We talk about many foods in the Balance of Food: some that are just gross yet fun, and some that are really beneficial.
And we talk about natural being better whenever possible. Does it get any more natural than breast milk?
The news was beyond disturbing of babies growing breasts as a result of drinking tainted Chinese baby formula.
Long before this story, Balance of Food has endorsed breast milk as the ultimate natural food.
All the statistics back up breastfeeding as the way to go. And a society that appreciates infant health — and long-term health — would do whatever it can to make breastfeeding more acceptable in our society.
Yes, we've improved access and perception to breastfeeding and breast milk, but we can do so much more.
Longer maternity periods would be a start, more accepting environments for women to breastfeed in public — fewer blankets would be nice. Better education for all women on how to make it work.
There are issues that can't be avoided. Too many women have to go back to work too soon for financial reasons. Too many people still frown on public breastfeeding.
Oh, and I couldn't post this picture (above) of one of the most natural things you can ever do until I changed the name of the picture.
This isn't to say that formula in the United States will do what the Chinese formula is apparently doing, but starting out natural can lead to better habits. And don't we want that for our children, and for ourselves?
Breast milk has the most precious ingredients that are difficult to manufacture artificially.
Posted by: GroVia | September 06, 2010 at 04:57 PM