Biology Chapter 3.3 Flashcards
(2 cards)
What are antibodies and how is it important for babies?
- from lab copy
These are the substances present in our body/blood that defend us from diseases. Antibodies are present in breast milk. Babies do not have all the antibodies present in their body until they grow up to a certain age. Thus it is added to breast milk - the food which they can drink - so they have the ability to fight against some diseases, such as allergies, diarrhoea, etc. Cows’ milk does not have/contain the same antibodies as breasts’ milk.
These important antibodies are not present in powdered/processed milk. Although the powered milk does have nutrients, babies drinking it will get more diseases. On the other hand, the mother’s milk contains the right amount of all the different kinds of nutrients so it is perfectly suitable/made for babies.
Secondly, breast milk also contains large amounts of taurine - another substance that is not found in powdered milk.
How is breast milk better than powdered/cow’s milk? - book
Breast milk is pure and fresh and its contents change to meet the exact needs of a growing baby (so it is perfectly suited to babies). On the other hand, bottle milk is made from dried, processed cow’s milk that has artificial ingredients. This processing destroys may important natural food substances (like antibodies and taurine) in the milk.
Breast milk contains substances called antibodies. These are present in the blood and defend babies from diseases. Breast milk also contains living cells that fight against germs in an infant’s stomach.
Because of this, breast fed babies face less diarrhoea, less vomiting, fewer skin disorders and fewer lung infections too (like bronchitis, pneumonia) than bottle fed babies.
Breast milk also protects against allergies. Babies fed on breast milk are less likely to have allergies than bottle fed babies. So they are less likely to have hay fever and other disorders.
Breast milk helps brain development, as it contains large amounts of taurine - a substance which is important for the development of the central nervous system. Very little taurine is presnt in bottle milk.
Breast fed babies rarely suffer from constipation because breast milk is digested more quickly than bottle milk. These painfully hard bowel movements frequently upset bottle fed babies so they cry more too.
