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Taking care of children to develop healthy comprehensively is always the top goal of parents. However, in the process of raising many children, stunted and anorexia appeared, causing many parents to worry about whether the baby was zinc deficient and how to solve it.
1. What is Zinc?
Zinc is an important and necessary element for human growth and development. This element helps our body strengthen resistance, increase absorption of substances as well as support the transport of minerals to the body. Zinc is absorbed into the human body mainly through two main branches, the small intestine and the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Great benefits of zinc for stunted children with anorexia
A few great benefits of zinc for the child's body can be mentioned as:
Not providing the necessary amount of zinc for the child's body will make the child always feel tired and the risk of infection in the child is also increased. . Adequate supply of zinc will help calcium be transported in the body easily and help the baby stay comfortable, mentally stable and happy (calcium is one of the substances capable of regulating nerve stability). Having zinc in the daily menu will help children feel more appetizing, their taste and smell will also be developed. Thanks to that, the baby will eat enough nutrients and help a lot for the development of height and intelligence of stunted anorexic children. In addition, providing enough zinc will help your baby's digestive system work well and avoid many diseases such as diarrhea.
3. What are the symptoms of zinc deficiency in children?
With great benefits as above, if parents do not ensure enough nutrients in their children's diets, it will be easy for children to be zinc deficient. Children with zinc deficiency often have the following symptoms:
Digestive diseases: constipation, diarrhea, anorexia,... Physical retardation: slow weight gain, limited height, impaired growth Nutrition,... Brain disorders: the baby is often irritable, has trouble sleeping, doesn't sleep deeply,... Other symptoms: weak, brittle hair, appearance of "grain of rice" on the nails, slightly dry skin And the wound takes a long time to heal...
4. How many mg of zinc a day for babies is enough?
The addition of adequate nutrients, neither excess nor deficiency is always one of the things that mothers must note. If the baby lacks zinc, the physical and intellectual development will be affected. On the contrary, if you have too much zinc, it will easily cause discomfort, fatigue as well as affect the health of the baby's body.
The amount of zinc required by age can be referred to as follows:
Children from 7 months to 3 years old is 5mg/day Children from 4 to 13 years old it is 10mg/day Adults will take about 12mg/day for adults. For women and 15mg/day for men For women who are in pregnancy, supplement 15mg/day. Women after giving birth for the first 6 months need 19mg/day. Postpartum mothers from 6-12 months need 16mg. /day is enough. In each zinc supplement, the human body can only absorb a moderate and sufficient amount of about 5mg/day. If standard and ideal conditions are met, it can be up to 33%.
5. Zinc-rich foods should be added to your baby's menu
According to scientific studies on children's nutrition, zinc supplements need a variety of sources. Therefore, mothers with stunted children with anorexia should not only be interested in using zinc supplements, but instead should alternately supplement with foods and fresh whole foods. Zinc is easy to find in foods from animals and plants such as:
Seafood: Zinc often occurs in shellfish such as oysters, mussels, crabs, scallops, shrimp, ... However before When feeding children, do not forget to process them clean and well cooked. Meat: Not only is it a rich source of protein, but meat also contains a large amount of zinc, especially red meat. When processing, mothers should only use a small amount because the baby's digestive system is still weak. Plants: Always a source of nutrition trusted by mothers because it not only contains a lot of zinc and essential minerals, but also is very benign and safe. Plants containing a lot of zinc include legumes, dried seeds, nuts, vegetables,... Notes when supplementing with zinc for stunted children, anorexia
Before supplementing with zinc for babies, mothers should seek advice from a pediatrician. Avoid arbitrarily buying zinc to supplement for your baby, it will be very easy for your baby to have too much zinc and be harmful to health. Particularly for children under 6 months of age who have not yet eaten solid foods, mothers only need to give them enough breast milk to provide enough zinc. In order for the baby to develop comprehensively, mothers should not focus too much on zinc but forget about other essential nutrients such as vitamins D, B1, B12, C, A,... The improvement of children's symptoms of anorexia This can happen for a long time, so it is recommended that parents be calm and persistent when supplementing with nutrients, even through food or functional foods. In particular, the use of functional foods should choose those of natural origin that are easily absorbed, do not allow children to use many types at the same time or continuously change the types of functional foods.
It is best when there is a situation of stunted children with anorexia, mothers should coordinate with a pediatrician to create a nutritious menu, enough zinc for the baby to help them develop comprehensively in each age.
In addition to nutrition, parents should supplement children with supporting products containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet nutritional needs. substances in children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well. Parents can simultaneously apply dietary supplements and functional foods derived from nature for easy absorption. The most important thing is that improving your baby's symptoms often takes a long time. The combination of many types of functional foods at the same time or continuously changing many types in a short time can cause the baby's digestive system not to adapt and completely not good. Therefore, parents must be really patient with their children and regularly visit the website vimec.com to update useful baby care information.