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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and therefore cannot prescribe, treat, or diagnose. I’m a mom and health coach sharing my knowledge and experiences for educational purposes. This does not take the place of any professional medical advice.
For a new mom, ensuring her baby’s health is the top priority. The topic of heavy toxic metals in baby food is not just another health scare created to keep you on edge—it’s a reality that requires awareness, attention to detail, and proactive measures to protect your little’s well-being.
Newborns and infants are highly sensitive to heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. These elements occur naturally in the environment but can also stem from industrial activities. You may be horrified to know they have been found in common baby foods.
Exposure to heavy metals can have lasting effects on a child’s health. Cognitive development, growth, and immune function may be compromised, laying the foundation for future challenges. What makes the situation particularly frustrating is the difficulty of detection—there are no telltale signs or symptoms associated with metal exposure until much later, often when the damage is already done.
Thankfully, there are steps new moms can take to ensure their child’s meals are as safe as possible. Here are some practical measures to minimize heavy metal intake:
- Opt for safer options: Choose brands and products with a track record of testing for heavy metals or consider organic whole food and homemade baby foods with lower pesticide and contaminant concerns. The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen are wonderful resources to keep in your arsenal. Some of the best brands of packaged foods I’ve seen are Peter Rabbit Pumpkin Tree Organics, Serenity Kids, Once Upon a Farm (at Costco!), and Cerebelly. All of these can be found on my favorite online organic grocery store and sent straight to your door. You can get 40% off your first order with this link.
- Rinse and drain canned goods: If using canned baby food or ingredients, draining and rinsing can reduce the amount of contaminants.
If you are buying prepackaged foods, especially when it comes to an infant, make sure you’re buying foods with whole ingredients only. Unnecessary ingredients like maltodextrin, ascorbic acid, and calcium carbonate have no business being in our babies’ tummies.
Sometimes the safest route is the one we build ourselves. Consider these alternative feeding methods for greater control over what your baby consumes:
- Homemade is best: Making your baby food is the only way to guarantee its content. It’s not as time-consuming as you might think and can be prepared in batches for convenience.
- Seek out local farmers markets: Fresh produce from trusted sources can make for nutritious, low-toxin baby meals.
If this post was helpful for you, I invite you to join my Facebook group where I share new mom tips and teach busy new moms how to take care of themselves again without sacrificing baby’s needs. See you there!
xo, Mary