06/07/2019
Infant nutrition in the first year of life – what types of foods to avoid in this age?
First year of life is called infancy, in the first half or the first 6 month the main foods are milk preferably breast milk and vitamin D. In the second half of the first year milk is still the main nutritional need but complementary foods are also started because only the milk is not enough for all the babies nutritional need, vitamin D is still needed and iron is also added to the daily need of the infant , because infant is growing fast needing more iron and may develop iron deficiency anemia which effects his growth and development.
It is very important to remember not to start any foods before completion of 4 month because infants gastrointestinal tract cannot digest any foods except milk and chance of getting to allergic problem increases. The following are the foods that have to be avoided in the first year of life:
• Spinach: which is leafy vegetables and contains large amount of nitrate which by nitrate converting bacteria in gastrointestinal tract will be changed to nitrite. Nitrite interferes with transportation of oxygen by red blood cells resulting in cyanosis or a serious condition called “blue baby syndrome”.
After the first year as the child grows, there is more hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach which destroys the nitrate converting bacteria, so spinach can be given after the first year of age.
• Honey: It may contains spores of bacterium called clostridium botulinium which can germinate in the baby’s immature digestive system and cause infant botulism which can be potentenially fatal . The symptoms of botulism start 8 to 30 hours after eating the honey are constipation ,muscle weakness and loss of head conterl, difficulty in swallowing and drolling .Botulism if not treated quickly it can be fetal and it may take 10 days to several month for some one to recover fully.Treatmen is through interavenous fluid,nasogasteric feeding and an antitoxine called botulism immunoglobulie intervenous(BIDIV) whch should be given as soon as possible
Normal cooking at 70 degree for 2 minutes can kill botulinium bacteria but not its spores and in order to kill the spores sterilization process equivalent to 121 degree for 3 minutes is required.The botulinum toxine itself can be inactivated rapidly at temperature greater than 80 degree.
• Egg White: Inspite of egg yolk, egg white contains four proteins which are highly antigenic and may cause allergic reaction. Other food stuff that may cause food allergy in infants are peanut, tomato, wheat. Citrus fruits and strawberries.
• Cow’s milk should not be used in the first year because of its high content of protein and salt which makes its digestion very difficult. It also does not have enough amount of minerals and vitamins needed for the infant’s good growth.
Dr. Hossein Sardarizadeh
Specialist Pediatrician
