A young mother of a 4 year old child expresses concern regarding the milk her child is drinking. The family purchases milk with
WIC (Women Infant Children) government assistance. “I am not allowed to purchase organic milk” she states. The mother goes on to explain “I heard regular cow’s milk has hormones in it and I am worried about giving it to my child.”
The best type of milk for babies and small children is milk created by nursing mothers. Each type of milk made by animals is designed to fir their species.
Explanation:
Iron: cow's milk contains very little iron, but that's only a problem for 12 month olds or under, or it it was the primary source of iron. A one year old would have to drink 30 pints of cow's milk to meet the reference nutrient intake (5.3 mg of iron).
Calcium: cow's milk contain for times of calcium compared to human milk, but humans absorb it better with their own milk. Again, not a problem unless given to children under 12 months.
Fats: cow’s milk tends to be low in the types of fat essential for human brain development; a rapid increase in body size is more of an imperative for cows than rapid brain development, so cows produce milk that is high in body-building saturated fats to help their calves grow rapidly in size. Its fats are mainly saturated.
Protein: cow's milk has more than enough protein, around more than double human milk. It's used for growth development, while humans need more fats for brain and spinal cord development. Casein (the main type of protein in cow milk) can be difficult to digest, and has been linked to a range of diseases and allergies, including type 1 diabetes.
