Milk Vs Nondairy Milk Essay

There are two new studies out. One of them covers the impact eggs have on the height and weight of small children. The other covers how cow's milk impacts growth compared to nondairy milk products. In a nutshell, both studies suggest that regular consumption of cow's milk or eggs is a good way to help your toddler hit their optimal growth.

One study looked at the impact one egg per day had on height and weight. It found that toddlers fed an egg daily were 47 percent less likely to have stunted growth than those in a control group who were not fed eggs. Stunting means being shorter than you should be. It is associated with significant long term negative consequences throughout life.

Children fed an egg daily were also 74 percent less likely
to be underweight. They also saw gains in measures of weight-for-length, length-for-age and body mass index (BMI) percentiles compared to the control group. A separate study found that undernourished children in Uganda were able to put on substantial weight by being fed eggs.

Egg protein is about 98 percent usable by the human body. It is the closest thing to a "perfect" protein found in nature. Protein for growing muscles is one of the major needs of the body for a growing child. During growth spurts, it can be difficult for the body to keep up with the need to create complete protein from component parts in different foods. Consuming a food that is so close to perfect can make it vastly easier for the body to build the muscles it needs to build at the speed required.

The yolk contains many important nutrients, including fats that are essential to brain growth.
Although many adults watch their consumption of fats like a hawk for fear of getting fat, small children actually need more healthy fats in their diet than adults. They play a critical role in not only brain development, but also bone marrow health. This is not only important for growing strong bones, it is part of the immune system.

In a separate study, researchers in Toronto found that three year olds who drank three cups of cows milk averaged 1.5 cm taller than children who were consuming nondairy milks, such as almond milk or soy milk. The study is observational, so cause and effect is not clearly determined.

However, cow's milk does contain four times as much protein as almond milk. A three year old can get all the protein they need for the day from two cups of cows milk. It would take eight cups of almond milk to get sufficient protein from milk alone.

Additionally, cow's milk is higher in calories. In fact, many nondairy milk products are marketed as low calorie diet foods. They promise to help you lose weight. This is the opposite of what you want to feed a growing toddler, who generally requires more fat than a healthy
adult.

If you have a toddler or young child in your life and you are concerned about their nutrition and growth, new studies suggest that consuming eggs and cow's milk daily may help them reach their full potential. Children who consumed cow's milk were found to be taller than children consuming nondairy alternatives, as were children who consumed eggs daily.