Common Nutritional Deficiencies In Children And How To Prevent Its Risk

Nutritional deficiency in young children/toddlers can be exhibited in a variety of ways, such as frequent illness, recurring infections, a persistently pale and pasty appearance, erratic mood swings, reduced appetite, lethargy, attention span etc. In hindsight, these common symptoms may also be a part of a much bigger issue and can be extremely challenging to manage in some individuals.

Food allergy happens to be a major concern in children and the prevalence has significantly increased over the last two decades, with a worldwide prevalence of 4%. In most of the cases,  the problem has been directly or indirectly linked to nutritional deficiencies.

Providing the required nutrients at every stage of the child’s growth is important not only for their overall development but also to support their daily energy requirements. As your child starts going to school and indulging in play and other activities, their body demands more energy which requires adequate nutrient intake. Hence, addressing their nutritional needs is extremely important to ensure physical, cognitive, and mental development. 

In order for a child to have optimal levels of brain and body development, it is essential to provide them with the necessary nutrition.

When discussing cognitive development, it is imperative to note the contribution of DHA, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid, that accounts for brain-healthy fats and helps maintain the structural integrity of the brain. It is mostly obtained from fish, beans, walnuts, and ghee.

Not only this, optimal nutrition is also important for your child’s physical well-being. Protein, for instance, is a vital macronutrient that is crucial for supporting your child’s muscle development. Protein is made up of 20 different amino acids. Out of these, only 11 are naturally produced by the body. The remaining 9 come from the food that you feed to your little one. 

There are research articles that prove that Vitamin D is an essential nutrient required for healthy bone and teeth development, especially in kids in the age group of 2-6 years of age, and when severely deficient, it can lead to rickets and growth retardation. Vitamin D is beneficial to build a healthy immune system and reduce the risk of infections. Also, due to its involvement in calcium absorption, deficiency of vitamin D has its effects on bone metabolism which could further lead to stunted growth. Hence, it is essential to meet the nutritional needs of Vitamin D.

Focus must be given to a balanced diet with essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, and fats along with vitamins and minerals in adequate quantities that meet the RDA.

Since childhood sees a spike in picky eating habits, which may result in inadequate nutrition of the child, fortified nutritious drinks such as Nangrow can help support the daily needs of essential nutrients. A balanced intake of all the essential nutrients is vital for your little one’s overall growth & development. Different children have varied nutritional needs and as such it is important to seek expert guidance to understand a parent’s role in supporting these nutritional needs.  

A well-nourished body is the foundation of a healthier tomorrow. Kindly share this article with your friends and family to raise awareness and understand the importance of nutrition.

Disclaimer - This blog is sponsored by Nangrow.
 

Source:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9134150/ 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article