Fruit for children: features, benefits and harms

Fruits, vegetables, berries - this is what is necessary for any body, especially for children. These products are rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements. However, despite all the benefits, sometimes fruits can cause harm to the body, especially if you eat imported off-season products. After all, they are treated with various chemicals in order to maintain their attractive appearance and shape during transportation. About what fruits are best for children, we will talk further.

About the harm and benefits of fruit

Since childhood, most people hear the undeniable truth that fruits are extremely beneficial for the body, especially for children. Undoubtedly, these products are very useful, but sometimes they can also cause harm to health.

The benefits of fruit:

• most fruit varieties consist of at least 80% of water;
• they contain few calories. The exception may be grapes and bananas. But they are rich in a variety of vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium and valuable fiber, which helps to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, remove toxins and toxins from the body;
• fruits help to strengthen the immune system, improve brain function, give the child strength and vigor.

However, eating only fruit alone will not bring any benefit. On the contrary, there is a high probability of allergic reactions, especially when abusing citrus and exotic fruits, GI disorders, metabolic failure. The child may begin to complain of general malaise, weakness, skin problems. Therefore, fruit is a supplement to the main diet, but not a replacement for it.

In addition, many producers use a variety of pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers to improve the marketable appearance, accelerate growth and increase the shelf life of fruits. All this leads to an increase in nitrates in the fruit and, as a consequence, harmful to children's health.

Do not buy fruits out of season in supermarkets. It is better to give preference to natural products grown by familiar farmers, or, for example, those sold in markets. Ideally, you should eat foods that have been grown in your own garden.

At what age can fruit be added to the diet?

Naturally, not from the first day of life of the baby. The unstrengthened stomach can perceive at this time only the mother's milk or at most special artificial mixtures that replace breast milk.

To the basic diet, fruits are added gradually starting from 8-9 months of life of the baby. You should start with ½ teaspoon of processed fruit puree. Further, when the baby's teeth begin to erupt, it will be possible to introduce into the diet of fruit, cut into small pieces.

In no case should you give your child strong allergens, such as:

• citrus fruits;
• pomegranates;
• cherries;
• currants;
• strawberries, etc.

Too early consumption of such products can lead to digestive disorders and allergies. It is better to add such fruits and berries to the basic diet in the second year of life of the baby or even later.

About exotic fruits

Now that trade channels for the exchange of goods not only between cities, but also between countries are widely developed. Many families can afford a vacation in new countries for themselves together with small children. They need to be especially careful about nutrition.

Children's body, which has not yet had time to get used to the local food, certainly will not withstand a variety of exotics in the form of mangoes, papayas, lychees and other fruits of tropical resorts. For the baby acquaintance with the original cuisine of other countries can be a serious test, the appearance of rashes in which will be the most harmless manifestation.