As we all know, children's height is not only affected by their parents' genetics, but also related to acquired factors, especially diet and nutrition.
Tongtong next door is half a year older than my baby, but his height is a lot shorter.
During the May Day holiday, Tongtong's family took him to the hospital for examination, and the results showed that Tongtong was not only short, but also had a lot higher blood pressure and blood sugar.
The reason turned out to be "eating too well".
Tongtong's family is a restaurant, every day after school in the store to eat, sweet and sour pork ribs today, boiled meat slices tomorrow, almost every day is a high-salt, high-sugar and high-fat diet, every other day to drink a drink.
Pediatricians say that children should not only eat and drink well and get adequate and balanced nutrition, but also develop good eating habits, and it is best not to add too many condiments.
Especially the following 4 kinds, eating more may "steal" the child's height, and parents must add less when cooking.
01. Table salt
Too much salt intake will not only cause the body to retain water, increase the burden on the heart, affect kidney function, but also increase the occurrence of high blood pressure, affect the health of blood vessels, and then affect the growth of bones.
There are also research data showing that too high sodium in the human body will affect the absorption and utilization of calcium.
Therefore, whether it is for growth or health, do not give your child too much salt.
The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022) recommends that adults should not consume more than 5 grams of salt per person per day; The intake of children aged 2-3 years does not exceed 2 grams; Children aged 4-6 years do not exceed 3 grams; Children 7-10 years old do not exceed 4 grams.
PS: Parents should also pay attention to some processed foods that contain sodium, and if you eat too many foods that contain sodium, you should reduce your salt intake.
In order to avoid children consuming too much table salt, parents can control it in 4 ways:
1. Reduce the amount of salt added when cooking, and try to give children lighter food.
2. Avoid giving your child processed foods and fast foods, which are often high in sodium.
3. Read food labels to understand the sodium content of foods and control how often and in what quantities your child eats them.
4. Prepare your child with potassium-rich foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, as potassium can help the body eliminate excess sodium.
02. Sugar
Excessive sugar intake will increase the occurrence of dental caries, obesity, hyperglycemia, cardiovascular disease and other problems, which will not only affect the child's appearance and health, but also affect the secretion of growth hormone, which in turn will affect the child's height growth.
In general, it is not recommended to eat sugar before the age of 2 years. For them, it is more important to taste the food as it is. There are also specific suggested numbers for older children and adults.
The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016) pointed out that to control the intake of added sugars, it is recommended that residents consume no more than 50g per day, preferably below 25g, to avoid the occurrence of obesity and dental caries.
In daily life, parents need to pay attention to sugar intake, not only to let their children eat less sugar, but also to pay attention to "invisible sugar". For example, salad dressing and ketchup are very high in sugar, and parents should not only add less sugar when cooking, but also add less high-sugar condiments such as salad dressing and ketchup.
03. Grease
Especially some saturated fats and trans fats.
Excessive fat intake can make children gain weight and increase the risk of heart disease and obesity.
Obesity can also affect growth hormone secretion and cause the growth plates to close prematurely, affecting the child's final height.
For children, vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids, such as olive oil, peanut oil and sunflower oil, are more conducive to healthy development.
Like salt and sugar, children of different ages have different oil needs.
Children aged 1-3 years old need 5-15 ml of oil per day (note that this is a total of three meals, do not eat one meal);
Children aged 3-6 need about 20 ml of oil per day;
Children over the age of 6 need 25-50 ml of oil per day, which can be slightly adjusted according to the child's eating habits and activity level.
Remember, don't use oil as a snack for your child, often give your child some fried and puffed food, and pay attention to the freshness of the oil and avoid eating spoiled oil.
04. Coke
I have to say that the mainland's diet is broad and profound, and even cola can be used for cooking. My children have been very fond of Coke chicken wings for a while, and I let my grandmother make them every once in a while.
Although cola chicken wings are delicious, they should never be eaten regularly.
Not only does it increase the occurrence of obesity and dental caries, but the phosphoric acid in it will also react with calcium in the human body, resulting in a large loss of calcium, affecting the height and health of children.
In addition to cola, there are also some condiments rich in additives such as pigments, preservatives, artificial flavors, etc., and they should also be used sparingly when cooking, otherwise it is likely to affect the overall health and metabolism of the child.
Finally: To ensure the healthy growth of their children, parents should encourage their children to follow a balanced and healthy diet. Reduce the excessive intake of these spices while ensuring adequate nutritional intake, including protein, vitamins and minerals.
[The picture comes from the Internet, invaded and deleted]