Back to Basics: The Most Important Nutrients For Your Growing Child

Like all parents, you want your children to have every advantage in life, and it usually starts with the basics. As such, ensuring they receive all the necessary nutrients for exceptional physical and mental growth helps them live a healthy life during their formative years.

The nuances of nutrition can be stripped down, so you can target which kinds of foods are beneficial for them and which they enjoy. The best foods for all genders and ages are generally found in nature. Through implemented techniques, make sure your child is supplied with the right nutritional foods or natural supplements. Here is a list of the most important nutrients and bio-compounds for your growing child:

Calcium

Calcium is important for the growth of strong and resilient bones and helps lessen the risk of bone fractures and breaks. It is also beneficial, as it positively contributes to healthy blood clotting, development of nerve muscle and increased heart function.

Additionally, calcium supports the healthy growth of teeth. In a child’s early stages, even dental experts like this family dentist mobile AL often recommend including calcium-rich foods in their diet. Some good sources of this nutrient include dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well as egg yolks, broccoli, and spinach. If your child is lactose-intolerant, you can easily find calcium-fortified alternative milks and juices at most health food stores.

Iron

Iron, the nutrient that amps up the production of healthy blood cells, wards off fatigue and blood-related conditions like anemia. It will also increase your child’s energy and focus, as the iron-fueled blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. This is especially important for your children if they play sports on a regular basis.

Red meat, liver, poultry, shellfish, whole grains, beans, nuts and iron-fortified cereals provide a sufficient amount of this energizing nutrient.

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are plant-based nutrients found in colorful fruits and vegetables that help prevent disease and regulate many functions of the body. They are broken down into subcategories of carotenoids, ellagic acid, flavonoids, resveratrol, glucosinolates and phytoestrogens. The antioxidants provided by phytonutrients tackle harmful free radicals that can have a negative effect on your child’s bodily tissues. In the meantime, their compounds can be converted into important vitamins that bolster your child’s immune system.

You can utilize phytonutrient supplements from Amway’s Nutrilite Kids line of nutrient supplements.

Fiber

Fiber keeps the body’s digestive system in working order and helps regulate your child’s bowel movements, which reduces the risk of diseases. In addition, fiber is not absorbed or digested like other foods, but instead quickly passes through the digestive tract and removes harmful carcinogens from the body. A healthy digestive system lessens the likelihood of adult heart disease, diabetes, weight gain and cancer. It also enhances your child’s energy and immune system.

Recommended fiber consumption ranges from 20 to 35 grams per day. Fibrous foods include, whole-grains, chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is essential for your child’s growth, vision, skin and immune system. It’s known as retinol, because it helps produce pigments in the retina of the eye, allowing for good vision in all types of light. In addition, Vitamin A helps the heart, lungs and kidneys function properly. There are two varieties of Vitamin A:

• Preformed Vitamin A:found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products
• Provitamin A:found in fruits, vegetables and other plants

Carotenoids found in plant food, like beta-carotene, can turn into vitamin A. Foods rich in beta-carotene have the largest concentration of this nutrient. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that protects the cells from damage of free radicals and reduces the risk of cancer.

These foods include, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, apricots, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, fish oils and egg yolks.