Breastfeeding VS Infant Soy Formula

Controversy

There is some controversy on breastfeeding or baby formula. And then the question is what formula? Maybe I can help with some of those questions.

Have you ever studied the ingredients in baby formula? I had an alarming revelation. Almost all baby food and formulas on the shelf today are made with soy, whey and corn syrup. In fact, if the formula is non-dairy, the higher the corn syrup. In our culture, soy is genetically modified, but it is not labeled as such. Many countries in the European Union have banned the use of genetically modified foods while some countries are requiring strict labeling in recognizing any part of the ingredients as being genetically modified. Any foods that are GMO should be reconsidered in one’s diet. The results of these foods are still under great scrutiny and if its genetically modified, hmmm, what does that do to the body?

I found one baby formula that was made with real – whole milk from grass fed beef. The first ingredient listed was milk which if you know how to read labels that means most of what’s in the formula is milk, not soy, not corn syrup, or another type of sugar. It was NON-GMO, and organic and had less grams of sugar. That tells me that the formula companies are finally taking notice of what the consumer is wanting – no whey or soy! And then there is goat’s milk. Raw goat’s milk is the best milk next to mother’s milk and is easier on the digestive track and immune system than cow’s milk. However, nothing can replace Mother’s liquid gold – Breast milk – it’s priceless considering the benefits it gives for a life time.

Sugar in Baby Formula?

How many mother’s research labels on what they feed their babies? I don’t have that answer but I do know I did not! I never even thought about it as it was common knowledge (right) that if it’s on the shelf it must be good for my baby! After researching the labels of formula on the store shelves, I discovered the sugar content varied from 3.5 grams to 13.5 grams of sugar in EACH scoop of formula. That equals about 1 teaspoon (3.5 grams) to over 3 teaspoons (13.5 grams) of sugar in every scoop of formula.

You may be wondering “how much sugar am I feeding my baby a day?”  Of course, it depends on the formula you choose to “nourish” your infant and their age.

It is recommended a newborn feed every 2 hours. Based on that schedule you are feeding approximately 12 scoops of formula a day. If your baby formula has 3.5 grams of sugar per scoop taken by 12 feedings a day, the sugar content is about 1/3 of a cup of sugar per day.

The formula I found, which has a higher sugar content, contains 13.5 grams of sugar per scoop, take that times 12 feedings a day, equals to ¾ of a cup of sugar per day you are feeding your infant.  (13.5 grams = ¾ cup of sugar per day).

Breast-Feeding Versus Formula

You may want to evaluate breastfeeding versus formula after considering how much sugar is being given daily when using baby formula. It’s not rocket science to figure out when you are feeding a newborn every 2 hours. There are health factors as the child grows later in their life to consider. You are building their foundation.

Type 1 Diabetes in children or Juvenile Diabetes is growing every day. According to Mayo clinic (1) this condition is caused by the body’s lack of ability to fight viruses and bacteria (low immune system) and there is a link to an early intake of cow’s milk that increases the risk of type 1 diabetes, while breast feeding might lower the risk.

Once again, here’s the importance of breast feeding as it is essential in building the immune system. Building up the immune system with proper nutrition seems like common sense and adding Moringa oleifera in the equation for increasing breast milk production, plus the added nutritional benefits, is just a win – win.

Moringa Contains All 9 Essential Amino Acids

It is amazing how we have so many wonderful plants and herbs on this earth.  One of those nutritious trees is Moringa oleifera. Many people have not heard of it, but it is on the rise of being a very notable tree. The nutritional value exceeds many and most plants. I guess that is why I am a Moringa Advocate!

There is a total of 20 amino acids in the bodies proteins but there are 9 Essential Amino Acids and Moringa oleifera has all 9.  A mother who is breast feeding and is using Moringa to increase milk production, is also giving her and her infant ALL 9 essential amino acids. That’s a fact well worth shouting about. Gram per gram Moringa outshines baby formulas and baby foods on the shelves in our grocery stores for nutrition. Remember, whatever Mom eats goes through her milk and into the baby. Even though the baby cannot take what is manufactured from the plant, literally, it gets all the nutrition through and from Mom.

Soy or whey are the main ingredients in most formulas and 90% of the soy, corn, sugar and wheat that is produced in the United States is GMO (genetically modified organism) and sprayed with the herbicide Roundup which may be associated with adverse effects on one’s health. (2)

Let’s compare Soy based formulas to breast feeding while using Moringa:

Essential Amino Acid Breakdown

This should be a revelation of the value to breast feeding versus infant formula and the added value when using organic, NON-GMO Moringa oleifera. Moringa is one of the few plants that contain all 9 essential amino acids.

In order to extract soybean oil, a chemical solvent called hexane is used to degrease and clean the food products. Hexane is an industrial cleaner. It has been recognized for more than 40 years to cause long term health damage. But manufacturers still use it today to wash our food with it.

And, soybean oil is added to many of our foods. In fact, from 1909 to 1999 the production and manufacturing of soybean oil increased a 1000-fold. Why? Because its cheap. (3)

Processed food of many sorts has added soybean oil and soy protein to its ingredients. If you look at the labels of just about any processed food, you can find soy in it. And again, baby formula companies are using this highly processed ingredient which we in turn give to our babies.

Now maybe you can see why I believe in the natural way of feeding our babies and why I believe in Moringa! It is a nutritious supplement full of vitamins to increase breast milk.

If It’s Green – It’s the Real Thing

It can be so confusing trying to find pure food, pure vitamin supplements – pure anything! Looking for pure Moringa can be a challenge. In fact, some people don’t even think about looking for pure organic products. I want to encourage you to look for the purest forms of Moringa or you could be at risk of swallowing pesticides! 90% of the vegetables, fruit and grains are sprayed with pesticides, such as Roundup. The best way to see how pure it is, is to study the labels and look for the USDA Organic certification seal. Remember what goes in Mom goes into the baby.

Some companies claim their Moringa capsules contain 5000 mg of Moringa. This is highly unlikely due to the color, for starters, then when you open the bottle you can smell chemicals.  But let’s talk about the color of the contents of the capsules – is it green in color? If the labels do not have USDA Certified Organic, gluten free, nor does it have the seal NON-GMO Project Certified, vegan or ISO certified or the seal of GMP and the smell is purely chemical and not of a green food, then you might want to rethink what you will be ingesting.

Watch out for Imposters

So, what is really in these capsules? It could be most anything. There is a well-known product on the shelves today that claims the contents contains fiber when it’s sawdust. But it’s called a different name, of course. Studying the labels and taking time to research the ingredients, is important. There are hidden ingredients that have been renamed to trick the human eye to think it must all be OK.

Let’s compare Out of Eden International’s Moringa oleifera capsules. They are green in color just like the original state of hand-picked Moringa. The label contains the certifications necessary for one to know this is a good product. If you are looking for fiber, as mentioned above, Moringa is 24% fiber!

There are many brands of Moringa on the shelf today not only in the stores but on the internet that have a good sales pitch but when you open the bottle, out comes – not green – but brown pills. This is not a pure form of Moringa.

It’s Earthy – It’s Healthy – Tastes Green

Moringa has its own taste. If you eat spinach, alfalfa, kale or swiss chard, Moringa probably will have somewhat the same flavor. Moringa has more nutrition than these vegetables so the benefits are greater. In fact, they say it is one of the most nutritious plants on the earth. Moringa is a plant not a fruit so the taste will be green and earthy in taste.

A personal preference whether to drink Moringa or swallow Moringa in a capsule, is all about your taste buds. Out of Eden International’s Moringa Life Blend”* powder can be made into a wonderful green smoothie by using juice or coconut milk. It’s all about your preference.

I have a favorite mixture I use almost every day. Packed full of nutrition. It is a combination that may be more palatable to those who prefer more flavor:

• 8 oz Unsweetened Coconut Milk (45 calories) or Almond Milk (30-60 calories depending on brand or liquid used)
• 1 Tbsp Moringa Life Blend – (37 calories)
• 3 oz Unsweetened berry juice (Optional. Be careful of sugar content. I use juice from Nopal Cactus as its lower in glycemic index and is anti-inflammatory. 3 oz – 96 calories)
• 1 Tbsp Barlean’s Orange Swirl Flax oil (60 calories)

Blend ingredients in a Nutri Bullet or blender until mixed. Pour in your favorite glass – waa lah! Your Breakfast, Lunch or snack is ready to drink. Total calories without spinach or kale is 223 calories! The carbs vary per brand of what is used as a milk alternative.

The sweet thing about this combination is there is no added sugar to any of the ingredients and it is a wonderful healthy drink. It is not only good for Mom but baby, too! I seldom add spinach as I like a smooth texture and I get most of my nutrients and vegetables needed in my glass of Moringa Life Blend.

*Moringa Life Blend contains Moringa seed which is not recommended for pregnant women

If I Were to Choose a Supplement In a World Crisis

If a crisis ever occurred and a choice of one supplement had to be made, Moringa oleifera would out shine any other product. Without a shadow of any doubt Moringa oleifera would be the first choice.  I would make sure Moringa oleifera was in my first aid kit, on my table, in my suitcase. If I were a nursing mother – Moringa oleifera would be my first and last choice of supplements for the day. Not only would I be rebuilding my body with good nutrition, but the nutrients are flowing right into my babies’ milk!

Many parts of the world suffer from poverty, malnutrition and lack of food. And strange as it seems, those parts of the world have no idea the nutritional value that is in a tree that lives, in many cases, right in their back yard. It has been overlooked for centuries and starvation is prevalent all around them because of lack of education and knowledge about Moringa oleifera. Thank goodness there are a few organizations assisting in educating people on how important Moringa is nutritionally, how to cook the leaves, and thus, slowing down starvation in many parts of the impoverished world. So Moringa would be my choice in a crisis.

We have listed a lot of facts and interesting tid-bits about breastfeeding versus formula, label perusing, and the nutritional facts about Moringa. Now let’s cover what else Moringa has been known to aid in the bodies fight against physical discomfort and conditions.

The break-down of the leaves, flowers, pods and seeds show promising results to assist the body in healing itself. The body was made to resist disease but the way we eat today and the lack of nutritional value in our food, plus the overuse of pesticides and pollution, the body can break down its resistance.

Moringa Is A Health Advocate

Let’s look at some of the challenges people face today and see what the tree fights with its nutrients and helps support the body with what many have called, Mother’s Best Friend or Moringa oleifera.

	Leaves	Pods	Seeds	Flowers
anti-inflammatory
anti-cancer
diuretic
anti-bacterial
anti-biotic
antihelmentic
reduce fever
reduce headache
laxative
anti-anemic
treat scurvy
increase milk production
anti-diarrhea
anti-hypertensive
anti-diabetic
hepatoprotector
relaxant sedative

They say there are 300 plus ailments that Moringa has been known to help relieve. The list above is only a short list, but it gives an idea what has been studied and reviewed in clinical studies. Other known discomforts are low energy levels, prostate, skin disorders, parasites, malnutrition, infertility, aid in lowering cholesterol levels and blood sugar, just to name a few. We cannot say these heal or cure but when the body gets good nutrition, the body can do amazing things.

The answer to producing more milk supply in a healthy way, choose Moringa oleifera.

Final Thoughts on Breast Feeding …

To finish our thoughts on Moringa oleifera and boosting milk production, in our previous posts, the question “WHY” incorporate Moringa oleifera while breastfeeding? Because it is full of nutrition and is a helpful food to increase milk supply and that’s why nursing moms of foreign countries where Moringa is prevalent call it Mother’s Best Friend. The value imparted in a mother’s milk is unquestionable. No matter how hard science tries, it can’t replace mother’s milk. In fact, Moringa oleifera can be added to the table of supplements for the whole family, as it’s good for everyone.

Adding Moringa oleifera to your diet you are assured of your RDA of vitamins, all 9 essential amino acids, over 36 antioxidants, 18 minerals, more calcium and iron, more vitamin A than carrots, and the list goes on! So why wouldn’t you want to take this and pass it on to your little one while you are breastfeeding?

The Alternative – Goats Milk

Maybe circumstances arise and you need an alternative to breastfeeding and you just don’t want to implement baby formula, or possibly you are considering weaning your infant from breast milk and are looking for a replacement. Or, maybe – just maybe- you don’t want to breast feed – goat milk is the next best thing to breast milk.

If you are seriously looking for an alternative, Goat milk Is easier to digest so it’s easier on the gut, less inflammatory than cow’s milk. Plus, it is more nutritious than cow’s milk with more calcium and minerals and less allergens, and, is astoundingly versatile.

Some of the Benefits of Goat Milk are:

1. Easier to digest
2. Fewer allergens and less inflammatory
3. Higher calcium
4. Helps reduce cholesterol levels
5. Promotes glowing skin
6. Enhances Nutrient absorption

Some of the nutritional value in one cup of Goat Milk include: (4)

• 327 mg of calcium (33% DV)
• 217 mg of phosphorus (27% DV)
• 0.3 mg of riboflavin (20% DV)
• 498 mg of potassium (14% DV)
• 483 IU of vitamin A (10% DV)
• 34.2 mg of magnesium (9% DV)
• 0.1 mg of thiamine (8% DV)
• 0.8 mg of pantothenic acid (8% DV)
• 29.3 IU of vitamin D (7% DV)
• 0.1 mg of vitamin B6 (6 % DV)
• 0.1 mg of copper (6% DV)
• 3.4 mcg of selenium (5% DV)
• 3.2 mg of vitamin C (5% DV)

Goat milk comprises a small amount of vitamin B12, niacin, and manganese, as well. So, it seems that Goat Milk is a good alternative if breast feeding is not an option. If I were to choose a goat milk product for my infant, I would choose a raw goat milk. There are many safe products out there in a natural food grocery store. But if that is not an option, pasteurized goat’s milk is available at most grocery stores. You can order liquid multivitamin and pro-biotic to add to it, as any milk that is pasteurized or processed has less nutritional value. I would be hesitant to buy from a local farm as you never know the conditions of the process and cleanliness.

According to the National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health (5), goat milk is high in nutritional value and is a good source of short and medium chain fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. The fat is easily digestible, the protein has less allergenic reactions, and less lactose than cow milk. Plus, it provides a better use of iron and contains many functional ingredients.

If you have comments or topic suggestions, contact us, or research further our website for more information about the value in Moringa oleifera. Don’t forget to order this wonder tree supplement we call Mother’s Best Friend – Moringa oleifera.

(1) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355306
(2) https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/15/4/1416
(3) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-soy-bad-for-you-or-good#section1 
(4) https://draxe.com/goat-milk/ 
(5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676839/