Healthy and balanced nutrition has a crucial meaning for optimal baby growth and development. The most crucial thing for parents is to choose the right organic baby formula if a baby does not drink breast milk. Baby formulas are the source of all necessary nutrients during the first months and later on. Baby formulas consist of different ingredients. Some of them are vegetable oils and lactose. Are these components good or not? What do they do for the baby’s health in addition to other nutrients? Let’s find out.
Vegetable oils: The source of necessary fats
There are different kinds of vegetable oils. Among them are palm, coconut, sunflower, rapeseed and others. Vegetable oils are the source of saturated and unsaturated fats, which are necessary for a baby’s brain and nervous system development. Saturated fats help to produce cell membrane components and hormones, which are important for growth and development. Unsaturated fats, in particular Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, influence the development of the visual and nervous system.
Omega-3 fatty acids contribute to normal brain and vision development. And also, it supports the immune system of the little one. They help to lower inflammation and improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Among vegetable oils, linseed oil is especially rich in Omega-3.
Omega-6 fatty acids also have an important purpose. They support the health of the skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs. Nevertheless, it is essential to stick to the correct correlation between Omega-3 and Omega-6, as their excessive consumption can lead to inflammation and other health problems.
Why are vegetable oils added to baby formulas?
Let’s take a closer look at vegetable oil as a component of baby formulas in the example of palm oil. Palm oil is rich in many unsaturated fatty acids, which perform many vital functions in the infant’s body. And this is one of the leading arguments for using it for baby formula production. Palm oil in baby formula is not a whim of the manufacturing companies. Among many other vegetable oils, it has the highest quantity of saturated palmitic fatty acid. And this is the acid which makes up more than 20% of all breast milk fats. Fatty acids are connected tightly with brain and nervous system formation and energy exchange. That is why their presence in organic baby formulas is extremely important. What is more, for a baby who is formula-fed to get nutrition that is close to breast milk, the producers of baby formulas use palm oil as a source of palmitic acid.
Some parents are scared of palm oil. But is there any reason to do so? The manufacturers of baby formulas follow technical regulations and take care of the quality of all raw materials, including palm oil. The palm oil that goes to baby formulas meets high processing and cleaning requirements. The lipid component in baby formulas can also be represented by high-oleic sunflower, coconut, and soybean oil. This is far from an alternative to palm oil, but such products are saturated with other fatty acids necessary for the growth and development of babies.
Lactose: The source of energy and calcium
Lactose is a naturally occurring sugar which is in milk. This nutrient is an important source of energy for babies and provides them with optimal growth, bones, and teeth development thanks to calcium content in the body.
Lactose also helps the normal functioning of the intestines because it supports the balance of useful bacteria inside the intestine. As a result, it helps normal digestion and strengthens the immune system.
Moreover, there exist special organic baby formulas, like goat formulas or HA formulas, for babies who have allergies or are lactose intolerant.
What is lactose in organic baby formulas?
Usually, lactose in organic baby formulas is the basic carbohydrate or a carbohydrate component. Lactose is essential for a baby’s body as it helps to assimilate an important trace element – calcium. Moreover, lactose is one of the main sources of energy for babies received by the body during digestion.
However, some babies can be lactose intolerant, and drinking formula with lactose can cause bloating, abdominal pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms. For children with lactose intolerance, there exists organic baby formula without this component. One of the best alternatives is goat milk formulas. So the baby can thrive and be healthy by drinking goat formula.
Later on, for lactose-intolerant babies, instead of formula, parents can use the best organic rice cereal for babies. For instance, the brand Holle suggests Organic Rice Porridge (5+ Months). What is great about this product is that it is gluten, egg, and lactose-free. Moreover, it is low in allergens.
The synergy between vegetable oils and lactose
Vegetable oils and lactose can cooperate to provide a baby’s optimal nutrition. Lactose is needed for calcium absorption, which is important for strengthening bones and teeth. Calcium, together with Vitamin D, helps to provide normal growth and development. Vegetable oils, for instance, give more energy and the necessary fat-soluble vitamins. Together, they have the power to work for the baby’s advantage. Also, both of these components can support a baby’s digestion. For instance, lactose is the main type of sugar in breast milk as well as in baby formulas. It can be useful to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the baby’s gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, vegetable oils can add some variety to the fatty composition of the formula, which can positively affect digestion, too.
Conclusion
Organic baby formulas with vegetable oils and lactose can be a great choice for parents who want to provide their babies with a healthy and natural nutrition base. However, it is important to consult the pediatrician, especially if the baby has specific dietary needs or allergies, before choosing a formula.
In general, vegetable oils and lactose in organic baby formulas play a key role in providing babies with the necessary fatty acids, energy, and important microelements for their optimal growth and development. And this means that organic formulas can be a reliable basis for a healthy future for newborns. Vegetable oils provide proper weight gain and nervous and visual systems development, while lactose promotes normal growth and gives energy.