Expansion is much simpler than other livestock alternatives because a large range of existing facilities can be modified for rabbits and land requirements are negligible. According to the Census of Agriculture NASS , there were more than 4, farms selling almost , rabbits nationally.
In Pennsylvania, farms sold more than , rabbits, making it the top producer nationally. Many breeds of rabbits are produced commercially in this country. Some of the most popular breeds are listed in the following table. Rabbits are classified according to their weight or hair. The weight categories are small 3 to 4 pounds , medium 9 to 12 pounds , and large 14 to 16 pounds. For meat production, medium-weight New Zealand Whites are best, followed by Californians.
For laboratory use, the breed will depend on the specifications of the customer. Angora rabbits are the only breed used for wool production. Typical part-time enterprises consist of 50 to rabbits. A full-time enterprise should have at least females does and 60 males bucks.
Each doe produces 25 to 50 live rabbits a year, which will yield to pounds of meat. Angora rabbits produce 8 to 10 inches, or 12 to 16 ounces, of wool per year. Before you start producing rabbits, you must identify your market. Rabbits are raised not only for meat, laboratory use, breeding stock, and Angora wool but also for their skins and for youth programs, such as 4-H, FFA, Pennsylvania Rabbit Breeders, and American Rabbit Breeders Associations.
When raising rabbits for meat, you must consider the availability of slaughtering facilities, type of packaging required, transportation cost, and potential buyers. Restaurants, wholesalers, custom meat stores, and individual buyers are the main purchasers of rabbit meat. Traditionally, rabbit prices tend to be lower during the summer months because of high supply, so marketing during this time may be more challenging.
Rabbits are typically slaughtered as fryers at 5 pounds about 10 weeks of age. Often considered a delicacy, rabbit meat is white, fine grained, and delicately flavored.
It also is high in protein and low in fat, cholesterol, sodium, and calories. Laboratory rabbit production has the potential to be a very profitable enterprise, but the requirements for entering the market make it difficult to become established.
When producing for laboratories, hospitals, or universities, you must be licensed and must meet the requirements for breed, age, weight, and any other characteristics that are specified. You must raise the animals under controlled conditions, and the facility must be highly sanitary and strictly monitored.
It is recommended that you start your business by selling through an experienced supplier for a while before dealing directly with laboratories. If you choose to market breeding stock, establishing a reputation for raising high-quality animals is critical. You can develop your reputation by maintaining accurate and detailed health records, exhibiting rabbits at shows, and advertising in rabbit journals and farm periodicals. The market for Angora wool is small, and the wool is usually sold directly to individuals or organizations buying for mills.
Some producers choose to spin the wool into yarn and market it directly to the general public. Angora is a high-quality wool often used to manufacture luxury garments and therapeutic clothing for people with arthritis and other joint diseases.
Once you have researched your particular market meat, laboratory, breeding stock, or wool , you can then plan the size of your operation and determine which breed of rabbits to raise. The smallest production unit to consider is a herd of around 20 does serviced by 2 bucks. When purchasing your breeding stock, contact local breeders and rabbit clubs and check advertisements in rabbit magazines and the American Rabbit Breeders Association directory.
Whenever possible, ask to see herd health and breeding records and the visit the production facilities. The rabbitry should be clean, well managed, and free of any health problems. Purchase rabbits that will produce large, but not huge, litters 8 to 10 kits , raise a high percentage of their offspring to maturity, and produce good-quality animals.
The rabbitry should be an enclosed building that has proper ventilation, lighting, heating, and cooling systems. Heating and ventilation are crucial because rabbits do not tolerate temperature extremes very well. You should maintain the herd on a year-round schedule of 12 hours each of light and darkness to keep the rabbits breeding throughout the year. Many different types of hutches can be used. However, all metal cages help prevent unsanitary conditions that can lead to health problems.
The cages should be made of 1-byinch mesh for the sides and top and 0. Hanging the cages from the ceiling in single layers makes management easier for the producer. Mature bucks and does should have individual cages that are at least 30 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 20 inches high.
Junior does, fryers, and Angora rabbits nonbreeding does and castrated bucks may be kept in small groups in one pen. Each cage should have a feed hopper and a watering system attached to the outside of the cage. A nest box should be placed in the hutch prior to kindling birth to provide seclusion for the doe and protection for the litter.
Nest boxes should provide enough room for each doe and her litter but should be small enough to keep the litter close together. Nest boxes can be made of nontreated wood, wire mesh, or sheet metal. During cold weather, bedding such as straw or wood shavings is also recommended. The box should be enclosed except for a small opening on top for the doe to enter.
This simple nest box can be made from scrap lumber to fit right inside the cage. Maintaining a sanitary operation will help you prevent disease. The best waste management systems have porous pits under the cages with layers of sand, gravel, and drainage tile. Earth and concrete floors are acceptable but require more frequent cleaning.
You should have concrete walkways between the cages and should remove accumulated manure at least twice a year. Cages and nest boxes should be cleaned and sanitized after each use, and the hair should be burned off the cages.
New additions to the herd, especially those purchased from a wholesale market, and any sick animals should be kept in separate cages isolated from the rest of the herd until any diseases are determined or until the animal is well. Raising worms under rabbit hutches can be successfully combined in indoor operations or outdoor operations if the climate is moderate.
Worms will consume the manure and any spilled feed, which will eliminate some of the odor, waste, and labor associated with manure management while providing an additional source of income.
Composted rabbit manure may also represent an income opportunity for sale to homeowners. Medium-weight breeds 9 to 12 pounds are able to start breeding at 6 to 7 months of age, with males maturing one month later than females. Because outward signs of heat are not always evident in mature does, you should follow a strict breeding schedule. One buck can service about 10 does but no more than two to three times a week.
Place the female in the buck's cage for breeding. Never bring the buck to the doe's cage because she will fight to protect her territory. Mating should occur immediately, and the doe should then be returned to her cage.
The average gestation period lasts 31 to 32 days. Twenty-eight days after breeding, place the nest box in the doe's hutch. The average commercial litter consists of 8 to 10 kits. Forty-eight hours after birth, you should observe and count the kits, removing any dead animals. Remove the nest box 5 to 21 days after birth. The young are weaned in about 30 days, so you can expect an average of five litters annually per doe.
Under proper management, a good doe will continue to produce maximum-sized litters for 2 to 3 years. Two types of nutrition programs are used for raising rabbits: hay and grain diets or commercial prebalanced pellet rations. Pellets meet all of a rabbit's nutritional requirements and are more convenient than formulating a hay and grain ration.
Pregnant does and those with litters should receive all the feed they can eat in a day. Bucks and does without litters need 6 to 8 ounces of pellets a day.
When raising Angora rabbits, you should avoid feeding hay because the dust will contaminate the wool and lower its quality. Rabbits require fresh, clean water every day. Automatic watering systems offer a continuous water supply while reducing waste and contamination. A doe and her litter need 1 gallon of water a day in warm weather. Retinol can be made into retinal and retinoic acid other active forms of vitamin A in the body.
They can be made into retinol in the body. Common provitamin A carotenoids found in foods that come from plants are beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. They were developed to help consumers determine if a food contains a lot or a little of a nutrient. Most food labels do not list vitamin A content. It is important to remember that foods that provide lower percentages of the DV also contribute to a healthful diet.. D Calciferol Vitamin D actually refers to a group of steroid molecules.
Vitamin D is called the sunlight vitamin because the body produces it when the sun's ultraviolet B UVB rays strike the skin. It is the only vitamin the body manufactures naturally and is technically considered a hormone.
Vitamin D is important for the proper absorption of calcium from food. It is vital for the control of the levels of calcium in the blood and also controls the rate at which the body excretes calcium in the urine. Health Benefits Vitamin D and osteoporosis - Adequate amounts of vitamin D is necessary for preventing bone loss.
Low levels of vitamin D and insufficient sunlight exposure are associated with osteoporosis. The body cannot absorb calcium from food or supplements without an adequate intake of vitamin D. After menopause, women are particularly at risk for developing this condition. Vitamin D taken along with calcium plays a critical role in maintaining bone density.
Vitamin D functions by increasing the uptake of calcium from the intestine through interaction with the parathyroid glands in controlling bone resabsorption and serum calcium levels. Vitamin D also increases reabsorption of phosphate by the kidney tubule, and may directly affect the osteoblast, the cell which forms bone. Vitamin D and cancer - Vitamin D's immunomodulatory abilities may also play a role in its anti-cancer activity.
Vitamin D demonstrats a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in a number of cancer cell lines. It also has a pro-differentiation effect on these cells, resulting in potent anti-cancer activity in some preliminary work. Vitamin D's analogues show significant experimental activity against colorectal, renal cell, breast and prostate cancers, among others.
Vitamin D and autoimmune diseases - Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels may help decrease the risk of several autoimmune diseases such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
A daily multi-vitamin supplement containing vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Low intakes of vitamin D may be linked to an increased risk of arthritis of the hip in older women. One recent study showed that taking IU or more of vitamin D daily was effective in delaying or stopping the progression of osteoarthritis of the knees. Autoimmune responses are mediated by immune cells called T cells.
The biologically active form of vitamin D can modulate T cell responses, such that the autoimmune responses are diminished. Vitamin D and psoriasis - Vitamin D is sometimesused in the treatment for psoriasis. Because vitamin D and its analogues are potent antiproliferative agents for keratinocytes and stimulators of epidermal cell differentiation.
Calcipotriol has been demonstrated to significantly improve psoriatic lesions in a number 20 Because it plays a role in skin cell metabolism and growth, vitamin D may be helpful in treating the itching and flaking associated with this skin ailment. Vitamin D and other bone disorders - Vitamin D protects against the preventable bone diseases rickets and osteomalacia softening of the bones in adults caused by inability to properly deposit calcium.
An adequate level of Vitamin D in the body is necessary to maintain strong bones and to help prevent fractures in older people. Vitamin D supplements are also used for people with genetic diseases that interfere with the metabolism of Vitamin D. E Tocopherol The health benefits of vitamin E range include skin enhancement, wound healing, immune function, and protection against various diseases. Also called alpha-tocopherol, vitamin E is believed to reduce cholesterol and plaque buildup, reducing the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease CAD.
Vitamin E is an essential nutrient, which means the body needs it but cannot produce it on its own. However, vitamin E deficiency is rare because it is fat-soluble - it is stored in the fat tissues for up to six months before getting depleted.
Common food sources include nuts, poultry, wheat products, and various vegetable oils, particularly wheat germ oil. It is also available as a health supplement. Other health benefits of vitamin E include the following: Antioxidant 21 One of the best health benefits of vitamin E is its antioxidant capacity.
Antioxidants help remove free radicals - unstable compounds that damage cell structure, increasing the risk of cancer and weakening the immune system. This also protects against eye diseases, diabetes and pancreatic disorders, and Alzheimer's Disease. Cholesterol reduction Vitamin E prevents cholesterol from being converted to plaque, which thickens the blood vessels and leads to stroke and heart disease. It also thins the blood and improves blood flow even with plaque buildup on the artery walls.
Studies show that vitamin E from foods can reduce the risk of stroke in postmenopausal women, although further studies are needed to support this claim.
Skin care Skin and lip protection are also well-known health benefits of vitamin E. Vitamin E helps retain moisture in the skin and prevents dryness, itchiness, and chapping.
It also protects against UV radiation and speeds up wound healing. It can be applied topically and is a main ingredient in most creams, lotions, and sunscreens. Anti-inflammatory and pain relief Studies suggest that vitamin E can both relieve and prevent osteoarthritis. Its effects are similar to non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , which are traditionally used to relieve arthritic pain. It also improves joint mobility, preventing gout and buildup of waste material in the joints.
Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that your body doesn't store it. We get what we need, instead, from food. You need vitamin C for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It helps the body make collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is essential for healing wounds, and for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, along with vitamin E, beta-carotene, and many other plant-based nutrients. Antioxidants block some of the damage caused by free radicals, which occur naturally when our bodies transform food into energy. The build-up of free radicals over time may be largely responsible for the aging process and can contribute to the development of health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.
Evidence suggests that many people may be mildly deficient in vitamin C, although serious deficiencies are rare in industrialized countries. Smoking cigarettes lowers the amount of vitamin C in the body, so smokers are at a higher risk of deficiency. Signs of vitamin deficiency include dry and splitting hair; gingivitis inflammation of the gums and bleeding gums; rough, dry, scaly skin; decreased wound- healing rate, easy bruising; nosebleeds; and a decreased ability to ward off infection.
A severe form of vitamin C deficiency is known as scurvy. Functions: 1. Maintenance of bones, teeth, connective tissue,cartilages 2. Absorption of Calcium, Iron and Folacin 3. Production of brain hormones, immune factors 4. Antioxidant Deficiency: 1. Bleeding gums, scurvy, anemia 2. All B vitamins help the body convert food carbohydrates into fuel glucose , which is "burned" to produce energy.
These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are necessary for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly, and are necessary for optimal brain function.
All B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that the body does not store them. Like other B complex vitamins, thiamine is considered an "anti-stress" vitamin because it may strengthen the immune system and improve the body's ability to withstand stressful conditions. It is named B1 because it was the first B vitamin discovered.
Thiamine is found in both plants and animals and plays a crucial role in certain metabolic reactions. For example, it is required for the body to form adenosine triphosphate ATP , which every cell of the body uses for energy.
Thiamine deficiency is rare, but can occur in people who get most of their calories from sugar or alcohol. People who are deficient in thiamine may experience fatigue, irritability, depression and abdominal discomfort. People with thiamine deficiency also have difficulty digesting carbohydrates. As a result, a substance called pyruvic acid builds up in their bloodstream, causing a loss of mental alertness, difficulty breathing, and heart damage a disease known as beriberi.
Beriberi The most important use of thiamine is to treat beriberi, which is caused by not getting enough thiamine in your diet. Symptoms include swelling, tingling, or burning sensation in the hands and feet, confusion, difficulty breathing from fluid in the lungs , and uncontrolled eye movements called nystagmus. Although people in the developed world generally do not have to worry about getting enough thiamine because foods such as cereals and breads are fortified with the vitamin, people can develop a deficiency fairly quickly, because the body does not store thiamine.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a brain disorder caused by thiamine deficiency; as with beriberi, it is treated by giving supplemental thiamine. Wernicke-Korsakoff is actually two disorders: Wernicke's disease involves damage to nerves in the central and peripheral nervous systems and is generally caused by malnutrition stemming from habitual alcohol abuse.
Korsakoff syndrome is characterized by memory impairment and nerve damage. High doses of thiamine can improve muscle coordination and confusion, but rarely improves memory loss.
Cataracts Preliminary evidence suggests that thiamine -- along with other nutrients -- may lower risk of developing cataracts. People with plenty of protein and vitamins A, B1, B2, and B3 niacin in their diet are less likely to develop cataracts.
Getting enough vitamins C, E, and B complex particularly B1, B2, B9 [folic acid], and B12 [cobalamin may further protect the lens of your eyes from developing cataracts. More research is needed. Alzheimer's disease Because lack of thiamine can cause dementia in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, it has been proposed that thiamine might help reduce severity of Alzheimer's disease.
Scientific studies have not always shown any benefit from thiamine, however. More research is needed before thiamine can be proposed as an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Heart failure 25 Thiamine may be related to heart failure in two ways. First, low levels of thiamine can lead to "wet beriberi," a condition where fluid builds up around the heart. However, it isn't clear that taking thiamin will help people with heart failure not related to beriberi. Many people with heart failure take diuretics water pills , which help rid the body of excess fluid. But diuretics may also cause the body to get rid of too much thiamine. A few small studies suggest that taking thiamine supplements may help.
A multivitamin, taken regularly, should provide enough thiamine. Deficiency 1. Mental confusion; muscle weakness 2. Toxicity none None Food Sources Very good sources of vitamin B1 include asparagus romaine lettuce, mushrooms,spinach, sunflower seeds, tuna, green peas, tomatoes, eggplant and Brussels sprouts, pork, liver, whole grains, lean meats Vit.
B2 Riboflavin Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, is one of 8 B vitamins. All B vitamins help the body to convert food carbohydrates into fuel glucose , which is "burned" to produce energy. They also help the nervous system function properly. In addition to producing energy for the body, riboflavin also works as an antioxidant by scavenging damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. Free radicals occur naturally in the body but can damage cells and DNA, and may contribute to the aging process, as well as the development of a number of health conditions, such as heart disease and cancer.
Antioxidants such as riboflavin can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or help prevent some of the damage they cause. Riboflavin is also needed to help the body convert vitamin B6 and folate into active forms.
It is also important for body growth and red blood cell production. Defieciency Most healthy people who eat a well-balanced diet get enough riboflavin.
However, elderly people and alcoholics may be at risk for riboflavin deficiency because of poor diet. Symptoms of riboflavin deficiency include fatigue; slowed growth; digestive problems; cracks and sores around 26 Riboflavin is an important nutrient in the prevention of headache and some visual disturbances, particularly cataracts. Anemia Children with sickle-cell anemia a blood disorder characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells tend to have lower levels of certain antioxidants, including riboflavin.
The same is also true of people with iron deficiency anemia, and studies suggest that taking riboflavin supplements may improve the response to iron therapy. Cataracts Vitamin B2, along with other nutrients, is important for normal vision, and preliminary evidence shows that riboflavin might help prevent cataracts damage to the lens of the eye, which can lead to cloudy vision.
In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, people who took a niacin-riboflavin supplement had significantly less cataracts. However, researchers don't know whether that was due to riboflavin, niacin, or the combination of the two. And levels above 10 mg per day of riboflavin can actually promote damage to the eye from the sun.
More research is needed to see if riboflavin has any real benefit in preventing cataracts. Migraine Headache Several studies indicate that people who get migraines may decrease the frequency and duration of the headache by taking riboflavin. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that taking mg of riboflavin a day cut the number of migraine attacks in half. The study did not compare riboflavin to conventional medications used to prevent migraines, however, so more research is needed.
Dietary Sources: The best sources of riboflavin include brewer's yeast, almonds, organ meats, whole grains, wheat germ, wild rice, mushrooms, soybeans, milk, yogurt, eggs, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and spinach.
Flours and cereals are often fortified with riboflavin. Riboflavin is destroyed by light, so food should be stored away from light to protect its riboflavin content.
While riboflavin is not destroyed by heat, it can be lost in water when foods are boiled or soaked. During cooking, roasting and steaming preserves more riboflavin than frying or scalding. Cracks at corners of mouth; 2. Dermatitis around nose and lips; 3. Eyes sensitive to light. Toxicity none Food Sources 27 Liver, milk, dark green vegetables, whole and 2. B3 Niacin Vitamin B3 is one of 8 B vitamins. It is also known as niacin nicotinic acid and has 2 other forms, niacinamide nicotinamide and inositol hexanicotinate, which have different effects from niacin.
Niacin also helps the body make various sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands and other parts of the body. Niacin is effective in improving circulation and reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. Symptoms of mild deficiency include indigestion, fatigue, canker sores, vomiting, and depression. Severe deficiency can cause a condition known as pellagra. Pellagra is characterized by cracked, scaly skin, dementia, and diarrhea.
It is generally treated with a nutritionally balanced diet and niacin supplements. Niacin deficiency also results in burning in the mouth and a swollen, bright red tongue. Very high doses of B3 available by prescription have been shown to prevent or improve symptoms of the following conditions. However, taken at high doses niacin can be toxic, so you should take doses higher than the Recommended Daily Allowance only under your doctor's supervision.
Researchers are trying to determine if inositol hexanicotinate has similar benefits without serious side effects, but so far results are preliminary. High Cholesterol Niacin but not niacinamide has been used since the s to lower elevated LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride fat levels in the blood and is more effective in increasing HDL "good" cholesterol levels than other cholesterol-lowering medications.
However, side effects can be unpleasant and even dangerous. High doses of niacin cause flushing of the skin which can be reduced by taking aspirin 30 minutes before the niacin , stomach upset which usually subsides within a few weeks , headache, dizziness, and blurred vision. There is an increased risk of liver damage. A time-release form of niacin reduces flushing, but its long-term use is associated with liver damage. In addition, niacin can interact 28 You should not take niacin at high doses without your doctor's supervision.
Atherosclerosis Because niacin lowers LDL and triglycerides in the blood, it may help prevent atherosclerosis hardening of the arteries and is sometimes prescribed along with other medications. However, niacin also increases levels of homocysteine levels in the blood, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. This is another reason you should not take high doses of niacin without your doctor's supervision.
Diabetes Some evidence suggests that niacinamide but not niacin might help delay the onset of insulin dependence in other words, delay the time that you would need to take insulin in type 1 diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, eventually destroying them. Niacinamide may help protect those cells for a time, but more research is needed to tell for sure. The effect of niacin on type 2 diabetes is more complicated. People with type 2 diabetes often have high levels of fats and cholesterol in the blood, and niacin, often in conjunction with other drugs, can lower those levels.
However, niacin can also raise blood sugar levels, resulting in hyperglycemia, which is particularly dangerous for someone with diabetes. For that reason, anyone with diabetes should take niacin only when directed to do so by their doctor, and should be carefully monitored for hyperglycemia.
Dietary Sources: The best dietary sources of vitamin B3 are found in beets, brewer's yeast, beef liver, beef kidney, fish, salmon, swordfish, tuna, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Bread and cereals are usually fortified with niacin. In addition, foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid the body coverts into niacin, include poultry, red meat, eggs, and dairy products Vit. In addition to playing a role in the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates for energy, vitamin B5 is critical to the manufacture of red blood cells, as well as sex and stress-related hormones produced in the adrenal glands small glands that sit atop the kidneys.
Vitamin B5 is also important in maintaining a healthy digestive tract, and it helps the body use other vitamins particularly B2 or riboflavin. It is sometimes referred to as the "anti-stress" vitamin because of its effect on the adrenal glands, but there is no real evidence as to whether it helps the body withstand stressful conditions Dietary Sources: Pantothenic acid gets its name from the Greek root pantos, meaning "everywhere," because it is available in a wide variety of foods. A lot of vitamin B5 is lost when you food is processed, however.
Fresh meats, vegetables, and whole unprocessed grains have more vitamin B5 than refined, canned, and frozen food. The best sources are brewer's yeast, corn, cauliflower, kale, broccoli, tomatoes, avocado, legumes, lentils, egg yolks, beef especially organ meats such as liver and kidney , turkey, duck, chicken, milk, split peas, peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, whole-grain breads and cereals, lobster, wheat germ, and salmon Deficiency Uncommon due to availability in most foods; fatigue; nausea, abdominal cramps; difficulty sleeping.
Toxicity none Vit. B6 Pyridoxine Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, is one of 8 B vitamins. Functions Aids in protein metabolism, absorption; Aids in red blood cell formation; Helps body use fats.
Deficiency Skin disorders, dermatitis Cracks at corners of mouth; Irritability; anemia; kidney stones; Nausea; smooth tongue. B8 Inositol Functions Helps release energy from carbohydrates Aids in fat synthesis. Deficiency Fatigue; loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting; Depression; muscle pains; anemia.
Folic acid, a nutrient found in some green, leafy vegetables, most berries, nuts, beans, citrus fruits, fortified breakfast cereals, and some vitamin supplements can help reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord called neural tube defects. It suppress milk secretion 2. Breast milk produces anti bodies, immunity against diseases 2. Lactose is higher in breast milk, to produce beneficial bacteria in the GI tract.
Calcium and Phosphorus level are regulated 4. Prevent dental arch 5. Less incidence of lung cancer 7. Fast return of the uterus to its original size 8. Biologically complete 9. Easily digested Convenient and dependable Safe Recombined milk — skim milk powder reconstituted to normal fat content of the whole milk by adding butterfat 4.
Reconstituted milk — process milk to which water is added to restore its original water content Frisian Girl, Alpine 36 B Other type of evaporated milk not recommended for infants 1. Sweetened condensed — High in sugar resulting in very diluted milk formula 2. Skim Milk — butter fat has been removed Enfamil, Olac 4. Acidified Milk — increase digestibility Pelargon, Acidolac 5.
Cereal Foods — months , milk is still continued 2. Fruits — months , mashed 3. Vegetables — months , mashed carrots, squash, sayote, green leafy vegetables may be mashed and sieved and mix with other foods. Eggs — 4- 5 months , only eggyolk is given 5. Munggo — 5 months cooked well and strained 7. Meat, fish or Poultry — months , ground and strained 8. A decrease of 7. C is needed for the absorption of calcium and iron. Intake of Vit.
E to retard cellular aging. Eat good breakfast to start the day 2. Eat light meals a day 3. Include essential foods fish, vegetables, fruits 4. Eat leisurely in pleasant surroundings 5. Eat the heaviest at noon 6. Avoid fatty foods 7. Avoid coffee 8. Drink hot milk before going to bed 39 In plants, some of which perfom important functions in the human body.
Allicin Allicin, one of the sulfur compounds of garlic, possesses antioxidant activity and is shown to cause a variety of actions potentially useful for human health.
Allicin exhibits hypolipidemic, antiplatelet, and procirculatory effects. It demonstrates antibacterial, anticancer and chemopreventive activities. In addition, aged garlic extract possesses hepatoprotective and neuroprotective. But a factor that will limit the biological activity of allicin is its instability. Fresh crushed garlic cloves generated antibacterial activity and chemically detectable allicin, but this activity declines on a daily basis in aqueous and ethanol solutions.
Allicin is also not bioavailable and will not get absorbed in the blood, even after ingesting large amounts of allicin. Antimicrobial The antimicrobial effect of allicin is due to its chemical reaction with thiol groups of various enzymes.
The phytochemical inhibits bacteria and viruses, By its antimicrobial activity, allicin may be an effective therapeutic candidate to promote ulcer healing. In vitro-studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, such as Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureaus, Escherichia coli and Lancefield group B streptococci.
Anticancer In vitro studies show that allicin inhibits the invasion and metastasis of human colon carcinoma cells. The phytochemical also exhibits antigenotoxic action. But the anticancer effect of allicin in humans remains uncertain, because of its low stability and poor bioavailability. Heart health Garlic has been suggested to improve heart health by lowering blood pressure, but scientific studies have provided conflicting results. One study showed that the protective role of allicin against atherosclerosis, is not only the direct result of its antioxidant activity but also of other mechanisms, such as lipoprotein modification, inhibition of LDL uptake and degradation by macrophages.
Flavonoids Flavonoids have antioxidant activity. Flavonoids are becoming very popular because they have many health promoting effects. Some of the activities attributed to flavonoids include: anti- allergic, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. The flavonoids quercetin is known for its ability to relieve hay fever, eszema, sinusitis and asthma. Epidemiological studies have illustrated that heart diseases are inversely related to flavonoid intake.
Studies have shown that flavonoids prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein thereby reducing the risk for the development of atherosclerosis. Red wine contains high levels of flavonoids, mainly quercetin and rutin. The high intake of red wine and flavonoids by the French might explain why they suffer less from coronary heart disease then other Europeans, although their consumption of cholesterol rich foods is higher French paradox.
Many studies have confirmed that one or two glasses of red wine daily can protect against heart disease. Tea flavonoids have many health benefits. Tea flavonoids reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, lowers the blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Soy flavonoids isoflavones can also reduce blood cholesterol and can help to prevent osteoporis. Soy flavonoids are also used to ease menopausal symptoms Beta-Carotene Beta-carotene has received a lot of attention as potential anti-cancer and anti-aging phytochemical.
Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant, protecting the cells of the body from damage caused by free radicals.
Studies indicate that diets low in beta-carotene can increase the body's susceptibility to damage from free radicals, resulting in an increased risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancers. Beta-carotene supplements may help reduce sun induced skin damage.
Smokers should avoid large doses of beta carotene supplements. Beta-carotene is one of the many carotenoids that our body can convert into vitamin A retinol. Anti-cancer Beta-carotene acts as an anti-cancer agent through its antioxidant property but it also seems to stimulate cell to cell communication.
Poor communication between cells may eventually lead to cancer. However, beta-carotene may cause adverse effects on smokers. Two studies indicate that heavy smokers and drinkers may have an increased risk of lung cancer or heart disease, when taking daily more than 20 mg synthetic beta-carotene as supplements.
A study by Harvard School of Public Health published in January issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention indicates that beta- carotene consumed as part of natural foods has no such negative effects.
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