Guide: Many parents have been sensitive to the sugar in formula milk powder and afraid that can not buy milk powder that is suitable for children. Today, we will summarize the "sugar" category that may appear in milk powder.
What is the sugar in the milk powder? Is it a necessity for the baby's growth and development? Before talking about this topic, let's talk about one of the seven major nutrients of the human body - carbohydrates.
It is the main component of the structure of living cells, the main source of energy required for all organisms to sustain life, and has important functions for regulating cellular activities. The sugars that we usually mentioned belong to carbohydrates. When we select milk powder or powder from milk markets, you can see it will be clearly stated in the nutrition facts label of the milk cans column.
The following six sugars appear in milk powder are good for your baby.
1. Lactose - the preferred carbohydrate for formula milk powder
Lactose is a kind of disaccharide in mammalian milk, which plays an indispensable role in the growth and development of the baby. It is very important for the infant’s growth and development, metabolism, tissue synthesis, etc. It is broken down into galactose after entering the human body. It is also the main energy substance for the development of the baby's brain and nervous system.
2.galactooligosaccharides
Alecto-oligosaccharides GOS is a functional oligosaccharide with natural properties. After the baby's birth, the establishment of Bifidobacterium flora in the baby body depends largely on the GOS component in breast milk. Adding galactooligosaccharides to infant milk powder for babies can better promote the balance of bacteria in the baby and help improve the digestive function system of the child.
3. Oligosaccharide fructose
Fructo-oligosaccharide FOS is a kind of prebiotic, which can be used by beneficial bacteria in the intestine to help the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and promote the absorption of nutrients such as minerals and vitamins. Besides, it also has functions such as regulating blood lipids, immune regulation, and anti-caries.
4. Xylo-oligosaccharides
Also known as xylooligosaccharides XOS, one of the most potent varieties of Bifidobacteria in polymeric sugars, can directly enter the intestinal tract and is preferentially used by Bifidobacteria, which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria, reduces constipation, and promotes the body's production. A nutrient that enhances the baby's immune systems.
5. Isomerized lactose
The other name is lactulose, which belongs to the oligosaccharide, enters the human body and can directly reach the large intestine. The bifidobacteria that survive in the baby's intestine can selectively use the lactulose to improve the intestinal environment and reduce constipation.
6. Raffinose
Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus and other beneficial bacteria in the human intestinal tract have excellent nutrient sources and effective proliferation factors, which can improve digestion and defecation, promote the absorption of calcium by the baby, and enhance the immunity of the baby.
It is not good to have too much, these three kinds of sugar appear in the milk powder, parents need to be careful!
1. Fructose
As a variety of fruits and grains from sugar refining, sucrose and glucose combined constitute daily consumption, as a common carbohydrate, high sweetness, not recommended for infants and young children to eat too much.
2. Sucrose (white sugar)
Also known as sugar, it is a commonly used sweetener processed from plants such as sugar cane or sugar beet. It is easy for the baby to have tooth decay if the baby eats too much, but also easy to cause obesity.
3. Glucose
Glucose is an indispensable nutrient for metabolism in the body and one of the essential nutrients for infant growth and development. Regarding glucose, parents often ask if it is possible to add glucose to dairy products to improve the taste of the milk.
As mentioned above, it is not good to have a thing too much, the growth and development of the baby are inseparable from glucose, but excessive energy intake may cause obesity, and is also not conducive to the baby's taste development, which can lead to tired milk! Therefore, it is not recommended to add extra glucose to the milk powder!