Nutritional deficiencies in children – how to prevent them

One of the main nutritional problems in children is the deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are the main nutrients for the formation of the nervous system from intrauterine life and play a crucial role in anti-inflammatory functions, being, therefore, of great help against a wide variety of chronic diseases. Its main natural sources are:

• Fish
• Seafood
• Seaweed and sponges
• Organic eggs

However, the deficit of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA occurs not only because these foods are consumed in very little quantity (which should be consumed at least 12 servings a week), but because too many omega-6s are consumed, the which have opposite (inflammatory) effects. This large amount of omega-6 is mainly due to flours (regardless of type) and vegetable oils such as canola, soy, sunflower and corn.

It is therefore necessary to maintain the constant consumption of the foods mentioned initially and reduce the sources of omega-6 mentioned, or better yet, change them to other more balanced and healthy sources such as green vegetables.

Omega-3s also benefit visual health by nourishing and regenerating the optic nerves and reducing inflammation of the eyeball. The omega-3 deficiency can be reflected in the deterioration of visual health, both in infants and adults.

Look around you: how many known family members (children or adults) wear glasses and how many don’t? The statistics of visual problems today are alarming, it already seems “normal” that even young children need glasses. Apart from the use of mobiles and tablets, deficiencies like this are responsible as well.

The lack of magnesium is perhaps the most important deficiency in the world regardless of age. Its main natural sources of consumption are green vegetables, nuts, legumes and dark chocolate. However, as we well know, children are not used to consuming these foods (and they are even encouraged not to, without people realizing it) and this produces a large number of alterations, since magnesium intervenes in a huge number of cellular processes.

The lack of magnesium also produces problems in the assimilation and retention of calcium in the bones, thus contributing to osteopenia or growth problems in children and young people. The reduction of sweets and refined sugars is another change to consider, since these sweets alter the microbiota or intestinal flora, which biochemically influences food preferences and the ability to assimilate these minerals.

The lack of vitamin D is another very important deficiency globally. The Vitamin D is obtained through fish, shellfish and seaweed, but that operation is activated, the child must be exposed to the sun, at least 15 minutes a day. Other news that may surprise you is that the use of sunscreen prevents this activation, but remember that we are not talking about exposing your child or the child, but a maximum hour.

Vitamin D in sufficient quantity allows:

• A better mood (winter depression in children and adults is explained by this).
• Better bone development.
• Better absorption of calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients in the small intestine.
• It keeps the skin healthy and reduces the possibility of allergies and rashes.

Therefore, if a child has apathy, growth problems, high concentrations of calcium in the urine and / or breakouts on the skin, check the possibility of this deficiency and take the pertinent measures already indicated.

The vitamin B12 or cobalamin is vitamin energy and is sufficient in meat animals grazing and organically grown well in fish. Consuming processed meats reduces the levels of this vitamin in it and the body’s ability to absorb it properly. In the following FastlyHealarticle we show which foods are rich in vitamin B12 .

Vitamin B12 is also crucial during the gestational stage. She plays a leading role in the formation of the fetus’s organs, so a vegetarian diet is dangerous during pregnancy, in addition to not providing enough omega-3, which, as we indicated above, has other crucial benefits during pregnancy. stage.

The consumption of gluten also hinders the absorption of this vitamin and other nutrients during pregnancy by the fetus, so its consumption should be limited so as not to lose investment in the nutrition of the little ones.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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