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It is well known that micronutrients like vitamins and minerals are essential for a child's general growth and development. What is now evident is these micronutrient deficiencies can also lead to critical illness. If the child's diet is primarily plant-based and lacks animal sources of protein, that can lead to a vitamin B12 shortage, which can cause serious sickness in young infants if left untreated. General health of a child can be greatly influenced by simple vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, vitamin D, and others. So it is important to know how to optimize these micronutrients in a child's diet during their developing stage of life.
Importance of Micronutrients
Dark metal, iron has a significant impact on a child's growth, primarily by influencing the number of red blood cells. Less iron will lead to less blood production, which leads to anaemia, causing the child to appear pale, tired, and underperforming. However, iron also has a significant impact on a child's IQ, cognitive ability, and brain development as well. Even before haemoglobin levels drop, iron has an effect on a child's brain development and cognitive ability. Undiagnosed low iron levels might affect a child's memory and cognition as well. Iron is richly found in dark green and red foods like ragi, dates, raisins, almonds, spinach, and other greens and red meats. Iron absorption can be improved by adding a small quantity of vitamin C in the form of fruit juice, spinach, lemon juice, etc. Iron syrups are also sometimes prescribed by paediatric Intensivist specialist in Yeshwanthpur but it is vital to avoid taking iron syrups simultaneously with food; there should always be a gap between the food item and the iron syrup.
The two other prevalent deficiencies are calcium and vitamin D, both of which are found in milk and milk products, as well as in fish and eggs. Additionally, zinc is a crucial mineral that is found in animal products like egg yolks which is essential for the growth and development of a child's immune system. Hence, it is recommended to add all the necessary components to the child's plate for a healthy diet.
Measures to Follow
Since the typical Indian diet lacks iron, it is needed to figure out how to improve the iron content of our diet. Iron is a dark metal; hence, it is primarily found in foods that are dark in colour, such as dark green, red, and brown vegetables and fruits. Usually, idli, dosa, rice, milk, etc., are highly consumed on a daily basis, none of which contain iron. Instead, choose foods that are high in iron, such as dark green leafy vegetables, pulses like rajma, millets like ragi, red meat, dates, almonds, and raisins. Along with that, it is crucial to provide deworming medications frequently to the child because these little worms in the intestine consume necessary minerals, particularly iron, and make the child sick.
It is recommended while providing dietary treatment in Yeshwanthpur, that a child's diet should consist of five nutrients in the right proportions. Specifically, half of the plate should be fruits and vegetables, and a quarter of the plate should be grains like rice, ragi, wheat, etc. It's crucial to make at least half of the grains as whole grains or millets like ragi, jawar, brown rice, whole wheat, and maze, which is the first ingredient to be included in the plate. Proteins, which are known as the building blocks that support the development of the muscles and bones, are the second component that has to be present in one-fourth of a plate's quantity, such as legumes and some pulses, like dhal. The third and fourth components are fruits and vegetables, with half of the space on the plate dedicated to fruits and vegetables in any form. Dairy is the fifth ingredient that needs to be added to the plate. By adding as much colour to the plate as possible in the right proportions, these five components, which both work as macro- and micronutrients, can improve the diversity of vitamins and minerals. So, instead of keeping the plate white, it is advised to make a rainbow.
Consultant - Paediatric Intensivist
Manipal Hospitals, Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
