G.B.
I have never been an advocate of dosing kids with lots of IRON. And formula and baby cereals are loaded with it. Then the pedis tell moms to add in extra iron supplements. This is a LOT of iron and is a relatively new practice, picking up steam within the past 10 years. Note that childhood illnesses are up as well. 40 -60 years ago they did not push iron like that. or vit D supps like they push now either.
30% of all pediatric death is due to iron overload, most were prescribed iron drops by doctors. Iron does NOT leave tissues like many other vitamins will, it stores up. Iron overdose is likely responsible for the sharp rise in GERD and stomach pain issues in babies/children. babies can quickly get iron overdose because they are so small. Bacteria MUST have iron to replicate, so iron feeds bacteria colonies and helps it grow larger. No doctor should EVER tell a mother to give iron supps without a blood test showing clear deficiency, yet we see it all the time.
You would be surprised at how many foods have calcium in them. Brocoli is certainly a good food to add to his diet.
Make sure he is getting some meats, certainly some red meat too. Children cannot make the conversion of vit A (from beta carotenes found in fruits/vegs) to retinol. They need animal fats to do so. So, to make sure they get both kinds of vit A , give some meat as well as the fruit and veggies. Organic fruits and veggies are important for eseensial fatty acids that the body needs to make hormones for life organs (the endocrine system).
I am a medical student and have been researching medicine for 10 years.
Most people don't know that the body will automatically adjust its absorption of vitamins and minerals. If, it has an overload of calcium for example, it will signal the gut to DECREASE its absorption rate. If it is FORCED to take excess calcium , for example with vit D supps(VIT D's primary job is to increase CA uptake in the gut) it will shunt the excess calcium into soft tissues (this calcifies them) because it MUST maintain a tight serum calcium level. If it is in need of CA, it will increase absorption in the gut. It will also decrease and increase other minerals to help ensure that happens. Vitamins and minerals are either synergistic or antagonistic to each other. For example copper levels will rise or fall depending on zinc ratios. Same with calcium / magnesium, selenium / chromium, and others.
Most vitamin deficiency actually happens when the endocrine system (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, hippo) are sick and there is a lack of hormone production. HORMONES regulate body minerals. Once a hormone deregulation occurs , the immune system can be suppressed and bacteria and viruses can flourish. Then, they can "take" the iron of the host, and the person will have low iron because of it.
All one typically needs do to stay healthy is to eat a variety of fresh organic frit/veg, some meats and beans, and reduce grains and sugars. Trust that your body is FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE by the lord and can handle its balances with great precision. Do not give children floride, which will block the receptor of iodine to the thyroid gland. If children take antibiotics, get them on a strong probiotic immediately afterward.
My opinion is that no child eating regular food needs baby cereals. I don't even like to see babies on it who are formula fed because of the excessive iron content both items hold.
