Nutrition plays a vital role in how healthy our children is. According to research, the first five years of child development are critical and set the stage for the rest of their lives!
Just like a computer, the brain is the main central processing unit (CPU) for the human body. For a little child, 20% of their average daily food intake nourishes the brain. Therefore, it is important that parents provide the best possible nutrients from the early stages of pregnancy to after child birth. However, malnutrition takes place all over the world today, and below indicates what types of malnutrition and what would happen if it takes place.
- Undernutrition: defined as children not receiving enough nutrition on a daily basis for proper growth. As a result, wasting such as low weight for height, may occur. The consequences for low weight for height is susceptible to diseases and has a direct correlation to symptoms such as diarrhea and may have an increase chance of death. Another occurrence due to undernutrition may result in low height for age or commonly referred to as stunting. Stunting may be the cause of other social impacts such as bad socioeconomic conditions, poor maternal health and nutrition, frequent illness, and inadequate early child feeding. This impacts young children from reaching their full potential in physical and cognitive areas.
- Micronutrient related malnutrition: This occurs when children who does not receive enough vitamins and minerals causing the body to produce low amounts of enzymes, hormones, and other substances for proper growth. According to a study, vitamin A, iron, and iodine are the most common malnutrition for this category all over the world today. Without these, children are susceptible to improper growth, and more likely to contract all sorts of diseases.
- Overweight and obesity: On the opposite side of the spectrum, this can also deadly. This occurs when children are taking in too much food and less energy expanded. That is why an active lifestyle for children is just as important as giving them proper nutrition. As a result, heart attacks, stroke, certain cancer and diabetes may result from this type of malnutrition.
What can we, as parents, do to prevent this? The following are just some suggestions for parents to consider.
Providing your children with a well-balanced diet such as
- Calcium: strengthens bones and can be found in milk, yoghurt, and seeds.
- Protein: builds muscles and can be found in eggs, lean meats, and cheese.
- Carbohydrates: provides energy and can be found in while grain bread, potatoes, and apples.
- Iron: supports growth and development and can be found in legumes, lamb, spinach, and quinoa (type of edible seed. For more information: www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-health-benefits-quinoa).
Playtime: We all have heard the common phrase “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. With the right mixture of school, homework, and playtime, children can accelerate in areas such as physical, social, mental, and emotional well-being. Playtime or leisure activities may children in the following areas: confidence, self-esteem, resilience, interaction, social skills, independence, curiosity, and coping with challenges. Developing these skills will later play a vital role in the workplace as they grown up and start to work on their careers.
Our natural intent for our children is to have them grow up mentally and physically strong. We want them to be safe at all times and being healthy precedes anything they do in life. It is our responsibility to provide the best possible care not only when they are young, but for the rest of their lives.
Article references:
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition
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