Question

step 2:

A young mother of a 4 year old child expresses concern regarding the milk her child is drinking. The family purchases milk with WIC (Women Infant Children) government assistance.

“I am not allowed to purchase organic milk” she states. The mother goes on to explain “I heard regular cow’s milk has hormones in it and I am worried about giving it to my child.”

How would you respond to this mother? Would it be prudent for her to forgo her WIC coupons to purchase organic milk, almond milk or soy milk instead? Think about what your answer would be before proceeding with the questions.

Step 3 Consider the following:

The growth hormone used in dairy cows ( Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone) is a peptide hormone.

If the hormone passed into the milk one drinks, what would happen to a peptide hormone when ingested? Go through the process of digestion from mouth to absorption in the small intestine.

Step 4:

How would you respond to this mother? Would it be prudent for her to forgo her WIC coupons to purchase organic milk, almond milk or soy milk instead?

Answer 1

If the mother can get milk from pure-cow milk ( grass-fed cows) with the WIC coupons, as per the government assistance, its good for the baby.

Cow milk contains high concentration of proteins and minerals and nutrients that are important for their growth.

Lactose sugar meant for babies is there in cow milk.

High protein content and saturated fats, and cholesterol are required for babies. If there are not there in the milk provided, the mothers ave to be suspicious about the intake. Along with the cow milk, dietary supplements are given, dietary concentrations have to be taken care.

Thus, there are fewer nutrients in many ways and fewer nutritional values for four years child than the health advantages generally believed. There are risks along with this. Along with the cow milk, if the food supplements are given, they cannot be digested and cause stress  to immature kidneys, and can cause several illnesses at times of fever and diarrhea.

If the artificial infant foods are added, childhood diabetes, obesity, bowel disease, colic infections and hyper-activity and gas problems can be developed.

Bovine milk fat is deleterious to health of children. Not digestable in stomach and intestines.

Cows are selectively bred over time to create high level of these growth hormones. Such cows grow faster and produce large quantity of food. High levels of hormones are difficult to digest by the child.

Cows also concentrate pesticides and pollutants into their milk fat from their high dietary food and water requirement.

The high amount of drugs now given to cows, add to their chemical soup. Vitamins A,C,D, K and Calcium, what is truly needed for baby , which has positive effects on bones, cannot be achieved with cow milk alone.

Thus, dairy product supplements are required such as soy milk, almond milk, organic milk.

This can be informed to the mother, that there is no need to forego WIC. But, along with that, other milk supplements can be given.

Almond milk will need to consume plenty of fat and proteins in their diet from other sources.

Soy milk is unsweetened and fortified with calcium and vitamin D, is low in protein and fat as compared to the unit needs of four year child. So this might not be the best choice for alternative milk.

Whole-cow's milk contains 3.25% milk fat, vitamin D and folic acid, which is suitable for babies.

Casein protein in cow milk is designed to be digested four times better compared to almond milk.

Almond milk causes slight milk allergy, but organic nutrients deficiency is there. Hence, these need to be added.

Cow milk today make up 1/2-2/3 caloric intake in children.

Dairy milk's high phosphorus and animal protein reduces calcium availability.

This can be informed to the mother, that there is no need to forego WIC. But, along with that, other milk supplements can be given. Combination of cow milk and any other dairy milk product is good for four year child, Same can be informed to the mother.