Why do you need starch in baby food?
Reading the composition of jars and boxes of baby food, many parents begin to worry and wonder why there are certain components and which of them are harmful to children. One of these incomprehensible to parents of components is starch. Can it harm the body of a child and why it is added to the mixture, curds and mashed potatoes?
What is it?
Starch in its natural form is found in cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables. This substance is a complex carbohydrate - polysaccharide. Particularly rich in this compound are potatoes, rice, wheat and corn. In humans, it is split into glucose molecules, used as an energy resource. By its structure, it is represented by long chains of molecules. They absorb water well and swell, resulting in a paste.
The child is able to digest the starch from birth, since the enzyme that breaks down this polysaccharide (amylase) begins to be produced in the body of the baby in the last weeks of pregnancy.
Kinds
Depending on the source from which it is extracted, starch is:
- potato;
- rice;
- corn.
In rice starch, properties to stimulate the reproduction of beneficial intestinal microflora are noted. It provides a denser consistency in baby food than when using tender corn starch. The compound obtained from potatoes is also often added to baby purees, but there are allergic reactions to it.
Benefit
- This polysaccharide is a source of glucose.
- There are enveloping properties, so it protects the organs of the digestive tract from the action of organic acids in food.
- In the colon, this compound helps to create favorable conditions for the growth of beneficial bacteria.
- Helps normalize stools, as this polysaccharide will help get rid of excess fluid.
- Improves fruit absorption.
Harm
- As a carbohydrate product, during digestion stimulates the release of insulin.
- Excess consumption can cause constipation and problems with the cardiovascular system.
- May cause allergic reactions.
Modified means harmful?
The word "modified" on the packaging of baby food is a concern of parents who do not want to feed the crumb with genetically modified foods. In fact, they are completely different concepts and the modified starch is not genetically modified.
The word "modified" means "modified", because to add starch to food its structure is changed - split into chains of shorter length in order to improve digestibility. In addition, in a modified form, it does not possess strong fixing properties and does not complicate digestion.
Why is it needed?
There are several reasons for adding starch to various foods, including food for children:
- This polysaccharide binds excess liquid, so that fruit or vegetable puree will remain homogeneous, which is important for complementary foods. Such mashed potatoes will keep well in a spoon.
- Due to its fixing properties, it helps to digest a new product for the child’s body without diarrhea.
- Splitting in the body, it becomes a source of glucose for the body of the child.
- Once in the stomach, starch molecules protect its walls from organic acids that are present in fruit purees.This is especially important for mashed potatoes made from sour fruits.
- Added to milk formulas, it serves as a thickener and prevention of regurgitation.
The optimal starch content in baby foods is 3-6%. In this case, the body crumbs easily digest the polysaccharide, getting from it only benefit.
Starchless food
If you still want to not give the child food with starch, study the labels carefully and look for the inscription "without starch." Mashed potatoes that do not add this ingredient can easily be found on sale.
You can also mash the crumbs for feeding yourself, and then you will be completely sure that the baby’s nutrition is not there, and all the products on its menu are healthy and fresh.
