milk alternative?

[heatherp]

Hi, my 16 month old was just diagnosed with genetic testing.  We are looking for a safe milk for him....but not cows milk.  He reacts to milk proteins.  So, he is supposed to be on a formula or a milk alternative, but what to give him?  Any ideas?  

[colormist]

I know Claudia was giving her son a formula (Enfamil, I think), but that probably has milk in it. Soy is not safe--neither is almond milk. I've seen a rice milk in store shelves, but I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet, so I'm not certain if it is safe or not. I'm really not certain that there is a safe alternative to milk for people with HFI.

[heatherp]

Hi,
Can I just double check with you.....colormist you had stated that almond milk is not safe. I am assuming this includes the unsweetened varieties (ie even if I made it myself out of only almonds and water? The fructose in the almonds is simply too high? The database I looked almonds up in said .5g fructose per 100g.....but I have no idea what that means in terms of, say, one cup of almond milk.). I am asking because my son's doctor feels it is safe...but I am very hesitant to follow food advice from anyone who doesn't actually have HFI, particularly since my son can't tell me about any reactions. Thank you for your help!

[colormist]

Almonds are definitely not safe. I used to have a 1/4 cup of them for lunch and I'd always feel ill afterwards.

I'm not sure about almond milk. I would presume that since almonds are unsafe, then all the predecessors would be unsafe. However, there are things like corn that are unsafe in certain products (high fructose corn syrup, whole kernel corn, corn on the cob) and safe in other products (corn meal, fritos, dextrose).

I've been meaning to be a taste-tester for the milk alternatives, but I can never find a small enough container. On Almond Milk's website, it does say 0g of Sugars on the nutrition label, so that's promising. I would think unsweetened rice milk might be a safer alternative than almond milk, but, again, I haven't tried either one. Wah, ignore that recommendation for rice milk. They do have sugars and use brown rice.

[heatherp]

Thinking I'm straight up out of luck.....maybe Ross/Abbott Carb free formula will be our next (very pricey!) attempt at a milk of some sort.  I appreciate the help!  Better to know from you than from feeding it to him!

[ukbill]

The only guideline we have is that one adult who was tested started to have problems once his dietary intake of fructose went above 150mg per day.
That is 10 days to 1.5g or to put it another way 33 days to 1 level teaspoon!

This is for an adult. your child will want to be if possible on a lower level than that.

If your child is reacting to cows milk this might well be as a result of his liver still being a bit stressed from when he was not on a safe diet. it will repair itself given a low enough fructose diet in time 6 to 9 months is common.

If he cannot manage cows milk how about Goats milk? its available in all supermarkets in the UK and is safe healthy and very good.

It has the advantage over cows milk in that it can be frozen and kept for some time in the freezer. goats cheese should be fine for him also.

Be very careful of any "safe food lists" you may have been given they are written by people who do not have HFI and just do not understand the condition at all.

Basically forget everything you have been told about nutrition and a "good balanced diet" these have no meaning and are usually very dangerous to those of us with HFI.

He will not go wrong with a diet of meat fish eggs and pasta (dry or fresh cooked at home no bought sauces) Rice is good also if you can source some which is not adulterated with sugar (as all rice in the USA is I am told because of Berry Berry or something like that).

A human can live very happily and to a great age living on just rice and a little meat.. or in my case rice and a lot of meat

Billions of Chinese and Indian people are proof of this point.

So long as he gets a good mix of meats (beef, Chicken, Pork Fish, sea fish is very good as is Salmon and oily fish) and butter he will not be short of any vitamins except vitamin C this is available as a 100% pure powder from most health food shops and pharmacy.

Its official name is L-ascorbic acid

Do not get him any orange flavoured or similar vitamin drops they will most likely be contaminated or sweet tasting.

Hope this helps?



Do not panic he will grow into a big strong adult with perfect teeth as well! ( so long as you do not make the mistake of feeding him Glucose sweets)