{"id":5543,"date":"2023-03-27T14:38:22","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T14:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.kompletecare.com\/?p=5543"},"modified":"2023-08-01T15:52:44","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T15:52:44","slug":"why-is-palm-oil-bad-in-baby-formula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.kompletecare.com\/why-is-palm-oil-bad-in-baby-formula\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is palm oil bad in baby formula"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you comb through your kitchen cupboard, you will likely agree that palm oil is a common household element and a key ingredient in many household products and food items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, palm oil is also routinely incorporated into many infant formulas to provide babies with a dietary supplement of essential fatty acids (EFAs) needed for rapid and healthy growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palm oil, like other plant-based vegetable oils, is a fatty acid that has high levels of saturated and monounsaturated fat (40%-50%) and about 10% polyunsaturated fat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palm oil provides fat like that of breast milk but the big questions are: is it safe and healthy for babies? Does it meet the essential fatty needs of an infant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of palm oil for baby formulas. Despite palm oil being commonplace, its presence in infant formulas may not bode well for your little bundle of joy. So if you do find palm oil among the ingredients of your baby formula, you should read on to know the implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breast Milk Fat & Formula Fat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Breast milk consists of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Fat (lipids) is the most important component because it produces 50% of the calories in breast milk which aids in absorbing minerals and vitamins and acts as a source of energy for babies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The most abundant fatty acids in breast milk include linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infant formulas are designed to closely approximate each nutritional component of breast milk by using ingredients that give it similar properties of carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, minerals, and fat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baby formulas commonly use vegetable oils like safflower, rapeseed, and palm oil as the main source of fatty acids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition of fatty acids in breast milk depends on the mother\u2019s diet which translates to babies being able to digest various fatty acids naturally no matter the slight blend changes that may occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Many Baby Formulas Use Palm Oil?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As earlier stated, baby formulas are aimed at matching breast milk fat profiles as closely as possible. In other words, it mimics the breast milk composition, which is considered the gold standard. Many infant formulas add palm oil to provide palmitic acid which is also per their 100% vegetable fat recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palm (olein) oil is a great source of palmitic acid which is roughly a quarter of the fatty acid present in breast milk. The fats present in breast milk account for more than half of the required energy for healthy growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asides from giving babies energy, palm oil fats (lipids) are categorized as essential fatty acids (EFAs) that promote brain development and function, tissue growth and cardiovascular health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babies’ brains have twice as many neurons than adults and these neurons come from lipids. So, these EFAs are the very foundation of life and neurodevelopment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, palm oil is a dietary source of palmitic, linoleic, and oleic acids and also a good source of vitamins A and E. It is also helpful in boosting cholesterol levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ ALSO:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Easy Ways to Lose Weight while Breastfeeding<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Postpartum Depression Affects New Mothers: Ways to Overcome<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons Why Palm Oil Is Bad For Baby Formula.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Palm oil is used in many formulas, yet its effects on babies is questionable. Palm oil is perceived as safe for babies, but certain drawbacks lay this notion a little flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Constipation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Palm olein oil is the product of refined palm oil. Palm oil additives in formulas have a negative impact on babies’ digestive systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some babies tend to excrete harder stools after consuming formulas containing palm oil. This is as a result of solidified calcium-fatty-acid complexes (calcium soaps).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Palm oil provides fat just like breast milk does, but it can be very harsh on a baby’s digestive system. In the process of digesting palm oil, a free fatty acid known as palmitic acid floats in the baby\u2019s intestines and binds with the calcium molecules which form insoluble calcium-palmitate soaps and undigested particles. The insoluble calcium soap particles are then excreted as harder stool and also lead to constipation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to numerous studies, the molecular configuration of palmitic acid in palm oil is very different from the palmitic acid structure in breast milk. Essentially, babies digest the triglycerides in breast milk better than the ones in palm oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Babies are able to digest breast milk fats because their stomach has lipase enzymes that properly break down the milk\u2019s fatty acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since the palmitic acid in breast milk is not absorbed like the palmitic acid in palm oil, it forms the aforementioned insoluble soap that binds with free calcium ions which forms harder stools and causes a lot of discomfort in babies including constipation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n