Iosif Alexandridis
Clinical Dietician-Nutritionist, MmedSc
Many times this question goes through our minds. We are torn between whether fresh milk is good, the value of a specially enriched milk for children, etc. We are bombarded with information on the internet that is most of the time unsubstantiated and lacks scientific evidence. What is true after all? Let's look at some basic questions about milk below and make a conscious choice based on our own needs.
Is milk necessary for the child?
Absolutely, it is. Milk is a complete food especially for the child. It contains high-biological-value proteins with perfect absorption by the body, carbohydrates (lactose) and fats. At the same time, it contains calcium and phosphorus that help in the development of the skeleton and the functioning of the muscles. Of course, milk is also necessary in the diet of children and the myths circulating around us do not apply. Whether it is 'fresh', long or short-term, it does not matter in terms of its nutritional value. It is simply a matter of thermal processing that helps in its preservation, which, however, based on technological developments, retains its nutritional components intact. So, the choice of whether I can give my child fresh milk or long-term, pure cow's milk or a specially enriched infant milk is purely a matter of personalized dietary needs that each child has.
Why is specially formulated infant milk needed?
The needs of today's child are great. Developmental, motor, energetic, psychological. Specially enriched infant milks are specially designed to ideally cover the corresponding developmental stage of the child after the first 6 months. Their design is not accidental. There is a huge scientific research and technology behind them. Their differences with plain cow's milk are huge because they are designed in such a way as to respond to new scientific discoveries and knowledge that did not exist a few years ago. For example, cow's milk contains more saturated fats, which are good to avoid even from an early age and replace them with essential unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as vegetable fats. A specially formulated infant milk is enriched with essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid that contribute to the development of the brain and nervous system.
Also, the child's body needs important trace elements such as iron that helps in the transport of oxygen to the tissues and in smooth mental development. Cow's or goat's milk does not contain iron, while a specially formulated infant milk contains iron in an appropriate amount and in a specially absorbable form by the body.
Finally, a specially formulated infant milk contains, in addition to the basic and essential components such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium etc., vitamins such as vitamin C that contribute to the absorption of iron, vitamin D for the absorption of calcium, and Folic acid for the good defense of the organism, elements that are missing or very limited in plain cow's milk.
Is goat's milk better?
Here there is a big myth. No, it is not better. It just has some minor differences. For example, goat's milk has slightly more protein than cow's milk, but this is not a positive factor for a child in the early stages of development because excess protein can be a factor in the development of obesity in the future. Also, goat's milk contains more fat than cow's milk. As for other qualitative characteristics, such as for example hormones, antibiotics etc., a branded milk, whether it is cow's or goat's, before it comes to the market, goes through many technical and quality controls and is free of such elements as the legislation strictly stipulates. Finally, there is no scientific evidence and no pediatric organization that supports the idea that goat's milk outperforms cow's milk in terms of its nutritional value, its action on the body and the child's development.
Is organic milk better than conventional?
There is a more comprehensive belief that organic products are nutritionally superior to conventional ones. Here we should look for scientific data that support such a thing and not rely on vague beliefs, ideologies and myths. Indeed, there is no scientific evidence that organic foods are better in nutritional value than conventional ones. After all, the largest scientific studies in the world that prove the benefits of fruits, vegetables, milk, etc., have been done with conventional and not organic foods. Also, for a food to be classified as organic, it must meet strict conditions set by the legislation. Furthermore, we should know that a branded milk, before it comes to the market, goes through many technical and quality controls and is free of any foreign substance as the legislation strictly stipulates. A milk that does not meet all the legal conditions of hygiene and safety, is not promoted in the market. We should be careful of milk sellers of unknown origin who we do not know if they have passed a quality control of their product, even if they call it 'organic'. Knowing the above factors, the choice of milk is purely a personal matter.
What is the UHT method used in long-lasting milks?
UHT stands for Ultra High Temperature, i.e. a method of high thermal processing. This processing involves heating the milk at a high temperature and in a very short time in order to destroy all possible pathogenic microorganisms (the so-called pasteurization) while at the same time preserving all the nutrients and the taste of the milk. A milk produced by this method can be stored in special packaging and can remain outside the refrigerator if unopened, for a long period of time without the need for preservatives or other additives. It has nothing to envy from fresh milk, it just meets the needs of many people who want to store milk for a longer period of time.
Find the infant milks Nestle HERE.
