Babies who consume popular flour mixtures containing various grains, including dried ground beans that are commonly used by Kenyan mothers and caregivers, are likely to suffer from mineral deficiencies, nutritionists and dietitians have warned.
The porridge mixtures, which are marketed as a panacea for all dietary needs in babies, are, according to the experts, "some kind of poison." Dr Mary Mugambi, a senior nutritionist and lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya, says that while nannies and mothers who buy these mixtures swear by their fortification and dietary benefits, these products only lead to deficiencies in key nutrients. As a result, the very food that is supposed to make your baby strong and healthy ends up causing dietary complications. "It contains iron and calcium-binding components that inhibit the absorption of crucial minerals into the body," she explains. .Keep ReadingBaby formula: How added sugars predispose children to diabetes, hypertension The binding components, according to Dr Mugambi, are known scientifically as phytates.
These are anti-nutrients found in all plant grains and nuts, and "the more ingredients that are mixed, the higher the phytate content." Phytates work by forming insoluble complexes with essential minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium, reducing their availability for absorption in the intestines.
This interference with mineral absorption can lead to deficiencies, especially in infants whose nutritional needs are rapidly growing.
