Breast is Best

Mother’s milk is one of the most miraculous things a woman’s body can create. It is widely known for being high in nutrients, and breast feeding is a fantastic way for you to bond with your baby. There are many things that people don’t know about breast milk, and it’s important for mothers to learn about the advantages of breast feeding. In fact I like to ask myself, is there anything breast milk can’t do?

Breast milk has flavor.

I’m sure you’ve heard about some of the benefits of breast milk. It has antibodies that build up your child’s immune system and all the vitamins and minerals they need for healthy growth, but did you know that breast milk has flavor? The flavors of everything you eat gets transferred into your breast milk. If you have a varied diet then your child will be exposed to different foods from an early age and will be more likely to enjoy those foods when they are exposed to them in solid form at a later age. If you eat green beans, per se, your milk will taste like green beans. Baby formula however, has only one, bland flavor and it can perpetuate children into picky eating habits.

Breast milk can be a substitute for foods.

In American culture, we are accustomed to breast feeding until our babies are about 6 months old, but most of the world breast feeds until early childhood. The World Health Organization even recommends breast feeding up to 3 years old. It might sound like a long time, but as long as you’re continually pumping milk, your supply will never run out. If you happen to have a picky toddler, why not continue to give them the nourishing drink that has sustained their lives as babies? Many mothers who choose to breast feed into the toddler years opt to pump their milk as to wean their child from their breast. Breast milk can be a great substitute for foods if your child is hesitant to eat foods containing all the nutrients they need for healthy development.

Breast milk is tasty.

Okay, breast milk is probably not very tasty to us. If you and I took a swig of human milk we’d probably be a little grossed out, but if your baby has been raised on your milk then he or she will undoubtedly love the taste of it, and that is one food you can count on for nutrients and hydration. 

Breast milk is always changing.

The nutrients and texture of breast milk is continuously changing to suit your child’s nutritional needs, which are constantly evolving as they grow older. The initial milk produced for a newborn is referred to as colostrum and it is thick, especially nutrient rich and high in antibodies as to coat your babies sterile gastrointestinal tract keeping it from becoming ill. A few days after birth, breast milk becomes thin and watery and it is suitable for a young baby, but as time goes on, the milk becomes thick and fattier, better suiting a toddler’s growing hunger. You might be wondering, what if I’m breast feeding two of my children who are different ages? You always want to breast feed your youngest child first and your body will produce milk adequate for consumption by both children. 

Breast milk... it’s alive!

I said before that breast milk is filled with antibodies that are important in building a strong immune system. Babies are born with literally no immunity and they are reliant on you, the mother, to give them the nutrients they need to thrive. It is a myth to think that if you breast feed when you are ill, you will pass on this illness to your child. In fact, when you’re sick, this is the best time to breast feed because all of your cells fighting your illness are producing even more antibodies than usual, which get transferred to your baby via milk keeping them from getting sick. A 2001 government report states that if 50% of mothers in America breast fed for the first 6 months of their baby’s lives, an estimated $3.6 billion dollars would be saved each year on medical and health costs. 

Breast milk can prevent allergies.

Children that are breast fed are far less likely to develop allergies or food sensitivities as opposed to children who are formula fed. Antibodies in breast milk play a defensive role against new foods that are introduced into a child’s diet, and they keep kids from developing specific allergies. Children that are later introduced to cow’s milk, for example, are seven times less likely to develop an allergy to it if they were exclusively breast fed the first 6 months of their lives. Allergies are a massive problem in the United States, and if more mothers decide to breast feed, the more likely they are to save their children from a lifetime of struggle with food intolerances. 

Moral of the story: breast milk is the most nutritious, delicious and cheapest, (hey, it’s free!) food to keep your child healthy. Give your child the milk he or she was meant to have because it truly is... the breast.

Recipes for Mommies

Strawberry Apple Sauce

A food that both mother and baby can enjoy, this apple sauce contains fenugreek, which is spice known to help lactating mothers produce breast milk.

Ingredients

6 strawberries, frozen and sliced

1/2 apple, cubed

1 tablespoons orange juice

1 tablespoon succanat

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon fenugreek, ground up fine

2 tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon allspice

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and heat over medium to low heat stirring occasionally. 

When sauce forms and is slightly thickened, remove from heat and serve with french toast or ice cream.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Makes 2 servings

Original Recipe by Brittany Rigas, 2010

Ginger Soy Halibut

Fish is a great source of omega fatty acids, which are essential for your child’s brain development. 

Ingredients

1 small piece of fresh halibut about 1 inch thick

1/4 cup minced cilantro

3 tablespoons tamari

Juice from 1/2 lime

1 tablespoon sesame oil

Juice from 1/8 cup grated ginger

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup sliced shitake mushrooms

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients in a small baking dish and leave to marinate about 20 minutes.

Lightly oil a baking sheet and place fish on it.

Bake fish for approximately 6 to 7 minutes until tender and slightly undercooked.

Take leftover marinade and strain it into a small pot. Remove mushrooms from strainer and add to pot. 

Cook the mushrooms in the marinade on a stove top on medium heat. When mushrooms have tenderized, remove marinade from heat.

Pour a small amount of the mushroom marinade over the fish and serve with a cold grain salad.

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Makes 1 serving

Original Recipe by Brittany Rigas