Mommy October 10, 2018

5 Things that ensure proper growth for your kid

During the early stages of growth, your child’s brain develops at a rapid pace and when they hit adolescence, their body follows. With these sudden growth spurts, it is important to prepare their bodies for the various changes and ensure they remain in the pink of health.

Here are five things to remember that will help with the proper growth of your kid:

1. Balanced diet: A balanced diet is imperative when it comes to a child’s growth. The nutrients present in food aid mental and physical development. Hence, a balanced diet has to incorporate all the essentials – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. But just including them isn’t enough; there has to be a balance, i.e. the proportions should be in accordance with their body’s needs.Approximately 50% of the total calories should come from complex carbohydrates, 10% from proteins, and 30% from unsaturated fats. Lean proteins are the preferable form of protein. Something else to consider incorporating into your child’s diet is green leafy vegetables that are rich in minerals such as potassium and iron. Avoid junk food as far as possible. While tasty, the detrimental effects they can have on the body, in the long run, are not worth it.
2. Uninterrupted sleep: The hormone somatotropin is responsible for the growth and development of your child. It is a protein hormone produced by the endocrine gland and is released in large quantities during sleep. Uninterrupted sleep is vital to a child’s growth. It’s recommended to use a good insect repellent such as Goodknight Neem Agarbatti to protect your child from disease-spreading mosquitoes. Nothing interrupts one’s sleep more than being bothered by mosquitoes.
3. Active lifestyle: Outdoor activities are important for the sustained growth of a child. When kids are active, a lot of factors come into play that helps them grow. Their muscles take ‘microdamage’, which the body repairs during sleep, leaving them stronger and bulkier than before. Playing outside also increases the circulation of blood, ensuring that every part of their bodies get the adequate amount of oxygen and nutrition. It is important to make sure that your kids participate in outdoor activities and don’t become couch potatoes.
4. Supplements: While most essential nutrients can be obtained from a proper diet, supplements, such as multivitamins, can also be a good idea. Supplements can help provide certain nutrients that aren’t available in sufficient quantities in a majority of food sources. They often supply some nutrients that even balanced diets fail to include.Calcium, for instance, is what our skeletal structure is made of and is needed in large quantities to support the rapid growth in children. And vitamin D3 helps the body digest calcium. Calcium supplements and vitamin D3 tablets/ liquid are readily available and are something you should consider taking advantage of.

1. Avoiding growth inhibitors: While junk food is harmful predominantly for weight-related health issues, it does not inhibit the growth of your child. However, things such as tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol do. So, you will need to make sure that your child is not exposed to these harmful substances. You may have to change your own habits in order to make that happen, as evensecond-hand smoke can be very harmful to a child’s respiratory system.

Of course, it’s always best to check with a pediatrician ordietitian about what works best for your child. Nonetheless, these simple tips will definitely aid the growth and development of your child.