One of the most beautiful moments in life is when the family becomes richer for a new member, however, challenges to maintaining the health of the baby from the newborn days and onwards are quite big, especially today. Many do not know that the fight for the good health of the baby does not start when it is born. It starts from the moment future parents decide to plan the family.
According to the nutrition professionals, this is the right time, since what you consume and what kind of lifestyle you lead will affect the future health of your child. What professionals also explain is that a balanced diet of the mother is a necessary foundation for the health of the newborn, and what she eats becomes just as important if she breastfeeds. It is why the menu should consist of as many organic foods, as possible.
Let’s take a look at what is considered to be “organic”
It is primarily the intake of foods that do not contain harmful substances. However, it should not be mistaken for natural. The term “organic” refers to the way in which agricultural products are grown and processed, and for such products, there is a label that guarantees that all production standards are fully met. There are special conditions that must be met and maintained in order for a product to be labeled and sold as such.
Food must primarily be produced on ecologically sound land. Farmers are not allowed to use pesticides, petroleum fertilizers, genetic engineering, and all kinds of additives (preservatives, artificial colors, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers) and antioxidants that prevent food oxidation from turning black or burning in contact with air.
The difference between organic food and food produced by the usual procedure is in the increased nutritional value. The content of vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and allowed antioxidants is high, and the taste and smell are more pronounced and beautiful. They are also distinguished by the price, which should not be surprising because it is a production without pesticides and fertilizers, which requires persistence and higher costs.
Now, let us walk you through all the reasons you should make sure your baby is eating such food.
1. It’s environmentally friendly
If you are those parents that care about the effect their lifestyle has on the planet, you’ll love to know that the biggest advantage of consuming such food is that its cultivation is environmentally friendly. Artificial pesticides and fertilizers are harmful to the environment and can make the land treated with them unusable in the long run. With such habits, you’ll create a foundation for your child to grow conscious of the effects its actions have on the planet.
2. Better health
As this food has much lower levels of pesticides, this fact stands out as its main health benefit. Research confirms this thesis. You may wonder what difference does it make if the baby is still a newborn and does not consume solids? Well, for breastfeeding mothers, it’s important to know their baby eats whatever they are eating.
The healthiest food for a newborn is breast milk, the only healthy water is the water found in breast milk, and the only healthy tea is the one that the mother drinks so that the child can consume a drink intended for him through her milk. In other words, in the first months of life, the baby takes the food that the mother takes into her body through milk, and that is why it is recommended that mothers take in as many organic foods as possible. As for those who bottle feed, they should make the choice of using organic formula.
3. Way more nutrition value
Food produced organically contains more nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, gives satiety, and is easier to digest. It has much more calcium, magnesium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and the presence of toxic materials is minimized. In addition, such food does not contain antibiotics, vaccines, hormones, and drugs, which makes it healthier and safer.
4. The peel is nutritious
When a baby gets its first teeth, parents should give them chewable, solid food. When chewing, the child secretes ptyalin, which is found in saliva and is nothing but a probiotic. Organic fruits, vegetables, fruit juices, and purees are used according to the age of the child. Unlike commercial fruit, where it is forbidden to eat peel in order to avoid the intake of chemicals, in the case of organic, it is obligatory to eat the peel.
These are healthy dietary fibers that provide greater satiety and improve bowel function. Fruit is taken as an independent food, never after a meal. The juice is given to the child with a spoon so that the baby secretes as much saliva as possible and thus starts healthier digestion and greater utilization of healthy nutrients.
Now that you know all the advantages of organic eating habits, you may start to wonder how to ensure your child is kept from junk food that is all around? After all, this is one of the biggest challenges first-time parents are confronted with. But, in reality, it’s very simple. You are the ones who introduce food to your child and create habits for its later age.
When it comes to sweets, it is important to avoid white sugars, candies, chocolates, confectionery. This does not mean eating sweets is entirely bad and forbidden. There are healthy substitutes. Substitutes for sweets are honey, dates, dried fruits, and so on. Mixed with the right organic fruits, they’ll make a delicious candy your baby would love to chew on.
How to know if the products are organic?
We’ve mentioned at one point in the article that food produced as such has a certificate to prove it, and you should always look for this. If it has a “bio” label, you’ll know it’s the appropriate one to choose. Avoid trusting people who say they have organic fruits and vegetables because there’s no way you can know if the pesticides were used or not.
