When a child’s meal is not balanced or healthy, he or she may suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Here are some of the most common signs that will make you think about your child ’s health.
When I was pregnant with my twins, all that I had to remember was to eat well and not getting stressed. Having been told that everything the mother does or eats impacts your unborn child. Well, it’s true!! A woman’s nutrition intake during pregnancy affects the growth and development of her baby. While it is important to take care of your eating habits during pregnancy, it is also essential (the most essential) to pay attention to your kid’s dietary patterns after birth. In this article, we help you to understand different nutritional deficiencies in kids and the signs associated with them.
Nutritional deficiencies occur when your body is unable to absorb the essential nutrients sometimes even after consuming them. A major factor in the more industrialized countries of the world is “inappropriate diet” but a healthy and balanced diet is necessary for growth and overall well-being. Lots of kids aren’t particularly cooperative when it comes to eating, and some of them are downright picky. And these picky eaters often have a very limited diet which can lead to deficiencies, such as vitamin, iron, magnesium deficiencies
Believe it or not, nutritional deficiencies are extremely common in kids and sometimes the signs of nutritional deficiencies are not overly easy to predict. Most parents know that children need to eat healthy to stay healthy. But knowing exactly what nutrients they need is not always easy. Learning a bit more about vitamins and minerals can help ensure your kids are getting proper nutrition benefits. Before we talk about the behavioral signs of deficiencies, you should be aware of the common nutritional deficiencies and how it affects our system.
Nutritional Deficiencies In Kids
1. Iron Deficiency
The most common among nutritional deficiencies are iron inadequacy. Iron is found in every human cell, primarily linked with protein to form molecule hemoglobin which transfers oxygen from the blood to tissues. Iron is good for red and white blood cells, helps metabolism and muscle functions. Helps the body produce energy. Iron deficiency occurs from poor diet, vegan eating, high consumption of cow milk (before 2 years), and breast milk (after 6 months).
Signs of iron Deficiency in kids
- Fatigue and dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Cold hands, and feet
- Brittle nails
- Loss of appetite
- Repeated infections
- Vertigo
- Constipation,
- Dementia.
2. Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is an active compound synthesized by the body by sunlight. Vitamin D facilitates calcium absorption and helps the body absorb phosphate from certain foods to help optimize metabolism. Needs K2 for full effect, they work together to strengthen bones and improve heart health. Our body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium, without this vitamin, our immunity system gets affected.
Vitamin D is good for regulating proper bone and teeth development, muscle function prevents high blood pressure and excessive inflammation. As most of this vitamin source is animal-based, you are likely to have vitamin D deficiency if you follow a strict vegan diet. Also, the cause for this type of deficiency is lower exposure to sunlight, limited absorption of fat in the body due to lower gut functioning.
Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency in kids
- Soft bones or in extreme cases- Rickets
- Joint pain
- Muscle cramping
- Liver disease
- Tooth decay or unhealthy teeth and gum
- Low immunity system and poor growth.
3. Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron and also works as an immune defense. Vitamin C is essential for the normal function of blood vessels. Vitamin C helps in healing wounds, reducing cholesterol, and also helps the body eliminate toxins. Without Vitamin C, our bodies are prone to skin diseases.
