| NUTRIENT FACTOR |
BREAST MILK CONTAINS |
FORMULA CONTAINS |
COMMENT |
| Fats |
Rich in brain-building omega
3s, namely DHA and AA
-Automatically adjusts to
infant's needs; levels decline
as baby gets older
-Rich in cholesterol
-Nearly completely absorbed
-Contains fat-digesting enzyme,
lipase
|
-No DHA
-Doesn't adjust to infant's
needs
-No cholesterol
-Not completely absorbed
-No lipase
|
Fat is the most important
nutrient in breastmilk; the
absence of cholesterol and
DHA, vital nutrients for
growing brains and bodies, may
predispose a child to adult heart
and central nervous system
diseases. Leftover, unabsorbed
fat accounts for unpleasant smelling
stools in formula-fed babies.
|
| Protein |
-Soft, easily-digestible whey
-More completely absorbed;
higher in the milk of mothers
who deliver preterm
-Lactoferrin for intestinal
health
-Lysozyme, an antimicrobial
-Rich in brain-and-body-
building protein components
-Rich in growth factors
-Contains sleep-inducing
proteins
|
-Harder-to-digest casein curds
-Not completely absorbed,
more waste, harder on kidneys
-No lactoferrin, or only a trace
-No lysozyme
-Deficient or low in some
brain-and body-building
proteins
-Deficient in growth factors
-Does not contain as many
sleep-inducing proteins.
|
Infants aren't allergic to human milk
protein.
|
| Carbohdrates |
-Rich in lactose
-Rich in oligosaccharides,
which promote intestinal
health
|
-No lactose in some formulas
-Deficient in oligosaccharides
|
Lactose is considered an
important carbohydrate for
brain development. Studies
show the level of lactose in the
milk of a species correlates with
the size of the brain of that
species.
|
| Immune Boosters |
-Rich in living white blood
cells, millions per feeding
-Rich in immunoglobulins
|
-No live white blood cells-or
any other cells. Dead food has
less immunological benefit.
-Few immunoglobulins and
most are the wrong kind
|
When mother is exposed to a
germ, she makes antibodies to
that germ and gives these
antibodies to her infant via her
milk.
|
| Vitamins and Minerals |
-Better absorbed, especially
iron, zinc, and calcium
-Iron is 50 to 75 percent
absorbed.
-Contains more selenium (an
antioxidant)
|
-Not absorbed as well
-Iron is 5 to 10 percent
absorbed
-Contains less selenium (an
antioxidant)
|
Vitamins and minerals in breast
milk enjoy a higher
bioavailability-that is, a
greater percentage is absorbed.
To compensate, more is added
to formula, which makes it
harder to digest.
|
| Enzymes and Hormones |
-Rich in digestive enzymes,
such as lipase and amylase
-Rich in many hormones:
thyroid, prolactin, oxytocin,
and more than fifteen others
-Varies with mother's diet
|
-Processing kills digestive
enzymes
-Processing kills hormones,
which are not human to begin
with
-Always tastes the same
|
Digestive enzymes promote
intestinal health. Hormones
contribute to the overall
biochemical balance and well-
being of baby.
By taking on the flavor of
mother's diet, breastmilk
shapes the tastes of the child to
family foods.
|
| Cost |
-Around $600 a year in extra
food for mother
|
-Around $1,200 a year
-Up to $2,500 a year for
hypoallergenic formulas
-Cost for bottles and other
supplies
-Lost income when baby is ill
|
|
