the essential fat linoleic acid.
Breast milk is the 'gold standard'
Like almost all other nutrients, the types and amounts of fat in breast milk are
felt to be ideal for babies. Breast milk is thus the model, or 'gold standard',
after which Bright Beginnings is designed.
Bright Beginnings' fat composition is similar to breast milk
Bright Beginnings contains palm, safflower, sunflower, soybean and coconut
vegetable oils to provide the fats like those found in breast milk.
Although Bright Beginnings formulas closely resemble human milk in many ways,
human milk contains many substances not found in formulas that help keep babies
healthy.
Iron
Iron is required for the production of red blood cells which carry oxygen from
the lungs to muscles and the brain.
Iron Requirements
Based on scientific studies and experience with pediatric nutrition, the
American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of over 50,000 physicians
dedicated to the health of infants and children, recommends that full-term
infants receive between .15 and 3.0 mg/100 calories of iron for normal growth
and development.
Note: Premature infants may have different iron requirements. If your baby was
born early, discuss your baby's iron needs with your pediatrician.
Bright Beginnings meets iron needs
Bright Beginnings cow's milk and soy formulas provide iron in amounts that
satisfy American Academy of Pediatrics requirements for full-term healthy
infants and that have been clinically proven to support infant growth and red
blood cell production.
Avoid "low iron" formulas
Iron does not cause constipation, colic, or gas. There is no medical reason for
healthy infants to use formulas with less than the recommended amount of iron.
Use of formulas deficient in iron can lead to anemia, or inadequate numbers of
red blood cells. Iron-fortified cereals The iron content in breast milk is felt
by many pediatric experts to be inadequate for normal growth and development in
the second half of the first year. For this reason, breast fed infants need
additional iron beyond age six months. Iron-fortified cereals are thus a good
choice for starting infants on solid foods.
Solid foods rich in iron
Red meats are the best sources of iron. Other dietary sources of iron are beans
and spinach. Consult your pediatrician about an appropriate time to introduce
these foods into your baby's diet.
Hemoglobin testing
At age nine months, your baby's pediatrician will perform a blood test that
measures your baby's levels of hemoglobin - the substance that carries oxygen in
the blood. Although there are other nutrient deficiencies that can cause an
infant to have a low hemoglobin value, the most common cause is insufficient
iron intake. Consult your pediatrician if you are concerned about your baby's
iron intake.
Carbohydrates
Although carbohydrates are essential components of many body structures, their
most important function may be as a source of energy. While infants can use
protein and fat for energy, using dietary carbohydrates for energy spares
protein and fat to be used as building blocks for muscles, nerves and other
vital structures.
Carbohydrates In Baby Formulas
All cow's milk-based formulas contain lactose as the carbohydrate source and
supply recommended amounts of calories for growing infants (when consumed in
appropriate amounts).
Soy-based formulas contain carbohydrates other than lactose and are appropriate
for infants who cannot properly digest lactose. Soy formulas also provide
recommended amount of calories for growing infants.
Lactose-free Baby Formulas
Following an episode of diarrhea, many infants may be temporarily unable to
digest the lactose. In this situation, many pediatricians recommend formulas
with carbohydrates other than lactose until the baby's digestive process returns
to normal.
Bright Beginnings Soy Formula is lactose free and contains two sources of
carbohydrates - corn syrup solids and sucrose - for better absorption of
carbohydrates during or after an episode of gastroenteritis. Consult your
pediatrician before switching your baby to a soy formula.
Fat Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A Helps to Prevent Infections
Vitamin A, also called retinol, is important for healthy skin and eyes. Vitamin
A is also important in preventing infections. Vitamin A is so-named because it
was the first fat-soluble vitamin discovered.
When consumed in recommended amounts, both breast milk and baby formula satisfy
an infant's vitamin A requirements during the first six months.
For older infants who have begun eating solid foods, most plants contain carotene
which can be converted into vitamin A. Fruits and vegetables that are
particularly high in carotene include squash, sweet potatoes, oranges, peaches
and prunes. In addition, milk and meats are good sources of vitamin A.
If you are pregnant, excess vitamin A can be detrimental to your fetus. Excess
vitamin A intake can also be harmful to your baby. Discuss your baby's diet and
the use of supplemental vitamins with your physician.
Vitamin D is Vital For Proper Growth
Vitamin D produces healthy bone formation by promoting absorption of calcium and
phosphorus from ingested foods. Calcium and phosphorus are important components
of bones. Vitamin D is unique among vitamins in that it can be made in a baby's
skin after exposure to sunlight.
Some mothers' milk may have low levels of vitamin D. For this reason and because
some breastfed infants may not receive adequate sunlight exposure, pediatric
experts recommend that infants who are exclusively breastfed receive additional
vitamin D, usually in the form of oral drops.
Baby formulas are fortified with vitamin D. Babies who are drinking at least 17
ounces per day receive sufficient amounts of vitamin D regardless of their daily
sun exposure.
For more information on vitamin D and breastfeeding,
http://www.aap.org/family/vitdpatients.htm
Vitamin E Protects Your Baby's Skin
Vitamin E is an antioxidant and provides protection against damaging substances
in the body.
Breast milk is an excellent source of vitamin E and, when consumed in recommended
amounts, satisfies a full-term, healthy infant's vitamin E requirements. Formula
is fortified with vitamin E and also provides appropriate levels of vitamin E
for full-term healthy infants when consumed in recommended amounts.
Premature infants have greater vitamin E requirements and may need additional
vitamin E. If your baby was born prematurely, discuss her vitamin E needs with
your pediatrician.
Vitamin K Aids in Blood Clotting
Vitamin K is important for normal blood clotting. To prevent a bleeding
condition that can occur after birth, newborns are given an injection of vitamin
K.
Baby formulas are fortified with vitamin K and satisfy an infant's daily
requirements for vitamin K. Although breast milk contains lower amounts of
vitamin K than formula, an infant consuming recommended amounts of breast milk
receives sufficient vitamin K.
For breastfeeding mothers and older infants who have started solids, foods high
in vitamin K include spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower. Consult with your
pediatrician about appropriate ages to offer these foods to your baby.
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