You most likely will notice as you read through my recipes and meal ideas butter and olive oil are ALWAYS involved! Well, that’s because butter is simply a super food for babies! and here is why!
Fat is very important for your baby’s physical development. His or her growth and brain development are supported by a high fat diet, since the fat helps building a myelin sheath around the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin sheath is an insulating layer, or sheath, that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances. The purpose of the myelin sheath is to allow electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells.Breast milk has a high fat content; some as much as 4% and comprises of Omega 3 fats such as DHA and AA – very healthy. However, if you could take out all the water in breast milk, the remaining substance would be around 50% fat. Quite a lot!
If you make your own baby food without adding fat, the fat content will often be a lot less than 4%. So, as you can see, fat is an extremely important part of a baby’s diet. If you start with solid foods early, or you do not add oil or butter to baby food that you cook, your baby may not get enough fat for optimal development.
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