Have you ever used PediaSure or Pedialyte to help with baby's health or dehydration? Pediasure's second ingredients is sugar, then GMO corn, soy oil, soy protein...this is NOT a healthy product.
INGREDIENTS: Water, Sugar, Corn Maltodextrin, Milk Protein Concentrate, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Soy Oil, Whey Protein Concentrate, Medium-Chain Triglycerides. Less than 0.5% of the Following: Soy Protein Isolate, Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Cellulose Gel, Magnesium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Phosphate, Salt (Sodium Chloride), Cellulose Gum, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Soy Lecithin, Monoglycerides, C. Cohnii Oil, m-Inositol, Potassium Hydroxide, Carrageenan, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacinamide, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Cupric Sulfate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Chromium Chloride, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Sodium Molybdate, Phylloquinone, Cyanocobalamin, and Vitamin D3. Contains milk and soy ingredients.
Babies suffering from diarrhea can benefit extremely by adding in coconut and coconut water; as this fluid can help calm their digestive tract, prevent dehydration and malnutrition.
Coconut oil most resembles a woman's breastmilk! Coconut provides B vitamins, protein, zinc, phosphorus and iron. It is also high in lauric acid, which also happens to be the main fatty acid found in breast milk. Lauric acid is what makes breast milk so digestible and protect sthe body from infection and boost the immune system.
Coconut oil helps cure jaundice. The first solid food eaten by a Thai baby is three spoonfuls of the custard-like flesh of young coconut fed to the baby by a Buddhist priest.
How Coconut Oil Helps Babies:
1. Immune system does not fully develop until 6 months old, only protection against everyday viruses comes by consuming lauric acid.
2. Helps ease an array of stomach and digestive tract problems that often plague infants. This is because the antimicrobial properties of coconut oil combat many of the bacteria, fungi and parasites that often contribute to infant indigestion.
3. Helps improve the body’s ability to absorb other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
4. Coconut oil is a great moisturizer for all skin types, including very dry skin and highly sensitive skin, such as that of a newborn infant. This is because it closely resembles human plasma; therefore it helps with Cradle Cap as the antimicrobial properties of this oil are highly effective at soothing this skin inflammation.
The fat in breast milk is filled with lauric acid and capric acid, IF the mother is eating a proper diet. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that lactating mothers who eat coconut oil and other coconut products, have significantly increased levels of lauric acid and capric acid in their breast milk; therefore, the milk supply has increased amounts of the protective antimicrobials, which will give even greater protection to the nursing infant.
The next best food is organic egg yolks, rich in choline, cholesterol and other brain-nourishing substances, can be added to your baby's diet as early as four months, as long as baby takes it easily. (If baby reacts poorly to egg yolk at that age, discontinue and try again one month later.) Cholesterol is vital for the insulation of the nerves in the brain and the entire central nervous system. It helps with fat digestion by increasing the formation of bile acids and is necessary for the production of many hormones. Since the brain is so dependent on cholesterol, it is especially vital during this time when brain growth is in hyper-speed. Choline is another critical nutrient for brain development. The traditional practice of feeding egg yolks early is confirmed by current research. A study published in the June 2002 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the nutritional effects of feeding weaning infants 6-12 months of age regular egg yolks, enriched egg yolks, and an otherwise normal diet. The researchers found that both breastfed and formula-fed infants who consumed the egg yolks had improved iron levels when compared with the infants who did not. In addition, those infants who got the egg yolks enriched with extra fatty acids had 30 percent to 40 percent greater DHA levels than those fed regular egg yolks. No significant effect on blood cholesterol levels was seen.
The best choice for baby is yolks from pasture-fed hens raised on flax meal, fish meal, or insects since they will contain higher levels of DHA. Why just the yolk? The white is the portion that most often causes allergic reactions, so wait to give egg whites until after your child turns one. Don't neglect to put a pinch of salt on the egg yolk. While many books warn against giving salt to babies, salt is actually critical for digestion as well as for brain development. Use unrefined salt to supply a variety of trace minerals.
Click HERE to find the brand I like, on sale now!
"HEALTHIFIED" BABY'S CUSTARD
5 egg-yolks
1/4 cup Just Like Sugar
3 cups whole coconut milk
OPTIONAL: 3 TBS coconut flour (makes it less liquid so babies can pick up chunks)
1 TBS vanilla extract (or other extract...Kai LOVES banana and strawberry) Click HERE to find organic extracts.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Heat the coconut milk in a small saucepan until simmers. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sweetener, coconut flour and vanilla extract. Slowly add the coconut milk, whisking constantly.
Pour the custard into 6 ramekins. Place ramekins in a deep baking pan and pour enough boiling water in the pan to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the custard sets. Do not over bake; it should be a little soft in the center. Cool in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to firm up. Makes 6 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Custard = 360 calories, 32g fat, 5g protein, 16 carbs, 2.6g fiber
"Healthified" Custard = 327 calories, 32g fat, 5g protein, 7.4 carbs, 3.6g fiber
In any recipe you can use ZSweet, Truvia, Organic Zero, Xylitol or Just Like Sugar. In order to use a different product, use the same amount of sweetener for the amount of erythritol in the recipe and omit the stevia (except for Organic Zero, that is only erythritol and you will still need stevia for sweetness).
1 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia = 1 cup Swerve
1 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia = 1 cup ZSweet
1 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia = 1 cup Truvia
1 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia = 1 cup Xylitol
1 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia = 1 cup Just Like Sugar
1 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia = 1 cup Organic Zero and 1 tsp stevia
For more charts and information on sweeteners and why I use them, check out my book: The Art of Eating Healthy.