Can babies drink yogurt? Tell you the right way

Yogurt is a very good food and children can drink yogurt, but the prerequisite is that the child is in good health. If the child has diseases such as gastroenteritis, he cannot drink yogurt. The following will lead parents to understand the professional knowledge in this area.

1. Can babies drink yogurt?

Babies can drink yogurt. Yogurt not only retains all the advantages of milk, but also during the fermentation process, the lactose and protein in the milk are broken down into small molecules (such as galactose), which are easier to digest and absorb. The fat content is also twice that of milk. For babies who are prone to diarrhea after drinking milk, drinking yogurt will less likely cause bloating, gas, or diarrhea. Yogurt increases the active lactic acid bacteria, which can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, inhibit the reproduction and action of putrefactive bacteria, thereby promoting the secretion of digestive enzymes and intestinal peristalsis in the body, and reducing the occurrence of diarrhea and constipation. Moreover, babies grow and develop quickly and need more nutrition, but their stomach capacity is small. Choosing foods with high nutrient and energy density is more beneficial for babies with immature digestive function.

But it should be noted that whether babies can drink yogurt should depend on their age. Yogurt is not suitable for infants and premature babies. Babies over one year old can drink it in small amounts, because babies under three years old should mainly feed on milk powder.

2. How old can babies drink yogurt?

Yogurt contains less calcium, and babies are growing and developing and need a lot of calcium. In addition, the antibiotics produced by lactic acid bacteria in yogurt can inhibit and eliminate many pathogenic microorganisms, but they also destroy the growth conditions of bacteria that are beneficial to the human body. It also affects normal digestive function, especially for babies with gastroenteritis and premature babies.

Babies over one year old can drink a small amount of yogurt. However, it is best for babies under three years old to feed mainly with formula milk, which has a more comprehensive and scientific nutritional component and can meet the baby's growth and development needs.

The acid in yogurt can increase the acidity of stomach contents, promote the action of digestive enzymes, and inhibit the growth of E. coli. Therefore, it is suitable for children with weak digestive ability and infant diarrhea. The nutrients it contains are the same as fresh milk and are easier to digest than fresh milk. Therefore, it can be used as a milk substitute. However, after yogurt is prepared, it cannot be cooked again, so it can only be drunk cold or warmed in the bottle in warm water before drinking. Babies over six months old can drink yogurt with less calcium. Newborns are growing and developing and need a lot of calcium. In addition, the antibiotics produced by lactic acid bacteria in yogurt can inhibit and eliminate many pathogenic microorganisms, but at the same time they also destroy the growth conditions of beneficial bacteria to the human body. It also affects normal digestive function, especially for infants with gastroenteritis and premature babies. Moreover, giving babies yogurt too early will also develop their preference for sweets.

3. What are the benefits of drinking yogurt for babies?

Yogurt has high nutrient and energy density, containing more than 20 kinds of nutrients. In particular, a cup of yogurt (150 ml) can provide infants and young children with 30% of energy and calcium and about 10% of protein. Simply put, if a child (1-3 years old) drinks 150 ml of yogurt every day, it is equivalent to meeting 1/3 of his energy and calcium needs for growth and development throughout the day. Yogurt is very similar to human milk and is easy to digest, making it especially suitable for infants and young children with immature digestive systems.

Yogurt can promote brain development. Yogurt contains galactose, which is a component of cerebrosides in the brain and nervous system, and is closely related to the rapid growth of the baby's brain after birth. Before the age of two is a critical period for brain development. Ensuring adequate supply of energy and galactose at this time has a good effect on promoting the growth and development of infants and young children.

Yogurt may prevent diarrhea. Diarrhea is the most common disease in infancy and childhood. Yogurt contains sufficient lactic acid bacteria and has appropriate acidity. Drinking yogurt regularly can effectively inhibit the production of harmful bacteria and enhance immunity. Therefore, it can prevent diarrhea or shorten the duration of chronic diarrhea and reduce the incidence of acute diarrhea. Some scholars believe that drinking 0.5-0.75 kg of yogurt every day can treat diarrhea. Yogurt is a better treatment for diarrhea than antibiotics because consuming yogurt can reduce the development of antibiotic resistance. Yogurt can increase the sensitivity of antibiotics to pathogenic bacteria, so it is very beneficial to the health of infants and young children.