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Children under 1 year old should not drink nut milk completely because of insufficient nutrition. Photo: Shutterstock. |
Five years ago, when nutritionist Marina Chaparro was working at a children’s hospital in Miami (USA), an infant was hospitalized with vomiting and weight loss.
Baby has diabetic ketoacidosis. When the body does not have enough insulin, it breaks down fatty acids for energy, releasing acidic ketones. These acids build up in the blood which is very dangerous because it can cause coma or death from diabetes.
At first, Ms. Chaparro and colleagues at the pediatric endocrinology department thought that the baby had type 1 diabetes – a common culprit of ketoacidosis.
But after a series of tests, they found that the baby’s condition was not due to diabetes but due to hunger. Mother feeds baby on almond milk diet. It is possible that the mother has been following unfounded medical advice on the internet.
The mother thinks that almond milk is good for her baby, so she does so. Fortunately, the baby’s health stabilized and was discharged after a few days. She was given suitable formula milk, and her mother was also reminded by the doctor about this issue.
This baby’s story has haunted nutritionist Marina Chaparro for years because it shows the dangers of medical misinformation. In recent years, this type of information has begun to appear and spread on the Internet.
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Diluting formula is also dangerous. Photo: USA Today. |
Nut milk cannot replace formula milk
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nut milk is not a safe substitute for infant formula, although it can be incorporated into most toddlers’ diets. One thing to keep in mind is that nut milk is not nutritious enough to replace breast milk or formula for babies under one year of age. The same goes for cow’s milk or milk substitutes.
Ms. Chaparro also points out that infant formula is difficult to “rework” and has a nutritional balance. Food scientists have been researching for years to find the right formula for babies. Not to mention, homemade milk also poses a risk of infection and cross-contamination.
Doctors add that diluting formula is also dangerous. Recently, many mothers have been looking to homemade formula recipes online due to the shortage of formula milk over the past year.
Dr. Owais Durrani – who works in a Texas emergency room – said he has previously talked about the consequences of diluting formula that he has witnessed first-hand. Typical consequences are coma and convulsions.
Many parents dilute formula to save milk, but that throws off the electrolyte balance, leaving babies with a sodium deficiency. It also causes the baby’s blood volume to decrease, causing low blood pressure, low circulating oxygen and life-threatening conditions.
Dr. Durrani explains that formula milk is basically like prescription medicine, with strictly regulated ingredients to ensure that the baby’s kidneys, liver, electrolytes and other organs are in good condition. good balance.
“Adults can stay out in the sun for 12 hours and not get dehydrated, but babies aren’t as healthy. Every single electrolyte, ingredient, and mineral in formula is all very important to the health of the body. baby,” said Dr. Durrani.
Faced with a shortage of formula, Dr. Durrani recommends that parents switch to other available formulas. If possible, parents should consult their pediatrician or local hospital for formula samples.
The Health section introduces the book Eat what does not die. The book is a study by Dr. Michael Greger after he scrutinizes the 15 leading causes of premature death in the US to explain why nutrition and lifestyle interventions can make us healthier, for example. like the link between chicken and pancreatic cancer, or diabetes and beans.