The Truth About Newborn Reflux
A brief review of the prescribing habits of many doctors across the country, reveals a sad fact. The fact that many children are suffering from acid reflux type diseases or some variant is alarming. Doctors write these prescriptions more and more because they are needed. No one wants to stand by and let a child suffer with this dreaded disease. But why is there an increase in the number of cases of newborn reflux or even reflux in children? What is the cause and better yet, what can you do about it to protect your own children or grandchildren?
Newborn Acid Reflux Rising
In cases of acid reflux in newborns, the likelihood that their reflux being due to dietary reasons is probably not the case. Some newborns suffer from an under developed GI tract. This disables them when it comes to their little bodies being able to process the food, eg. breast milk or formula. One would think that a newborn would be ideally suited for breast milk. This may or may not be the case. Some infants reject breast milk for a variety of reasons. Teaching them to suck properly can take time and training. And even then some children have already been introduced to baby formula.
When a newborn has a birth defect in the small valve or flap that works to cover the top of their little stomachs so that acid and stomach fluids stay where they belong, reflux happens to them. Also in children, they may have this birth defect, but also it must be noted that the majority of cases where reflux occurs in children it is due not to a birth defect but rather due to a poor diet.
For instance, if a child has the typical American diet that consists of eating red meat, the meat alone is high in acids and enzymes. These fluids are not easily digested. The body cannot properly break them down and digest them, unfortunately. Do you see how easy it is for reflux to occur?
But wait there’s more to…
Along with the average American diet, comes the eating of fast foods. The makers of them is not the point of this article. But think of the many hamburgers you have eaten. Some people eat hamburgers everyday. Even in the schools, kids have access to foods with little to no nutritional dietary values worth mentioning. The meats are usually red meat. You already knows what happens in the body with that.
Next, you have how the foods are prepared. Yes, preparation does matter. It matters because the foods are being fried in something akin to heavy cooking oils. These oils cause acid reflux to react. Why? Because those oils set off a firestorm in your stomach.
Fried Foods Spell Acid Reflux Trouble
Just think for a moment about how many fried foods your children usually consume. Here is a handy list to jog your memory.
- Potato chips
- Corn chips
- Pretzels
- Popcorn is even cooked in oil.
- Toaster pastries
- Chicken nuggets
- Cheese sticks
And many more…
These are foods that your newborn reflux child does not eat yet. You should always seek to breast feed first, then try the formulas. IF they do not work look closely at what is contained in the formula. Some children like my firstborn, did not have colic, she was allergic to corn starch and corn syrup. which just so happens to be what mom was allergic to.
