How to Choose Dairy Products For a Healthy Life?

We grow and develop literally by the day, but by the hour, dairy and sour-milk products provide high-quality protein, calcium and phosphorus, many vitamins. What else do parents need to know to make the right choice?

How to Choose Dairy Products For a Healthy Life?

Dairy products intended for babies are made on the basis of cow's milk, which supplies the baby’s body with elements that are very important for growth and development. So, it contains a lot of high-quality protein (3 g / 100 ml). 2 cups of milk or kefir contains about 400 mg of calcium (40-50% of the daily requirement of a preschooler) and 0.6 mg of vitamin B 2 (30% of the daily requirement). Moreover, these substances enter the body only with milk or with products made from it. Milk also has phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, selenium and other B vitamins. And it is also one of the sources of energy. Since milk fat has a low melting point, it is easily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. So that the baby does not gain extra pounds, the fat in the product should be no more than 3.5-4%.

Fermented milk products, in addition to the advantages already listed, also have the property of beneficially affecting the intestinal microflora, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in it, and thereby stimulate the immune system, increase the digestibility of the protein and reduce its allergenicity. In order for fermented milk products to bring maximum benefits to the baby, it is recommended to alternate their different types in the baby's menu.

Dairy and fermented milk products intended for children are produced without artificial colors and flavors. For the manufacture of children's curds and yoghurts, a natural basis is used - mashed potatoes from berries, fruits or vegetables.

Analysis of the Composition:-

Enriched with Vitamins and Minerals:

Almost all children's products are enriched with many vitamins and minerals, because a deficiency of these substances is found in nutrition in 60–90% of babies. Usually, milk and dairy products are enriched with vitamins A, E, C, β-carotene, iron, calcium, iodine, fluorine, and selenium to increase their nutritional value. Moreover, most often the complex of vitamins and minerals has 8-12 nutrients, the deficiency of which is most relevant for this region.

Contains fruit, vegetable additives, cereals:

In products for children, all fillers are natural. On the one hand, they increase not only the nutritional value of the product, but also energy, increasing the content of carbohydrates, vitamins, dietary fiber in it, and on the other hand, they make it possible to add variety to the menu of children with selective appetite and special nutritional needs. For example, cereals lower the glycemic index and help to provide a feeling of satiety for a long time. Such products are recommended to be given in the first half of the day, and with a restless sleep - at night. It should be noted that such excipients may be contraindicated for allergy sufferers.

The composition includes thickeners, acidity regulators, flavorings, colorants, stabilizers, preservatives.

In products for children, these substances are only of natural origin. Their list is approved by the relevant federal law, and safety is proven. Dyes and preservatives such as E-101, 140, 160, 162, 164 are allowed. These ingredients improve the appearance of the product and its properties. In yoghurts and desserts with fruit fillings, stabilizers and thickeners are needed so that the product does not exfoliate into liquid and solid parts. As a thickener, fruit pectin is usually used.

Skim milk, whole milk powder, cream:

The ratio of protein and fat in foods necessary for babies is regulated with the help of cream and skim milk: for example, adding the latter reduces the percentage of fat content, but does not change the protein content.

Normalized Milk:

It is produced from whole (natural) milk, the fat content of which, using special technologies, is brought to the values ​​determined by GOST - 2–2.5%, that is, normalized. Such milk does not contain chemical impurities and additives.

Contains Fructose:

Fructose is a natural sugar found in any sweet fruit and vegetable. Sugar-free yogurts are helpful in reducing the risk of tooth decay.

Enriched with pro- and Prebiotics:

One of the advantages of dairy products is their enrichment with pre- and probiotics. Prebiotics are substances that serve as a nutrient medium for beneficial microorganisms (various types of dietary fiber), probiotics are living beneficial microorganisms that normalize the composition of the intestinal microflora and stimulate the activity of the immune system, which increase the body's resistance to infections. If such products are regularly present on the child’s menu, the risk of allergic reactions and intestinal infections will be significantly reduced.

Shelf life:

The shelf life of children's fermented milk drinks should not exceed 2 weeks. This is due to the peculiarities of their composition: the number of useful sour milk microorganisms in yoghurt decreases with increasing shelf life. Therefore, it is better to choose products with a minimum shelf life (5 days). If the shelf life of the fermented milk product is more than 2 weeks, then it has undergone heat treatment. In this case, it can be stored at room temperature even for several months, but it does not contain live beneficial microbes. This does not detract from its value as a source of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.