Are the health foods that Mama Loves Group Buying really good? Is it suitable for children?

Although Donna is not a mother yet, a large group of her friends and sisters have already had children, so she often hears them talking about things in the "mom group" or "mom community". Many mothers share their experiences of taking health foods with their children. Of course, friends who know me will ask me whether this information is correct or not. Frankly speaking, a lot of it is a bit exaggerated, and some products are actually not suitable for children, not to mention giving them to small children (they actually give small children adult doses ~ fainted). I was really scared when I read it, so I decided to write this article.

Moms' favorite shopping list

Based on the mom groups that my friends and family have joined, I roughly did some statistics and found that the top five health foods that moms love to buy are (not in order):

1. Probiotics

Children who start eating complementary foods often have constipation problems, so mothers will think of supplementing their children with "probiotics" to improve gastrointestinal function. They also heard that probiotics can improve allergies, enhance immunity, etc. It is true that probiotics have these benefits, but have you carefully looked at what side ingredients are contained in this probiotic product? Are these side ingredients really suitable for children?

For example, here are three probiotic ingredients:

Probiotics A: lactic acid bacteria powder, fructooligosaccharide

👉 The ingredients are the simplest and more suitable for children. However, because oligosaccharides are added (oligosaccharides are food for good bacteria, so adding them is good), it is recommended to give it to babies aged six months to one year old, so that they are less likely to cause bloating after the intestines are fully developed.

Probiotic B: lactic acid bacteria powder, fructooligosaccharides, lactose, fructose, corn starch, XX pigment, malic acid, fruit flavoring

👉 This one is guaranteed to be the best among the three, with a sweet and sour fruity taste, but it is made up of spices and sugar! My personal suggestion is not to let children come into contact with things that contain spices or are too sweet from a young age. As they grow up, their taste will become stronger and stronger, and they will no longer like the taste of "real food" (I have heard of too many cases where people could not go back after growing up! They only eat snacks and sugary drinks, and not normal food or boiled water). Moreover, many studies have confirmed that artificial colors and flavors can easily cause hyperactivity and allergies in children. In addition, powder products often add lactose as an "anti-caking agent", but lactose has a laxative effect, so it is natural that you will have smooth bowel movements after eating it, but this is not a natural method. If a child has diarrhea, eating this will make the diarrhea worse.

Probiotics C: lactic acid bacteria powder, fructooligosaccharides, comprehensive enzymes, mixed fruits and vegetables, senna leaves

👉 Senna is also a laxative, which can easily cause watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Long-term consumption can cause a sense of dependence in the intestines and can also easily damage the intestinal mucosa. Once a young girl in her twenties came to me for consultation. She had been troubled by constipation since she was ten years old, so her mother bought her a three-in-one health food claiming to be "probiotics, enzymes, and fiber". At first, she would have diarrhea after taking one pill, and she has been taking it like this for more than ten years. Now she can take 10 pills a day without going to the toilet. In fact, the ingredients of "probiotics, enzymes, and fiber" are very simple. They can regulate intestinal function and aid digestion. But she didn't have diarrhea after taking them. I guessed that she must have taken a product containing laxative ingredients. Later, I asked her to stop taking this health food and helped her regulate it with a very natural method. After one month, the constipation problem that had plagued her for more than ten years was improved, and she was very happy.

Tips from nutritionist Donna:

To solve children’s constipation problem, you should change their eating habits rather than rely on health foods (once again, simply taking probiotics will not cause diarrhea). For young children (6 months to 2 years old), foods containing probiotics (such as yogurt, miso) and oligosaccharides (such as yam, banana, sweet potato, burdock) can be given, with food being the priority choice. When is it necessary to supplement probiotic health foods? In case of acute diarrhea, enterovirus, rotavirus, gastroenteritis, severe allergies, or when taking antibiotics, you can supplement according to the situation, but be sure not to take products containing laxative ingredients! His little butt will be in danger.

2. Fish Oil

Every parent hopes that their children can win at the starting point, so they hope to supplement "fish oil" to obtain DHA to promote children's brain development. However, the fish oil suitable for children is different from that for adults, so you should never use the same bottle of fish oil for the whole family.

For example, here are two omega-3 ratios for fish oil:

Fish Oil A: EPA300mg, DHA200mg per capsule

👉 This is the most common specification of fish oil, EPA:DHA = 3:2. This specification is suitable for adults and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and brain degeneration, but it is not suitable for children. I do not recommend supplementing large amounts of EPA for children under six years old, because EPA will compete with AA (arachidonic acid) for metabolic enzymes, and AA is a very important fatty acid for children's brain development. If EPA is supplemented in large amounts, it will affect the absorption of AA.

Fish Oil B: DHA 120mg per capsule

👉 This one is suitable for children, it only contains DHA but not EPA. But you also need to look at other ingredients to see if there are any bad additives, such as spices, because nutritional supplements specially made for children are usually made to taste "very good".

Tips from nutritionist Donna:

The WHO recommends that children's daily omega-3 intake is 100-150 mg for 2-4 years old, 150-200 mg for 4-6 years old, and 200-250 mg for 6-10 years old. I have seen many children eat fish oil as soft candies, and they eat many pills a day. This is really too much. Judging from the content of "Fish Oil B" mentioned above, it is more than enough for children aged 2 to 6 to eat one capsule a day.

In fact, children under 2 years old do not need additional fish oil supplements. Omega-3 can be obtained from food and some formula milk (some formula milk contains added DHA). In addition, the biggest concern about fish oil is the residues of fat-soluble toxins such as heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls. Therefore, when purchasing fish oil, it is recommended to choose fish oil with "pure source", "from small fish species or algae", and "with inspection report" so that you can eat it with more peace of mind.

It is important to remind you that "fish oil ≠ cod liver oil". Cod liver oil mainly supplements fat-soluble vitamins A and D, not DHA! The advertisements in my childhood: Strengthen eyes, strengthen bones... that's cod liver oil. But I once heard a doctor say that he had a case where a child thought cod liver oil was delicious, so he secretly climbed up to the cupboard to get some while his mother was cooking, and ate it as if it were candy. The child later ate half a can, and when his mother found him, he had fainted (vitamin A poisoning).

Comprehensive nutritional tablets, lutein, calcium tablets, etc. may also contain added vitamins A and D. It is very likely that people will accidentally take too much of them, and an excess of fat-soluble vitamins can easily lead to the risk of cumulative poisoning. Therefore, I do not recommend giving cod liver oil to children unless it has been evaluated by a professional.

3. Calcium powder

If children drink 1~2 cups of milk (240~480 cc) or other dairy products every day and have a balanced diet, they do not need additional calcium supplements. If your child is a picky eater or is allergic to dairy products, appropriate supplements can be given.

Tips from nutritionist Donna:

I recommend choosing calcium from natural sources, such as "seaweed calcium" and "milk calcium", which have better absorption rates. To be honest, the raw materials of calcium really don’t taste good (some of them taste like cement), so calcium powder or calcium chewable tablets specifically for children usually have spices and sugar added for flavoring. This part has been explained above, so parents can judge for themselves!

4. Lecithin

I believe that it is true that mothers know that eating lecithin will not cause breast obstruction. It is generally recommended to supplement 1200 mg of lecithin during breastfeeding. If mastitis is severe, the amount can be increased to 3600~4800 mg. Of course, medical treatment is still necessary. Lecithin is good for both adults and children, especially the "phospholipid serine PS" in lecithin, which can pass through the cerebrovascular barrier into the brain, strengthen the brain's nerve conduction and brain cell function, promote brain development in children, and prevent brain jams and memory loss in adults. It is okay to add a little lecithin to children's drinks as a nutritional supplement.

Tips from nutritionist Donna:

If children are regularly fed with foods containing lecithin (egg yolks and soybeans), there is basically no need for them to take additional lecithin supplements. It is particularly important to remind you that what you often see on the market is a large can of lecithin products (in small granular form). Since lecithin contains fat, it must be eaten as soon as possible after opening, otherwise it will easily oxidize and deteriorate, and the good intention of supplementing it will become a burden instead.

5. Nutritional tablets for children

According to the child's dietary conditions, if there is any concern about micronutrient deficiency, I have no objection to giving supplements in a timely manner, but remember to carefully read the nutrient content and recommended consumption amount, which must meet the child's needs. Of course, the auxiliary ingredients in the recipe are also important to consider. Some recipes may add spices, pigments or sugar to make them more delicious. We need to prevent children from overeating just because they think the food tastes good. Also, never give adult vitamins to children! In the past, there was a case of poisoning in which a kindergarten teacher gave each child an adult multivitamin, causing collective abdominal pain and discomfort.

Tips from nutritionist Donna:

For children, the main principle is to "develop balanced eating habits". After all, eating habits will follow them throughout their lives, and these health foods only play a supporting role.​

When giving children health foods, I still recommend choosing "natural" ones as much as possible, avoiding chemical synthesis and not having too many "unnecessary additives", so that children can truly supplement their nutrition and health. Before buying, it is best for mothers to ask for the opinions of professionals and listen to the analysis of different people. After all, there is a greater chance that they will tell you the truth when there is no interest in it.

This article comes from: Donna Nutritionist Chen Yichun's blog

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