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An Organic Dairy and Meat Diet for Breast Feeding Mothers Improves the Development of their Babies
Dina Goda
Sunday, August 05, 2007
A 2007 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition has concluded that mothers with more than 90% of their dairy and meat consumption being organic produce breast milk with higher amounts of conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) and trans-vaccenic acid (TVA).
CLA isomers are currently being widely researched because experimental evidence suggests that these fatty acids may have anti-diabetic, anti carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic and immune-modulating effects. Research also shows a favorable influence of CLA on body fat composition which is the proportion of fat tissue to muscle mass.
Lipid composition of cow's milk is dependent on stable conditions and feeding management . In an earlier study, it was proven that milk from cows held in organic farms contain significantly more CLA that that from conventional farms. Organic Certified farms are those not utilizing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, preventive veterinary drugs, genetically modified seeds and breeds, most preservatives, additives and irradiation.
Since the major source of CLA in humans is their diet, the study was targeted at the amount of CLA in the milk of breastfeeding women. The study tested for rumenic acid, the main CLA, which is also dependent on the organic dairy and meat diet. TVA results from a bio-hydrogenation of rumenic acid, the main CLA. TVA levels in human breast milk also increased after consumption of alpine butter, in comparison of margarine.
Upon comparison of mothers with 50-90% organic meat and dairy in their diet to those consuming more than 90% organic meat and dairy, it was evident that the difference between the levels of rumenic acid was always statistically significant in the group with great percentage of organic meat and dairy in their diet. This study group also indicated that an organic maternal diet supplies the infants with quality fatty acids.
Because of the wide popularity of organic products being the subject in recent studies, programs for pregnant and breastfeeding women tend to promote an organic diet which influences the development of the developing fetus and of the infant.
Posted by Special K Diet on 03/09/2008 at 01:40 AM
That’s a really interesting study that was carried out, has there been any further conclusions since this was first published?
Posted by Celebrity Foods on 02/24/2008 at 11:38 AM
It makes sense that eating an organic diet would improve not only the health of the mother, but that of the baby also. Thank you for the article.
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Posted by About baby calm on 04/17/2008 at 07:07 AM
So now I know for sure what kind of diet I need for breastfeeding. What happens if the mother is vegetarian? What other products are recommendable in this case?