They certainly don’t look anything alike or taste the same at all, but surprisingly, Olive Oil and breast milk are quite similar.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil contains omega 3 and omega 6 in comparable portions to breast milk fat and the on average, almost the same percentage of linoleic acid, making it an indispensable food for the myelination of nerve fibres and brain development. It is simple to digest and helps gastric functioning, preventing the phenomenon of constipation and colic.
In addition, Olive Oil assist in the absorption of vitamin D, essential for growing babies and children because it helps regulate calcium and phosphorus and encourages the intake of minerals that are crucial to the process of ossification.
As a result, this gives children added protection against bone fractures in their tender years and the risk of osteoporosis in old age.
In recent discoveries there have been a rise in cholesterol levels in children, an amazing contributor to obesity that affects one out of three children between 6 and 9 years of age.
Since Olive Oil lowers the levels of total blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, doctors have suggested replacing animal fats with Olive Oil instead to help combat the growing obesity in children.
Moreover, there has been a reportedly lower risk of asthma in mothers who have consumed a daily amount of Olive Oil throughout pregnancy. Their babies have been found to have a more developed immune system, lower risk of rhinitis and allergies.
Olive Oil is even said to be helpful in curing cradle cap. Applied to the parts of the head affected by cradle cap before normal cleansing, Olive Oil’s hydrating properties can act as a natural remedy.
In Italy doctors highly advise using Olive Oil in solids for babies that are being weaned off breast milk. Doctors have even suggested adding it in a baby’s bottle of expressed or even formula milk to gain the benefits of the substance; especially for babies suffering from colic. This is mainly because Olive Oil can facilitate the natural gastric process and it contains oleuropein, a natural anti-inflammatory substance that reproduces the natural effects of ibuprofen, the active ingredient widely used in the production of pain medication.
Plasmon, one of the most popular baby food companies in Italy produces olive oil exclusively for weaning babies. It is made with olives produced and pressed in Italy only and using techniques that the company says ensures the oil maintains more of its health benefits.
