Are all milks the same?

Ever since Gwen stopped breastfeeding when she was 4 years old, she relies on growing up milk in addition to her meals. She is a picky eater, even though some articles said that breastfed babies will not likely to be one. So Jeff and I mutually agreed that Gwen will drink milk as long as she wants just to make sure she’ll get the nutrients her body needs.

The question is, what milk should we give to her? We tried one or two brands, followed what her doctor suggested and some recommendations from friends too. There are plenty of options, from cow’s milk to goat’s milk, full cream to skim, liquid to powder. Does it matter? Aren’t all milks the same in terms of the nutrition they provide?

The answer is NO.

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The key difference that moms should take careful note of is the kind and amount of nutrients their children can get from it. Although all kinds of milk are rich in macro (carbohydrates, fats and protein) and micro (vitamins and minerals) nutrients, not all contain those that answer the needs of children at specific ages.

Kids during their early childhood years, for example, easily get sick because they have little exposure to diseases and therefore have not yet developed the immunologic defenses needed to fend them off. To address this, moms should provide their kids with foods with right nutrients, along with an age-specific milk that contains both probiotics and prebiotics.

Probiotics are live good bacteria that promote stomach balance and help strengthen the immune system. Prebiotics, on the other hand, act as a multiplier of good bacteria, ensuring acceptable good-to-bad bacteria ratio in the tummy and protection from within.

Studies reveal that the human brain grows about 3.5 times in mass from 0 to 5 years old. That is why kids during this time are able to learn and absorb new knowledge like a sponge. To support this, moms can give their child age-specific milk with high levels of DHA, ALA and LA, which are fatty acids that work together to promote proper brain structure development and normal cognitive functions.

All these and more can be found in NIDO® 3+ and NIDO® 5+. From the best of Nestlé Research™: NIDO® 3+ and NIDO® 5+ are the only age-specific milk brands with Lactobacillus PROTECTUS®, millions of live good bacteria that helps build your child’s bodily defenses.

NIDO® 3+ also contains a unique blend of natural fibers and nutrients called Prebio® 3, while NIDO® 5+ is enriched with CALCI-N® to help build healthy bones by providing better calcium absorption.

Milk plays a very important role in the overall growth and development of children, and so it pays to know what they need at different ages and stages of their growth for one to make the right milk choice.

For more information, visit www.lakingamazing.ph.