How to properly supplement micronutrients for children?
(Baonghean.vn) - Micronutrients are substances that the body only needs in very small amounts but play an important role. When there is a lack of micronutrients, it will lead to serious effects on the body, especially young children. Micronutrients include vitamins (A, B, C, D, E...) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc...). These substances are abundant in foods of animal and plant origin.
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| Iron deficiency causes anemia -This is a common condition in children. When anemic, children have pale skin, are less active, and often suffer from respiratory infections and infectious diseases... Iron is supplied to the body from animal foods (beef, egg yolks, heart, liver, testicles, fish...) and plant foods (beans, green leafy vegetables, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms...). To increase iron absorption, eat fruits that provide a lot of vitamin C. |
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| Rickets in children is mainly due to vitamin D deficiency.When there is a lack of vitamin D, it will reduce calcium absorption in the intestine, the body will mobilize calcium from the bones into the blood, causing a disorder in the bone mineralization process. Children with rickets often have restless sleep, hair loss, and slow tooth growth. Foods rich in calcium: shrimp, crab, fish, milk, amaranth, Malabar spinach...; Vitamin D is abundant in fish liver oil, sea fish, liver, chicken eggs, cereal powder, milk... |
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| When the body lacks iodine,The thyroid gland works harder to synthesize more thyroid hormones, so the thyroid gland enlarges, causing goiter. Children with iodine deficiency have slow intellectual development, slow growth, slurred speech, poor learning, and may be mentally retarded. The iodine requirement in children is about 90 - 120mcg/day. Foods rich in iodine are sea fish, seaweed, watercress, algae... |
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| Zinc plays an important role in growth,immunity, helps the body metabolize energy, and form tissues. Zinc deficiency causes children to have reduced resistance, often get infectious diseases, malnutrition, and slow growth in height. Zinc requirements for young children are 5 - 6mg/day. Foods rich in zinc: egg yolks, clams, mussels, eels, snails, radishes, soybeans... |
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| Vitamin Aplays an especially important role for young children, helping them grow and develop normally. When lacking vitamin A, children grow slowly, are prone to infections, respiratory infections, corneal ulcers, leading to blindness. Foods rich in vitamin A: meat, liver, eggs, milk, eel...; green vegetables, yellow and red fruits (gac fruit, carrots, pumpkin, mango, papaya). |
