Milk and The Alternatives for Children With Allergies
In today's world, the number of children with a milk allergy or intolerance is on the rise and so too are the caregivers looking for milk alternatives.
There is such attention given to the value of cow's milk and the importance of cow's milk in your child's diet that many parents can be sent into a spin when they find their child has intolerance or an allergy to milk.
Lactose Intolerance versus a Milk Allergy A milk allergy is where a child has problems with the protein in the milk.
A lactose intolerance is where a child has a problem digesting lactose, which is the sugar in milk.
If your child has an allergy, they will display symptoms from even a small amount of dairy.
Intolerance to the sugar (lactose) in milk may mean that your child can still consume small amounts without displaying symptoms.
For example, your child may be fine with one cup of milk but develop symptoms if they also eat a tub of yogurt and a slice of cheese.
When To Introduce Milk? Most parents face the dairy dilemma when their child is about twelve months.
Up until your child is one, they cannot properly digest the proteins found in cow's milk and so they are not generally consuming milk.
Prior to twelve months many parents are giving their child alternative dairy products such as yogurt or cheese.
This is why it can come as a surprise that cow's milk causes discomfort and a sensitive response.
Other dairy products such as yogurt have had the whey removed and bacteria added causing the milk to ferment in the homogenising process.
This makes it easier for children to digest and so potentially will not trigger a lactose intolerance reaction.
What Are The Cow's Milk Alternatives? When you are looking for a milk alternative there are many which you can try.
There is goat's milk, sheep milk, almond milk, hemp milk, coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk and rice milk.
This is not a complete list; the trend towards non-dairy is escalating and so too are the options.
There are many non-dairy milks to choose from, but you should watch out for some of them being potential allergens themselves and do check the ingredients.
Many milk alternatives are not exactly nutritional powerhouses; you should check that they are not mixed with flavors, thickeners and sugars.
Many people are also misguided by the marketing and names of products, don't be fooled into thinking that almond milk contains the goodness of real almonds.
It is primarily made up of water with almost no vitamin E and no good fats.
Milk alternatives can be a great addition to your child's diet, but please do your research before depending on them to be an adequate source of calcium, protein and fat that infants and toddlers need for healthy development.
So How Much Calcium Do Growing Bodies Need? The recommended daily intakes for children as advised by paediatricians are: 1-3 year olds - 500mg per day 4-8 year olds - 800mg per day 9-18 year olds - 1300mg per day Where do kids who are lactose intolerant or allergic to the milk protein get their calcium? They get it from a variety of other food sources.
If you are worried about your child's calcium intake, speak to your paediatrician for a calcium supplement.
What Can A Child Eat That Is Full Of Calcium? Green, leafy vegetables, also known as collard greens, are full of calcium.
A half a cup serve will provide your child with 178mg of calcium.
Three ounces of pink salmon will give your growing baby 181mg of calcium.
Staying with fish, sardines come out as winners all round with having low levels of contaminants, high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and 325mg of calcium in a three ounce serve.
Baked beans are a great source of calcium with a half cup giving a baby 77mg.
A fresh fig has a surprising amount of calcium with 18mg in each fig.
Blackstrap molasses is another winner with 3.
5mg of iron and 172mg of calcium in one tablespoon.
Nuts are a great source of calcium with one ounce of almonds giving 70mg of calcium.
Brazil nuts are another winner with half a cup giving you 105mg of calcium.
Sesame seeds are another overlooked source of calcium; try sprinkling them onto other foods or blending them up.
Tahini is a great way to consume sesame seeds and increase your calcium intake.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, with a little further research you will be sure to find a variety of foods which contain high levels of calcium to vary your diet and boost your calcium.
Calcium is an essential nutrient in our body.
It's stored in our teeth and bones; it keeps us healthy and strong.
Your calcium intake is an important part of your diet, and if you find that your child is lactose intolerant or allergic to the milk protein you have many options to ensure your child eats a balanced and interesting diet.
There is such attention given to the value of cow's milk and the importance of cow's milk in your child's diet that many parents can be sent into a spin when they find their child has intolerance or an allergy to milk.
Lactose Intolerance versus a Milk Allergy A milk allergy is where a child has problems with the protein in the milk.
A lactose intolerance is where a child has a problem digesting lactose, which is the sugar in milk.
If your child has an allergy, they will display symptoms from even a small amount of dairy.
Intolerance to the sugar (lactose) in milk may mean that your child can still consume small amounts without displaying symptoms.
For example, your child may be fine with one cup of milk but develop symptoms if they also eat a tub of yogurt and a slice of cheese.
When To Introduce Milk? Most parents face the dairy dilemma when their child is about twelve months.
Up until your child is one, they cannot properly digest the proteins found in cow's milk and so they are not generally consuming milk.
Prior to twelve months many parents are giving their child alternative dairy products such as yogurt or cheese.
This is why it can come as a surprise that cow's milk causes discomfort and a sensitive response.
Other dairy products such as yogurt have had the whey removed and bacteria added causing the milk to ferment in the homogenising process.
This makes it easier for children to digest and so potentially will not trigger a lactose intolerance reaction.
What Are The Cow's Milk Alternatives? When you are looking for a milk alternative there are many which you can try.
There is goat's milk, sheep milk, almond milk, hemp milk, coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk and rice milk.
This is not a complete list; the trend towards non-dairy is escalating and so too are the options.
There are many non-dairy milks to choose from, but you should watch out for some of them being potential allergens themselves and do check the ingredients.
Many milk alternatives are not exactly nutritional powerhouses; you should check that they are not mixed with flavors, thickeners and sugars.
Many people are also misguided by the marketing and names of products, don't be fooled into thinking that almond milk contains the goodness of real almonds.
It is primarily made up of water with almost no vitamin E and no good fats.
Milk alternatives can be a great addition to your child's diet, but please do your research before depending on them to be an adequate source of calcium, protein and fat that infants and toddlers need for healthy development.
So How Much Calcium Do Growing Bodies Need? The recommended daily intakes for children as advised by paediatricians are: 1-3 year olds - 500mg per day 4-8 year olds - 800mg per day 9-18 year olds - 1300mg per day Where do kids who are lactose intolerant or allergic to the milk protein get their calcium? They get it from a variety of other food sources.
If you are worried about your child's calcium intake, speak to your paediatrician for a calcium supplement.
What Can A Child Eat That Is Full Of Calcium? Green, leafy vegetables, also known as collard greens, are full of calcium.
A half a cup serve will provide your child with 178mg of calcium.
Three ounces of pink salmon will give your growing baby 181mg of calcium.
Staying with fish, sardines come out as winners all round with having low levels of contaminants, high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and 325mg of calcium in a three ounce serve.
Baked beans are a great source of calcium with a half cup giving a baby 77mg.
A fresh fig has a surprising amount of calcium with 18mg in each fig.
Blackstrap molasses is another winner with 3.
5mg of iron and 172mg of calcium in one tablespoon.
Nuts are a great source of calcium with one ounce of almonds giving 70mg of calcium.
Brazil nuts are another winner with half a cup giving you 105mg of calcium.
Sesame seeds are another overlooked source of calcium; try sprinkling them onto other foods or blending them up.
Tahini is a great way to consume sesame seeds and increase your calcium intake.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, with a little further research you will be sure to find a variety of foods which contain high levels of calcium to vary your diet and boost your calcium.
Calcium is an essential nutrient in our body.
It's stored in our teeth and bones; it keeps us healthy and strong.
Your calcium intake is an important part of your diet, and if you find that your child is lactose intolerant or allergic to the milk protein you have many options to ensure your child eats a balanced and interesting diet.
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