Sunny Health

There has been some good news for parents and parents-to-be in Singapore. Minister Koh Poh Koon had recently announced that there may be a greater availability of formula milk in Singapore by the end of this year. This will be done by streamlining the import process and removing unnecessary barriers. He also said that all formula milk brands imported into Singapore fulfil minimum nutritional requirements and it is perfectly all right to choose a cheaper brand. To make good his word, a taskforce will be set up to put in place measures to address the rising prices of formula milk in Singapore.

Although breast milk is still the ideal choice for babies, it may not be an available option for certain babies. Some mothers are unable to supply sufficient breast milk and if the baby is not drinking sufficient milk, he or she could get dehydrated. Breastfeeding is also more taxing for mum, and if she is unable to get sufficient rest, or she gets stressed over the need to produce enough milk, she could be more susceptible to post-natal blues. Moreover, depending on the mother’s diet, a small percentage of babies can be allergic to cow’s milk proteins and other food proteins in breast milk. In such cases, the baby may cry a lot after feeding for a long time and keep waking up with signs of discomfort. More serious symptoms include rash, hives, eczema, cold-like symptoms, constipation and diarrhoea. Fortunately, formula milk is and adequate supplement or substitute in Singapore.

With so many brands out there promising different benefits, one can be utterly spoilt for choice. But once new regulations by the AVA take effect, formula milk manufacturers will be prohibited to use nutrition and health claims to promote their products. This may be upsetting for parents who have no qualms spending more on premium formula milk if it does what it promises.

But special ingredients: Are they really important?

Since all reputable formula milk companies are essentially selling the same thing, the only way to beat the competition, apart from brand awareness, is to have value-added ingredients inside the milk to set it apart from others. How necessary are they and do they justify the higher prices?

Probiotics & Prebiotics

Probiotics and prebiotics are naturally found in breast milk, and they help prevent a variety of diseases, hence many manufacturers are trying to replicate it in formula milk. Probiotics are good bacteria that help keep the infant’s digestive system healthy, while prebiotics create a conducive environment for these bacteria to grow. However, the effectiveness varies widely by the strains of bacteria used. The type of strain used is generally not required to be disclosed by the manufacturers, so the true effectiveness of the probiotics in a particular infant formula may not be known.

Gold Infant Formula

These are the ones that promise a good beginning for your infants, usually in terms of brain development / intelligence. They usually have long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids added to them. These are also present in breast milk. However, there has been no scientific evidence to prove whether these added fats work in the same way or can be absorbed as effectively as those in breast milk.

Formula for special needs

Some examples include:
- AR/Thickened Formula: For babies who have a regurgitation problem (frequently vomiting up their feed)
- HA (Hypo-allergic) Partially Hydrolysed Infant Formula: For babies with high risk of allergies, excluding those with allergies to cow’s milk
- Extensively Hydrolysed Formula (EHF) or Amino Acid Formula (AAF): For babies who are allergic to cow’s milk
- Soy formula: Originally for lactose-intolerant babies, but research has indicated that soy formula actually has no recognised benefits, and even has some substances that may be harmful to the baby’s development. It could be helpful for babies with galactosemia or who cannot consume dairy-based products for cultural or religious reasons.
- Lactose-free formula: For lactose-intolerant babies

Babies with health problems may need more than the standard formula milk. While some special needs formula milk may be available for purchase even without a prescription, it is still advisable to get advice from the paediatrician.


Organic formula

Organic formula is made from ingredients that have been farmed organically. But as with most organic products, just because it was grown organically does not mean that no chemicals have been involved in the manufacturing process.

Another thing you may be pleased to note is that you don’t actually have to buy different stages of formula as your baby grows up. The starter formula for babies under six months is adequate for babies from the time of birth until 12 months of age. Just ask your paediatrician if you don’t believe this! Moreover, when they are over one, they would not require formula milk to obtain the necessary nutrition. In fact, weaning them from formula milk early is encouraged to prevent them from becoming fussy eaters as they grow up.

Sources:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/baby/choosing-baby-formula-5-facts-to-help-decide/
http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/food-sensitivity/
https://babygooroo.com/articles/should-i-choose-an-infant-formula-with-prebiotics
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/more-formula-milk-options-to-be-made-available-koh-poh-koon-8827050
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/children-over-one-do-not-need-formula-milk-experts-say-8877580

In some Asian cultures, blood type is a matter of significant interest, especially when it comes to dating, and “what is your blood type” would be one of the first questions your date would ask, if the information is not already on your public profile. Apparently, like the zodiac sign, certain blood types have specific personalities, compatible blood types, things they are good at, lucky days and so on.

Well, they certainly aren’t wrong about the importance of blood types, though they might have had the wrong focus. Or perhaps this is just a clever means of masking their true intentions of finding out one’s blood type. After all, health matters are highly personal, something you might seriously discuss only if marriage is on the cards.

While there is no scientific evidence that blood type has any bearings on personality, it certain reveals more than a thing or two about one’s health.

According to a research by the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, which was presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress, people with a non-O blood group have a slightly higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Non-O blood groups are people with A, B and AB blood types. It is thought that A, B and AB blood types may present higher levels of blood-clotting protein, causing arteries to become clogged more easily.




The research was done based on studies involving some 1.3 million people. Findings revealed that 15 in 1,000 people with a non-O blood group suffered a heart attack, compared to 14 in 1,000 people with blood group O. This also brings to mind an earlier study which suggested that people with the rarest blood group - AB - were most vulnerable to heart disease. Their risk of contracting it was 23% more.



Genetic factors have typically played a small role in increasing the risk of certain diseases, but the probability of contracting the disease is not definite. Your lifestyle plays a major role in contracting diseases. Though study author Tessa Cole called for blood groups to be considered in risk assessments for cardiovascular prevention, others believe that giving up smoking and eating healthily should remain the focus for heart disease prevention.

Aside from cardiovascular health, your blood type also possibly sheds light on other health matters:

According to journal Neurology, blood type AB may be more susceptible to cognitive impairment as they age. This means that they are more likely to have memory and thinking problems, and again, clotting factors and proteins in the blood could be an explanation for it.

Those with blood type A have a higher risk of contracting stomach cancer and stomach ulcers compared to blood types B and O (unfortunately that includes AB too), according to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. It is hypothesized that blood types AB or A may have greater immune system reaction to the bacteria H. pylori in our guts. The prolific cell activity from it would have been a cause for the cancer.

Blood types O not only have a decreased risk for heart diseases compared to their A and B counterparts, they are also less likely to develop pancreatic cancer, according to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. As with stomach cancer, it is possible that differing intensities of reaction to H. pylori could have been a reason for it.

With regards to influenza, or the common flu, this is what Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, a physician well known for advocating the Blood Type diet (customising diets based on blood type with the firm belief that blood types contribute significantly to one’s state of health), has to say about the different blood types:

•    Blood type A: Overall has a great ability to generate a quick and substantial antibody response against influenza type A(H1N1) and especially A(H3N2). Their antibody response against influenza B is not quite as dramatic.

•    Blood type AB: Relatively poor ability to generate high antibody levels against any of the influenza viruses.

•    Blood type B: Reasonable, but not great ability to generate an antibody response against influenza A(H1N1). Against influenza B virus, blood type B has a significant advantage. The blood type B immune response happens much earlier and persists longer.

•    Blood type O: Relatively effective ability to generate antibody response against influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) viruses. Antibody response against influenza B is not as dramatic as blood type B.

It would be prudent to note that these statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.



Additionally, people with type A blood are more likely to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their bodies, which means they get affected by stress more easily. O blood types on the other hand succumb to stress more easily. 

With all the luck that Blood Type Os have, perhaps that is why they may donate blood to most major blood types (O- can donate to all blood types) but only accept blood from Type O (O+ can accept blood from O+ and O-, while O- can only accept blood from O-). Life is as fair as can be after all.

Nevertheless, those with blood type AB should not be dismayed. The correlation between blood types and health conditions is a subject that scientists are still exploring and debating over. Hopefully, this article will encourage one in the higher risks groups to take proactive steps to reduce the health risks, such as leading a healthy lifestyle, cutting out on the vices and doing regular health check ups. Certainly, this is not a pass for Blood type Os to be complacent.