Well, I said I would keep you updated on the goat's milk experiment. Clare loves it; she drinks about 24 oz on average a day. It doesn't smell different or taste different but OMG the goat's milk burps are disgusting! They smell just like a barnyard - yuck! But the good news is her bowel movements are much more "normal" in color and consistency.
I have continued my research online and at the local grocery stores. I can get local pasteurized goat's milk for $3.69 per quart (32 oz), or non local pasteurized and fortified with vitamin D for $4.19 per quart. This is one expensive habit.
As for content, goat's milk has proteins and fats that are easier to digest than cow's milk (http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032400.asp), less lactose, and a different mineral content. Goat's milk has more calcium, vitamin B-6, vitamin A, potassium, niacin, copper and selenium; however, it has five times less vitamin B-12 and ten less folic acid than cow's milk. Dr. Sears's recommends supplementing with folic acid.
So, currently Clare is taking 400 IU of vitamin D per day and fluoride (our water isn't fluoridated). I had decided against giving her a multi-vitamin because I think she has a well-balanced diet and good appetite. Goat's milk has about 1 mcg folic acid per eight oz, so Clare is getting about 24 mcg per day and the RDA for children is 75-100 mcg. Foods high in folic acid are beans, lentils, leafy greens, oranges, peas, nuts and liver (http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/folic-acid.cfm). Clare eats one of those every day and can't get enough of satsumas right now. As for vitamin B-12, the RDA for children is 0.9 mcg per day (http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12.asp). Between the yogurt with 1.4 mcg per cup and the cheese with 0.9 mcg per ounce Clare is probably getting enough B-12. Both of these vitamins are in fortified cereals so I could look in to giving her a serving of cereal each day.
What do you readers think? Don't worry, give her a multi-vitamin, supplement with folic acid, or pour cereal down her gullet? Click on the "comments" hyperlink below and let me know your thoughts.
1 comment:
I say look at what the vitamin B12, D, and folic acid are in the multi viatmin. If the multi can give her 75% or more of what she needs I say don't supp so much. You cook and eat a well balanced diet!
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