Taking care of a child not only includes giving them the right education and all other amenities, it also means providing them with a balanced diet. A parent must understand the common nutritional deficiencies their child faces, and how to prevent them. Children around the world suffer from various ailments, some of them caused by lack of a certain type of nutrition. Neglecting the signs or symptoms of these deficiencies could have a long term, negative effect on the child. Let’s take a look at some common deficiencies in children and how to prevent them.
Iron Deficiency:
Iron is a very important nutrient, which helps carry the oxygen from the lungs to all over the body. Lack of iron can cause anaemia in children, a condition in which the body does not have enough haemoglobin. In such a situation, a child must be given foods like beans, green vegetables, red meat, bread, poultry and beetroot juice, to increase iron content in their bodies.
Vitamin D Deficiency:
Vitamin D is needed for bone growth, to make your child’s immunity stronger and heart healthy. To overcome this, exposure to sunlight is the best way. You can also give foods like fatty fish, fish oils, milk, and yoghurt.
Zinc Deficiency:
Zinc is a mineral which promotes growth of the child and their digestion, immunity, cognitive functions and development of the sex hormone. To overcome its deficiency, you should include foods like meats, eggs, dairy products, seeds, nuts, whole wheat breads, cereals and beans.
Calcium Deficiency:
Calcium is responsible for making our bones stronger, as well as muscle function, heart regulation and blood clotting. To prevent calcium deficiency in children, they must be given milk, milk products, green vegetables, tofu, fish, nuts, and beans.
Potassium Deficiency:
Potassium is an essential nutrient which helps with bone growth, body development, and functions of the nerve. Lack of potassium in the body is known as hypokalaemia. To prevent it, children should be given fruits, vegetables, white and black beans, pulses and edamame.
