The presence of fewer red blood cells is the main sign of anemia in children as well as adults, which decelerates the transportation of oxygen in the body. According to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, anemia in children tends to show up in form of lack of energy, headache, dizziness, irritation, and pale skin.
In case of iron deficient or vitamin deficient anemia in children, these symptoms can take a moderate to severe form, which can incapacitate these growing youngsters. To restore the energy levels as well as to combat the other symptoms, experts suggest a healthy diet for anemia in children. If your kid is suffering from anemia that features iron or vitamin deficiency, you must be well interested in knowing the anemia diet. So, let us check out the diet for anemia in children.
Foods Rich In Iron
The most common form of anemia in children is the one that feature iron deficiency. Therefore, having iron-rich foods in the diet for anemia in children is inevitable. According to the experts, iron is necessary for cell growth as well as oxygen transportation in people of all ages. For kids, the Office of Dietary Supplements says that those between 1 to 8 years of age need a daily intake of 7 to 10 mg of iron.
Moreover, it is advisable to have iron-rich foods rather than consuming iron supplements that can be sometimes fatal for the small ones. Therefore, you must offer foods such as iron-fortified cereals, kidney beans, lentils, soybeans, boiled spinach, dried fruits such as apricots and raisins, white breads, and whole wheat.
Fruits and vegetables are healthy for children with anemia, as items such as dark green leafy vegetables are rich in folic acid and other essential vitamins apart from iron. According to the University Of Maryland Medical Center, just a half cup of spinach, prune juice, or walnuts offers 2.4g, 5.5g, or 3.75 mg of iron in the body respectively.
Foods Rich In Vitamin B
In case of vitamin-related anemia, deficiency of folate as well as vitamin B12 is what one needs to eliminate. Experts are of the opinion that more intake of folic acid or folate can alleviate the signs of anemia in children. In fact, MedicinePlus says that vitamin B aids in generating red blood cells whose lacking is the major symptom of anemia.
Therefore, a healthy diet for anemia in children must include foods having vitamin B complex such as legumes, asparagus, and spinach. In addition, there are many child-friendly items such as crackers and breads that are fortified with over 25% of the daily required amount of folic acid.
Foods Rich In Vitamin C
Without vitamin C, the diet for anemia in children is incomplete. This water-soluble nutrient offer many benefits such as boosted immune system, increased formation of collagen for skin protection and smoothness (fighting the symptom of pale skin), and better absorption of iron. According to the experts, a daily intake of 250 mg of this vitamin increases the chances of iron absorption in the body.
Therefore, you can choose some children-friendly foods rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits, fortified breakfast cereals, strawberries, broccoli, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.
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