Palm oil in infant formula milk
Palm oil is generating an incredible stir among consumers of all kinds of products, given its wide presence in the food industry, especially in those parents who decide to feed their baby with formula milk The presence of palm oil in infant formula milks is driving these parents to look for another
Palm oil is generating an incredible stir among consumers of all kinds of products, given its wide presence in the food industry, especially in those parents who decide to feed their baby with formula milk The presence of palm oil in infant formula milks is driving these parents to look for another type of formula milk that does not contain it, sometimes leaning for products that are not always as recommendable as the formulas made from Cow milk.
What you should know about palm oil in infant formula milk
Although breast milk is not imitable in its entirety, infant milk manufacturers have vastly improved that product that originally, at the end of the 19th century, contained milk in powder, wheat flour, malt and sugar. Infant formulas have been adapted according to the knowledge of nutrition and the components of breast milk, incorporating some compounds and adapting the amounts of fats or proteins.
However, breast milk is still a tremendously complex food and also, alive, capable of evolving with the intake and with the age of the infant. Although this is impossible, modern infant formula milks are gradually approaching the nutritional rather than biological composition of breast milk, currently including compounds such as palmitic acid.
Research in the field of infant formulas has focused on two aspects, the immunological factors and the microbiology of breast milk (the living part of this food), and the composition of its fat. Fatty acids have been closely related to the development of the brain, with neuronal connections and with the correct development of the babyfrom the maternal womb, so its importance during the first months of life is vital. The fat in breast milk has a high content of palmitic acid, specifically what is known as β-palmitate, and this acid is involved, in addition to the functions mentioned, in the absorption of calcium and magnesium, very important for bones and teeth.
According to the studies carried out, the addition of β-palmitate to formula milk has very important physiological benefits, also improving the consistency of feces, something very important considering that feeding with formula milk is frequently related to constipation.
It has also been observed that β-palmitate exerts a positive effect on the development of the gut microbiota of infants fed artificial milk. The presence of microorganisms in breast milk ensures the formation and maintenance of balance in the microflora of the intestine. These bacteria are a crucial part of the baby's immunity, being their first line of defense thanks to being in direct communication with the immune system. Far from fearing the presence of palm oil in formula milk, it is more convenient to point out that
the advantages of the incorporation of β-palmitate in the infant's diet are remarkable.
