On Jul 09, 2004, at 11:07 pm, Elainie Gagne wrote:
> I agree with this. Most parents also interpret those signals as a time
> to
> start on solid foods before the digestive system is equiped to handle
> them. And
> so most babies end up being ill from those early foods- especially
> grain which
> is the first recommended food here in the US, whereas mother's milk is
> perfectly suited (from a mother eating well) as the sole nourishment
> of a child even
> after the age of one year.
>
> Elainie

I have a personal experience of this.  When I was a baby (1982 onwards)
there was apparently a trend for weaning children as soon as possible.
My mum started with yoghurts when I was about 6 months, but whenever
she fed me ones with bits of fruit in, I spat it back out.  (Actually
she says I let it dribble out because I didn't like making a mess, so I
suspect these premature meals initially ended in hissing fits on my
mums part-)  My doctor called me a "faddy eater" and my mum took this
to mean there was something wrong with me.  Her solution was to find
something I would eat, and literally shovel it non-stop into my mouth,
and move on to the next thing with no break.  She still does this now
in fact (but not actually using the spoon herself, of course).

The other day I told my mum that I read about the different stages of
breastfeeding that societies go to.  I think it was native Americans
who breastfeed until the age of about 7 (not exclusively I assume).
Apparently, in all other mammals, the infants suckle until their first
set of adult teeth come through.  Obviously this won't happen today,
but it would be nice to think that children could breastfeed until 2 or
2 1/2 years, instead of being forced onto foods that are unsuitable for
adults, never mind little ones.

I was lucky, my milk intolerance didn't develop until about age 11
(although I didn't realise that until ten years later), but my mum
seems to have had it from birth, from the descriptions of weakness she
had as a child.  This would have been noticed if it wasn't for the
absurd concept that children are better on cow milk formulas than human
milk (some babies never even taste breast milk).

My point really is that paleolithic nutrition is as much as an attitude
as a diet plan, and should start from birth.  Every time I look at my
arms I think, if it wasn't for all the bread and cornflakes I ate as a
child, maybe I'd have some normal proportions to me.  But it's a bit
late for that, so I'll just have to try my best when I have kids of my
own.

Ashley