Gold Standard Nutrition: Why Breast Milk Is Incomparable

Breast milk is truly, nature’s gift for every child. It is specially designed to cater for all a baby’s nutritional needs in the first six months of life. For maximum benefits, breastfeeding should be initiated soon after the birth of your child so that the baby can reap the maximum benefits of colostrum. Breastfeeding should be maintained exclusively for at least six months.

Why babies need colostrum

Colostrum, a yellowish fluid rich in proteins secreted from a new mum’s breast before her milk comes in is a superior form of early nutrition for newborns. They contain valuable proteins essential to the development of a healthy immune system, especially by the rapidly developing brain. Colostrum helps promote maturation of the gut and good digestion.

Naturally superior to formula

Human milk contains both saturated and unsaturated fats, as well as cholesterol, an important constituent of brain and nerve tissue. The fat in breast milk is more digestible than that in formula. The energy breast milk provides is more efficiently utilised so that your little bundle can experience appropriate growth and development.

Breast milk brims of nutrients, containing a full range of vitamins and minerals essential for your baby’s health. There are also special immune system-protective proteins present in breast milk which can’t be duplicated. These proteins offer protection against diarrhoea, food allergies and infections. While great care has been taken to create high quality formulas for mothers who cannot or who opt not to breast feed, none can come close to what breast milk has to offer:

• Superior nutrition
• An increased resistance to infections
• Less experiences of nappy rash and thrush
• Baby is less likely to develop allergies
• Less incidences of stomach upsets and constipation
• Fewer cavities
• Promotes the proper development of baby’s jaw and teeth.
• Better brain development
• Babies are emotionally more stable
• Promotes mother-baby bonding
• Decreased risk of malnutrition, obesity and heart disease in the long term

The components of human milk include:

Bifidus factor: Supports the growth of lactobacillus, a beneficial bacteria that protects the baby against harmful bacteria by creating an acidic environment where it cannot survive.

Lactoferrin: Binds to iron,thus rendering it unavailable to iron-dependent bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract such as coliforms and yeast.

Lysozymes and milk leucocytes: Destroy viruses and bacteria. These enzymes also protect the infant against E. Coli and Salmonella. They also promote the growth of healthy intestinal flora and have anti-inflammatory functions.

Secretory IgA: Protect the breastfed baby from viruses and bacteria, specifically those that the baby, mom, and family are exposed to. It also helps to protect against E. Coli and possibly allergies too. Other immunoglobulins, including IgG and IgM in breast milk also help protect against bacterial and viral infections.

Best for you

For mothers, breastfeeding helps the uterus to contract, and bleeding to cease more quickly after delivery. Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and also provides a great way for mothers to bond with their babies. Other than all that, breastfeeding also:

• Reduces the flow of blood after delivery
• Helps new mums lose weight more easily
• Lessens trips to the doctor so less money is spent on medications
• Promotes feelings of warmth and calmness in the mother
• Is more economical