Here's Why your Child Needs Iron, Zinc and Vitamin C in his Diet

Ever noticed your normally perky child becoming sluggish by mid-day? It’s likely because he’s not getting his daily fill of nutrients to replenish the vitality lost to everyday activities and stress (yes, a child is prone to experience stress too!).

Nutrients, in a nutshell, are essential components present in food that provide energy, structural materials, and regulating agents to support growth and repair body tissues. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals needed by the body in small doses for a variety of benefits. Three of them—Iron, Zinc, and Vitamin C—are especially important in replenishing your child’s lost vitality. If a growing child does not have enough of these vitamins and minerals in his system over a prolonged period, he may be at risk of suffering from micronutrient deficiency (MND).

Here now are six ways Iron, Zinc, and Vitamin C can sustain your child’s nutrient intake:

1. Iron helps transport oxygen.
Hemoglobin, the red blood cells responsible for bringing oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, is practically made up of Iron. Deficiency in Iron causes anemia, the symptoms of which are weakness, fatigue and lower/poor performance in school.  

Iron deficiency is the most common form of nutritional deficiency. Its prevalence is highest among preschool children.¹ 

2. Iron keeps hair, nails, and skin healthy.
Does your child have brittle nail and hair? How about pale, dull skin? These are common clinical signs of Iron deficiency. Make sure to incorporate Iron-rich food such as red meat, fish, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and tofu to your child’s diet to maintain the strength and shine of his hair and nails, and the natural glow of his skin. This way, he is healthy inside and out.

3. Zinc boosts the immune system. 
Just a small amount of this mineral is enough to work its magic in the body. Zinc is important for a healthy immune system, promoting healthy growth during childhood and healing of wounds.

To up your kid’s immunity against infections and diseases, fortify his diet with food rich in Zinc, such as beef, baked beans, whole grains and shellfish.   

4. Zinc is good for the brain.
These days, school work and extra-curricular activities demand so much more from kids, which is why they get physically and mentally drained at the end of the day. One of Zinc’s functions is facilitating smooth communication among neurons. Incorporating Zinc into a child’s diet contributes to normal cognitive function.  

5. Vitamin C protects against common colds.
Vitamin C helps build your child’s defense system to ward off the sniffles. Cantaloupes, oranges, broccoli, red cabbage, green and red peppers, and tomato juice are significant sources of Vitamin C. 

6. Vitamin C aids in better absorption of Iron.
Not only does Vitamin C protect your child from the flu, it also multi-tasks to do other things; for instance, the body can more easily absorb Iron if there’s an abundant supply of Vitamin C. 

Be proactive in giving your child the nutrients his developing body needs to avoid micronutrient deficiency. 

In addition, make it a habit to let your child drink BEAR BRAND Powdered Milk Drink, an easy and affordable way to replenish his nutrients and let him have Tibay Resistensya Nutrients every day. 

Sources:

 1. Stevens GA, Finucane MM, De-Regil LM, Paciorek CJ, Flaxman SR, Branca F, Peña-Rosas JP, Bhutta ZA, Ezzati M. Global, regional, and national trends in haemoglobin concentration and prevalence of total and severe anaemia in children and pregnant and non-pregnant women for 1995-2011:  a systematic analysis of population-representative data.  Lancet Global Health.  2013;1:e16-25. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations to Prevent and Control Iron Deficiency in the United States. 

Internet  http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/langlo/PIIS2214-109X(13)70001-9.pdf
Accessed: May 13, 2015

2. Shankar AH and Prasad AS.  Zinc and Immune Function: The Biological Basis of Altered Resistance to Infection. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;68 (suppl):447S-63S

Internet: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/68/2/447S.long 
Accessed: March 27, 2015