Guide to Choosing Healthy UHT Milk for Children
UHT milk can be a healthy drink choice to support the growth and development of children. However, not a few parents are still confused about which UHT milk is good for children's health. Well, so that children can get optimal benefits, let's see the following guidelines.
During the weaning process, it doesn't mean you don't give milk to your little one anymore. Milk remains an important nutritional supplement during its growth period. In addition to formula milk, you can also give UHT milk as a good alternative to breast milk for children aged 2 years and over.
More About UHT Milk
UHT milk is milk which is processed using ultra high temperature technology. In the process, the milk will be heated to a high temperature above 135°C for 2–4 seconds. After that, the milk will be immediately packaged sterile and tightly closed.
This method of heating UHT milk aims to eliminate microorganisms that are harmful to the health of the body, without losing the nutrients and taste of milk.
Not only that, this method of heating UHT milk also keeps milk fresh and durable for up to several months, depending on the storage temperature.
A study states that UHT milk that is still closed and stored at 4–20°C can last for 34–36 weeks. However, if stored at 30–37°C, UHT milk can only last for 16–20 weeks.
Tips for Choosing Healthy UHT Milk for Children
UHT milk products on the market have different nutritional content. For a healthier choice, there are several guidelines for choosing UHT milk based on its content, namely:
1. Contains various vitamins
In addition to containing vitamin D, try to choose UHT milk which is fortified with various other vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin B2 and vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K.
This is important so that the child's body gets a variety of benefits resulting from each of these vitamins, so that children stay healthy and their growth and development take place optimally.
2. Contains high calcium
Almost all UHT milk products contain calcium, which plays an important role in the growth and maintenance of children's bones and teeth. However, UHT milk products have different levels of calcium.For a good choice, you can give your little one UHT milk which is high in calcium so that the benefits can be felt to the maximum. Besides calcium, it's good for UHT milk for children to be enriched with various other important minerals, such as phosphorus and magnesium.
3. Has a low sugar content
Although they contain a variety of nutrients, some UHT milk products also contain a fairly high amount of sugar. This is actually important to pay attention to, especially if children often consume sweet snacks or drinks.
Therefore, for a healthier and safer choice, give your little one UHT milk that is low in sugar so that the amount of sugar intake in his body is not excessive.
4. Contains some fat
If your little one is under 5 years old, experts advise not to give him skim milk or milk that only contains 1% fat. This is because fat plays an important role in the growth and development of children under the age of 5 years.
Not only good for maximizing vitamin absorption, fat is also beneficial in building cells and supporting hormone production. Therefore, choose UHT cow's milk which contains a number of fats and other macro nutrients, namely protein and carbohydrates.
After knowing the guidelines for choosing healthy UHT milk based on its contents, Mother no longer needs to be confused when determining and giving the best UHT milk to complement the nutritional needs of the Little One.
To find out the nutritional content in UHT milk, the method is quite easy. You only need to read the nutrition label on the product packaging before buying it.
In addition, make sure you pay attention to the expiration date on the packaging label so that the quality is maintained and your little one can get optimal benefits.
However, if you still have questions about UHT milk or are still confused in determining the portion of milk that suits your little one's needs, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.
Written by:
dr. Attila Dewanti, Sp.A (K)
Pediatrician
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