Five reasons why mother's breast milk is the ultimate nourishment for babies:
It is specifically made by humans for humans, therefore it is the perfect composition for human anatomy and physiology, unlike cow's milk which is designed for calves and their anatomy and physiology.
Breast milk is lower in protein than cow's milk. Babies can find it difficult to digest the high protein content of cow's milk. Generally cow's milk is pasteurised, which kills off beneficial enzymes that aid digestion. This has the potential to lead to dairy allergy or intolerance.
Babies receive passive acquired immunity via breast milk, which is a highly beneficial means of helping them to fend off pathogenic diseases until the baby's own immune system has developed enough to be able to undertake their own self-defence.
The skin has many micro-organisms on it that assist it's healthy function. These friendly bacteria are a beneficial way of improving infants' own internal microbial profile for better long-term health. Plus breast milk is high in oligosaccharides which are a good food source for the beneficial bacteria inside the digestive system.
Babies feel safe and secure when breast-feeding, providing them with a continuation, in an external form, of that same security and connectedness that they had inside the womb. This promotes better digestion, and therefore better nutrient assimilation, and less likelihood of digestive issues developing.
It is advisable for breastfeeding mothers to supplement their diet with a natural, bioavailable, food-state multi-vitamin and DHA, so that both the mother's and the infant's nutrient needs are being met for optimal health outcomes.
