It cannot be said as to which of the human organs are more important than the other as nature has created each organ with its specific utility but eyes play an important role in human life. It is the organ which helps a human being to see the world and the learning process is also through the eyes and eyesight.

Common injuries in children are generally caused to the eyes during sports or when the kid is involved in such other activities. An injury to the eye can be caused by a hit on the eye or due to entry of some foreign body in the eye. Injury could also be caused due to chemical burns. All injuries are very painful and immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent deterioration of the eye sight. According to one survey about half of the cases of injury to the eyes which come to the hospital have injuries inflicted at home. It becomes the duty of the parents to be very particular about the health of the eyes of the child. In case of even a minor suspicion of injury to the eyes, the child should be taken to the doctor.

Following basic steps should be taken to prevent and manage common eye injuries in kids:

In case the child reports minor irritation in his eye sight, before touching the eyes for examination it is essential that the hands should be washed with soap and running water. Wash the hands of the child too as he will have tendency to touch the eyes due to irritation. In case you find something embedded in the eyes do not try to fiddle with it, remove if possible with the touch of an end of a cloth otherwise take the child to a doctor. You can also flush the eye with slightly warm water, pouring it in the open eye and observe if it has been washed off.

In case the foreign object does not flush out and you suspect it to be a piece of glass or metal do not touch the eye or apply pressure but take the child to the eye care practitioner or to a hospital. Do not panic yourself or panic the child.

Do not allow the child to play or fiddle with liquids which are of no concern to him. However many chemicals are available in the household and there is a possibility of the child fiddling with some of them. In case the child gets injured due to some liquid, immediately check the label on the packaging about procedure if any mentioned on it in case of accidental touch to the eyes. In the absence of instructions flush the eyes of the child with warm water and in the mean time call for emergency help or ambulance service. The emergency help may give some instructions which you should follow pending full medical aid.

Black eye is caused in case there is direct injury to the eyes of the child, however it could also be caused by head trauma. If there is no apparent direct injury to the eyesight of the child, a black eye can be treated at home. Apply ice packs for a few minutes with a gap of about 20 minutes between two applications. Continue ice pack for a day or two thereafter apply warm pack intermediately. The leaked blood will be absorbed by the body. Try to keep the head of the child above the body by giving him an extra pair of pillows and make the child lie down on the side on which there is no injury to the eye. In case of pain the doctor can suggest some anti-inflammatory medicine. In case the pain persists or redness increases or there is bleeding or the eye sight is affected plan an emergency visit to the doctor.

In almost all cases the injury to the eyes is curable if necessary steps are taken immediately after the child gets injured. Do not delay a visit to an expert doctor trying home remedies as the whole future life of your child could be affected if you are negligent. As your child grows up, make eye care a part of the safety instructions given to the child.

Common Eye Injuries in Children is a post from: MyChildHealth

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Dehydration means lack of adequate quantity of fluid in the body of a child. Dehydration could be caused in the child due to medical reasons like vomiting or diarrhea which results in loss of fluid and this could be associated with lack of intake of fluid from mouth. In addition to sickness the child may get dehydrated due to exposure to excessive heat which results in sweating without adequate replenishment of fluid. Small children and infants are more likely to get dehydrated fast as compared to adults as they lose fluids faster and replenishment process is also slow.

In case of kids and infants, viral infection is the main cause of dehydration. It is the main cause of vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination and high fever. When a child becomes sick there is a tendency to avoid intake of both food and fluid. It is also possible that the child may be suffering from some other problem like sores in the mouth which makes it difficult for him to swallow and he resists eating or drinking. The main thing to remember for the parents is that intake of fluid should be more than outgo due to any reason and the parents should be concerned if their child refuses to eat and drink for a long time.

When a child gets dehydrated he starts to display the following signs or symptoms:

• The child has sunken eyes i.e. the eyes of the child get smaller, sink and black circles start to develop around eyes.
• The frequency and quantity of urination decreases. This is also associated with urine turning yellow.
• Soft spot on the front of the head of the baby gets sunk.
• The child cries without tears in the eyes.
• The mucus membrane or the lining of the mouth or tongue give a dry look.
• The child is too lethargic and gets irritable.
• A child complains of abdominal pain or has high fever.

In case you notice any of the above symptoms or the child is continuously vomiting, an immediate visit to the doctor is necessary. In acute cases emergency treatment may also be required. When at the clinic of the doctor he will try to ascertain if the child is dehydrated and the possible cause. He may ask you to get the blood and stool tests done to ascertain and identify infection in blood, bladder or intestines.

Treatment

After ascertaining the cause he will suggest medicines. In case of milder dehydration the doctor will ask you to rehydrate the child by giving him oral sips of the rehydration solution. If the child is able to retain water he will be sent home. In case of moderate dehydration where the weight loss is about 5 to 10% of the body weight the child may be advised to be given fluid intravenously. After the child has been injected fluid and he takes fluid from the mouth and it is retained by the body, the doctor will send the child back home. In case of severe dehydration and if the body weight loss is more than 10%, the child may require injection of series of bottles of IV fluid and will be kept under observation for a longer time.

When back home after visiting the doctor, do remember to follow the instructions carefully and properly. This is essential for the health of your child.

Generally children get dehydrated due to viral infection which results in vomiting and diarrhea. When a child suffers from this disease it is essential that the process of replenishment of fluid lost be started immediately. There was a belief amongst old ladies that water should not be given if the child is suffering from diarrhea. This is a fallacy. Start administrating electrolyte or ORS solution which contains dissolved minerals, salt and sugar. These are available pre-packed at all medical stores. In case it is not possible to get this pack you can start with mixing one tea spoon of salt with equal quantity of baking soda and four spoons of sugar in one litre of boiled and cooled water. Start administering this solution spoon by spoon at regular intervals.

In case the child is more than two years of age you can give him flat soda drink, the child will like it and fluid intake will increase. When the vomits and motions stop you can start with a mixture of banana, rice, apples and toast. This will provide nutrition and starch to the child. If the child is being breast fed it should be continued during sickness.

Remember to start rehydration process the moment there is doubt of dehydration as it could have serious consequences on the vital organs and brain of the child.

Signs of Dehydration in Children is a post from: MyChildHealth

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Kids get most attracted towards what their parents are doing during the initial years of their life. They generally spend most of the time with their mom and follow her where ever she goes. A mother of kids spends a lot of time in the kitchen, making meals for the whole family. The child observes the activity being carried on by his or her mother and tries to follow her.

Due to this desire of learning or doing what his mother is doing, the child will follow her and try to imitate what she does. To prevent the child from interfering with the cooking process mothers often give some utensils to the child to play with when she is working in the kitchen.

As the child grows up her curiosity of how to do what her mom is doing will increase. This is the time to associate her in the cooking process in a way that her interest remains and she is also fully safe when touching the gas stove or other elelectrical appliances.

Cooking is a learning process

When the learning process starts, you are also expected to be cooperative with the child so that she is not unnecessarily discouraged. It is anticipated that when the child will start doing something she will make mistakes and create a lot of mess in the kitchen. Do not expect the child to be as neat and clean as you are. If the child is taught to break an egg she may not crack the shell but may hit it hard and break it altogether. Do not be harsh with her as this will discourage her for next work.

Be polite & cooperative

It is also possible that she makes a mess of something, thus increasing your work. Politely explain to her and tell her to clean up. If you use harsh words it is quite possible that the child may revolt and refuse to do the cleaning work. Properly and gently guide the child and ask her to do the thing again and again. Slowly she will move towards perfection and improve her skill. Never forget to compliment the child for good work done by her, serve it when the whole family is eating together and appreciate what she has made when the whole family is at the dining table.

When your child has reached the age when she is able to do something on her own that is the time to start proper training. To begin with ask the child to prepare something which is easy to cook with least number of ingredients. The child will be able to complete cooking in the shortest possible time and will retain interest in cooking work. Do help her where ever needed. Give her an easy recipe to work upon and supervise while she collects and measures the ingredients. In the alternative you could split the work between yourself and the child. She can be told to complete the easier part of cooking something and you doing the main work.

There are certain tasks in the cooking process which need to be done properly and it is possible that the child may not be able to do them properly, though being easy. Washing before cooking could be one aspect. Though this sounds easy but needs proper care, even if a small particle of dust etc is left while washing it will spoil the whole show, this part of the work needs to be done by you.

Do not try to involve your kid in cooking work when you are in hurry and want to rush through things. It will be better to involve her on weekends. The child should be fresh and should have rested after she is back from school. If the child is tired or has a desire to do some other thing she will get frustrated. While you are giving final touches to the cooked food you can ask your young daughter to lay the table. She will be pleased to do this work as she will get appreciation from the whole family for the work done to help her mom.

Safety first

Safety of the child is of prime importance. This aspect needs to be taught to her very carefully and properly. Before your child ventures into cooking, give her proper instructions about lighting of the gas stove, handling electrical appliances and also handling hot utensils or other objects. The foremost is teaching the child to handle sharp edged objects like knives etc. Teach the child about basic rules of working in the kitchen- the first rule being washing hands before starting the cooking process. In addition, properly ensure that the child knows that she is not to touch electrical appliance with wet hands or while standing on the floor bare foot.

Though these things may look difficult in the beginning but eventually you will find that the safety and cleanliness rules taught by you to your child will go a long way in her future life.

Cooking with Young Children is a post from: MyChildHealth

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Each and every activity undertaken by a child involves some level of stress and strain. The level of stress can be reduced to a great extent by following proper instruction and by taking breaks in between work. Computer is probably the latest addition of gadgets which keep the child involved for hours. This is a great source of learning and entertainment. The child can do his homework and accelerate the learning process by surfing the net and find new topics of discussion. During spare time he can indulge in computer games, which are quite addictive and generally involves long hours of the child sticking to the computer.

Long hours working on the computer does result in injuries to the child caused due to stress. In case proper care and precautions are not taken these could result in repetition of stress related injuries popularly known as repetitive stress injuries. These are caused when excess of stress is placed on some joints of the body due to repetition of a particular motion of one part of the body. This type of injury is generally caused by repeated motion of hand or other part of the body in the same sequence, often while playing computer games.

When a muscle is stressed especially at the joints repeatedly, the muscles get pulled. When this type of action is repeated, stress is caused resulting in irritated muscles. This results in different types of problems in different parts of the body. Some of them are:

The most common is swelling inside a tunnel that is formed between bones and ligaments of the wrist and other moving parts of the hand. This tunnel hinders the normal functioning of the nerves that causes motor impulses in the hand. The restriction of normal movement results in pain or numbness in hand.

Disc compression also quite a common problem with the kids who spend a lot of time on the computer. The disc of the neck gets compressed due to repetitive and identical movement of shoulders while working on the computer.

Other problems face by computer addicts are soreness of elbow joints, swelling of wrist and finger joints, loss of muscle control and painful hand muscles. In extreme cases where the injury to the muscles is repeated very often the tendons connecting the muscles to bones may tear off. These problems of repeated stress injury are not very common amongst kids and occur in rare cases.

Preventions

It is said that prevention is better than cure. The child should be thoroughly made to understand the preventive measures to be taken to avoid occurrence of injuries while he is on the computer.

• The child should sit straight while working on the computer. Generally it will be noticed that the child leans on one side or the other. Leaning on side or on the keyboard causes unwanted stress on neck and back. The excessive and continuous stress on the back and neck area leads to spinal injury. If the sitting pose is not corrected the injury gets repeated resulting in RSI.
• The sitting pose should be such that there is no stress on the shoulders and legs. The best pose is sitting straight with hands on the computer table and legs placed comfortably with feet flat on the floor or footrest. This way the pressure on the spine will be at a minimum.
• The kid should be taught to try to use the keyboard without exerting a lot of pressure. Lightly touching the keyboard is the best practice, this way both the ligaments of hands and arms and keyboard is saved. 90 degree angle should be maintained between wrist and elbows with fingers in one level. Hammering the keyboard hard is a major cause of injury to the ligaments due to continuous stress.
• The child should not spend long continuous hours on the computer. He should rest at least once in thirty minutes, may be for a few minutes. It will be better if the child goes out for cycling for a few minutes after being on the computer for one hour or so.
• Stretching and yoga exercises are best options for getting a break from computer related stress. These will help relaxing not only the muscles but also eyes.

Above all a proper chair, table, adequate light in the room and adequately lighted computer monitor screen will go a long way in preventing stress related injuries to your child.

Computer Repetitive Strain Injuries in Kids is a post from: MyChildHealth

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Winter is considered an enjoyable time by those who are fond of outdoor activities. Kids who wish to spend time doing outdoor activities look forward to winter months and wish to spend maximum time outdoors. However elderly people will think otherwise and will try to find cozy corners to enjoy a movie or a TV show.

The most common cold weather sport is skiing. Remember that this sport is both adventurous and interesting and although risky if an immature child tries his hand without proper training and escort to begin with. Too much exposure to snow or cold weather could result in skin rashes or even frost bites. Before your kid ventures out ensure that he is adequately covered. More layers of clothes are always better than thick and heavy clothes. Air trapped between layers act as insulating material. Moreover, if after some activity the child feels hot he can remove one or more layers.

In addition to the clothes ensure to make the child wear gloves, extra pair of socks, tight fit cap or hat and sunglasses to prevent glare of reflection of light from snow entering his eyes. In case of intense sunlight outside ensure that all the parts of body of the child are properly covered as light reflected from snow could cause sunburns. When going for skiing the child should be wearing all safety gadgets like knee, wrist and arm caps, helmet, goggles and other prescribed safety gadgets. Remember injury caused by snow or frost is far more painful as compared to normal injury.

If you live far away from snow clad mountains the whole family can plan a trip for a week end or even longer to some skiing destination. With advancement of communication system and internet facilities you can find out places at which the snow related activities are continuing. You can do travel and hotel booking online to avoid disappointment after reaching the spot. Once you are comfortable in the hotel the enjoyment will increase many fold. The guide in the hotel will be able to tell you about the ongoing activities and make booking and other arrangements for participating in them. Many hotels provide skiing kits on payment of rent.

Some of the activities available at the mountains covered with snow are:

Skiing amongst others this is an easy sport provided you have had proper lectures from the guide before actual trial. Training programmes are generally available at the resorts for beginners. You should also teach the child to be careful and not to act in a reckless manner as safety comes before enjoyment. The child should avoid steep hills when he is a beginner.

Once the child has tried his hand at skiing he can venture into cross country skiing. For this special types of long thin skis are used having shoes fixed to them. The special design of the shoes enables the skier to move up and down the hill with comfort. Start with flat or almost flat surface. Lot of exercise or movement of limbs is involved in skiing and the kid should be prepared beforehand. Those leading sedentary life may find it difficult to indulge in this activity.

Snowboarding is another snow related activity liked by the kids. This is also a skilful activity and needs to be carried out after strict learning process. Snow boards and other necessary gadgets are available on rent. If you have tried activity of snowboarding on water surface it will be easy to pick up on snow clad mountains.

The easiest snow related activity is snowshoeing. This is just walking, running and hiking on the snow covered mountains. The whole family can join in the activity of snowshoeing together. Snow shoes can be rented out from the hotel where you stay or from some shops nearby and can be strapped over your normal shoes. Ice skating and kids sledding in snow are also very popular winter sports among kids.

It will be a great fun time for the whole family being together and enjoying cold weather on the snow clad mountains.

Winter Sports for Kids is a post from: MyChildHealth

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During earlier times it was considered that cholesterol is an age related problem and starts to show when a person grows old. Now it has been found that many kids even in pre teen age are suffering from high or unwanted level of cholesterol in their blood.

Cholesterol is a wax like fatty substance produced by the liver. This substance is produced with the object of producing cells of the membranes of arteries and veins inside the human body which carry blood. Cholesterol is also responsible for formation of a number of hormones. Cholesterol can enter our blood stream and travel through arteries and veins through food we eat and also produced by liver. Those who eat lot of fatty food are more likely to suffer from the problem of excess of cholesterol.

Some of the products of nature which are rich in cholesterol are egg yolks, red meat, sea food and dairy products. As such doctors advise to drink skimmed milk. Cholesterol has broadly been classified into LDL and HDL. LDL or low density lipoprotein is bad cholesterol as it results in formation of plaque – a thick hard substance inside blood vessels. In case of it being excess than the required quantity it starts to deposit on the inner walls of arteries restricting flow of blood to heart or brain. With the obstruction of blood passage, in case of formation of blood clot its supply to brain or heart stops, resulting in stroke.

In contrast HDL or high density lipoprotein carries cholesterol away from arteries to liver for reprocessing and recirculation in blood vessels. HDL also helps remove plaque that has deposited in the arteries.

When a person is detected to be suffering from existence of high level of cholesterol the doctors advise him for brisk walking and other exercises which help burn excess fat. Since this disease of deposit of plaque is a slow process and the results are apparent after quite some time, it is essential to take proper care of the food your children eat so that their future life remains safe. Food rich in high fats, saturated fat and trans-fat should be avoided. These result in obesity which itself is a cause of high blood pressure. Care also needs to be taken in case of the kids whose parents suffer from high level of cholesterol.

What causes high cholesterol in children?

It is necessary to take proper and adequate care of your child to ensure that he is not suffering from this problem. Some of the precautions that could help your child in the long run are:

• In case one or both of the parents have been diagnosed of having high cholesterol blood test of the kid needs to be done. This test should be repeated every year.
• Avoid food rich in fat and trans-fat. Plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grain should be part of daily meals. Avoid excess consumption of meat products. Tofu and soya products are good.
• Before buying any pre cooked and ready to eat food products read the contents printed on packaging and avoid products having saturated fat and trans- fat. Be very careful in selecting fat used for cooking.
• Give your child low fat milk and other dairy products. Milk products like ice cream are very rich in fat. Though these cannot be prohibited for the children but can be avoided.
• Discourage your child from drinking soda or other drinks which have added sugar.
• Avoid fast food and junk food as it is made of refined stuff and has lot of fat and sugar added to make it tasty.
• Make a definite programme of exercise for the child. This should be strictly followed. Brisk physical activity should be for at least 60 minutes each day.
• In case the tests indicate high level of LDL cholesterol consult your doctor who will be able to suggest ways to reduce the instance of cholesterol in your child. If need be he will suggest some medicine.

Remember precautions taken during childhood will go a long way in your child leading a healthy life.

Prevent High Cholesterol in Children is a post from: MyChildHealth

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It is the desire of all parents to have a child who has optimum weight depending upon his height and body structure. In case the child is overweight, he may be vulnerable to many medical problems. If he is underweight, then too he could be suffering from medical problems and both cases needs medical treatment. It is said that being overweight or underweight could be due to an eating disorder but this also requires medical or psychological attention.

Ideal Weight: The question then arises as to what is the optimum weight. Optimum weight depends upon height and body structure. Doctors have developed a chart to estimate how much a child or any individual should weigh and a healthy weight range has been prescribed. Though this formula is applicable for both adults and kids but the calculation is more complex in case of kids as compared to adults. For kids, below 20 BMI is plotted on a chart to tell as to if the child is underweight, normal or overweight and recently another category of obesity has been added. Of course ideal weight is different for boys and girls. The weight index has been divided into percentiles. A child up to 85th percentile is healthy and in between 85 to 95 percentile is considered overweight and above is case of obesity.

Complete accuracy is necessary to measure BMI, estimations may be misleading. Generally doctors keep a record of BMI over a period of time and this could be on a yearly basis. During puberty period BMI may vary. Variation over a period of time is an indicator of the child moving toward obesity or getting underweight due to some reason. People with a larger frame and having muscular body may have a higher BMI so aberrations need to be considered in individual cases.

Having once ascertained the optimum weight your child should have next comes the turn of maintaining the weight of the child. Except in case of abnormal weight changes for no reason, consistent efforts will be of help. However medical attention may be necessary in some cases. The doctor will first of all try to ascertain the dietary habits of the child and extent of physical activity the child has. After this he will suggest a dietary chart or recommend the case to a dietician.

During puberty: Parents should also keep in mind the stage of growth of the child. They should not worry much for the abnormal changes which may take place during puberty. During puberty lots of hormonal changes take place in the body of both boys and girls. Hormones are released to aid develop sex organs of both boys and girls. These hormones also accelerate weight and height gain. These changes continue for many years until a kid reaches full height. During this time structural changes take place in muscles, bones and fat accumulation. Balanced weight gain should not be a cause of concern, however if there is abnormal weight gain corrective action should be taken at once in right earnest.

Excess of weight or obesity could be a cause of many health problems in kids which were not generally noticed in them and were considered to be diseases for adults. These are type 2 diabetes, a high cholesterol level, high blood pressure and heart related problems. Due to this reason we hear of heart attacks occurring in case of teens. This state of the body needs to be controlled. Especially in case of girls to look beautiful and have a lean body many girls start to skip meals and remain hungry for a long time. This also has an adverse effect on the health of the child. Instead of skipping meals the child should be encouraged to have a balanced diet accompanied with lot of physical activity.

Developing the habit of balanced diet and physical activity right from early childhood will go a long way in keeping the child healthy when he enters adulthood and later part of life.

Ideal Body Weight for Children is a post from: MyChildHealth

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With the advancement of medical science and increased pre and post natal care being taken, the moment when it is found about the existence of pregnancy the doctor suggests keeping full record starting from the first visit. Doctors make entry of development of foetus and child and continue to maintain records of all visits till the time of delivery.

This is basically the first record of medical history of the child and needs to be continued further. As per the medical researchers the first two to three years are a critical time for the development of the child and all later learning process depends upon this time. This is also the period when the child is advised to visit the doctor for routine and specialized medical check. An experienced medical expert will always keep a record of the visits and medicines suggested.

In case a child is taken to the emergency room of a hospital, the doctors attending upon him will not only like to know about the medical history of the child but will also ask for medical history of the parents. This is regarding medicines to which they may be allergic or medicines which have caused reaction earlier. Keeping all this in view it becomes essential to keep a complete record about the medical history of the child.

Post birth of the child, the first record book that is provided by the hospital to the parents is about the weight chart of the child at time of birth and at the time of leaving the hospital. This book also gives a detailed chart regarding immunization programme to be undertaken. When the child is taken for subsequent immunization this is necessary and the dispensary providing the services will make an entry in it. Similarly there are pages for recording weight of the child at regular intervals and medication provided by the attending doctor in case of sickness.

During early childhood infants get infected a number of times and this record is necessary to be maintained along with the particulars of medication provided. This information is especially important in case of adopted child in whose case the history and habits of biological parents is not known. This record provides early and ready information to the attending doctors in case of emergency when each second counts.

The record should comprise of information regarding the following matters:

• Allergies, in case the child is allergic to some medicine it should be clearly and predominantly mentioned in the record book. The child may be allergic to some medicine or atmospheric conditions or some food items. A ready record will enable the doctor to be careful while prescribing medicines for the current sickness.
• Earlier medication record will enable the doctor to know as to which medicines are safe for the child or medicines which can cause side effects. The doctor will also know about the medication given in recent time for some medical problem resulting in avoidance of over dose.
• Above all the doctor will be able to ascertain the frequency of illnesses faced by the child and the period during which he was sick and time taken for recovery. A full record of the diagnostic tests is very helpful to ascertain by the doctor about existence of diabetes or chronic deficiencies in blood or other tests.
• Particulars of earlier hospitalization and surgeries conducted on the child should also form part of the record.

In addition to the maintenance of proper record it is very essential that it should be kept handy and known to all members of the family. It should not be kept that safe that it is not traced at the time of need. Preferably a copy of the record should be kept on the top of the fridge and another copy in the car generally used by the family for traveling. A digital copy should be prepared and uploaded on the net by sending an e-mail to self. This mail can be retrieved at any time and at any place and attachment got printed if physical record is not handy any time. This mail could also be forwarded to the doctor to open the record on his computer.

Whenever you take your child to the doctor remember to carry this record with you and insist upon its updating. This will go a long way in the life of the child.

Personal Child Health Record is a post from: MyChildHealth

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With the ever increasing instances of obesity in children caused mainly due to improper food habits and lack of exercise, it is becoming a fashion statement to eat food which is low on carbohydrates. If you pick up some magazine you will find a number of advertisements eulogizing low carbohydrate food both for kids and adults. But it is certain that all humans do require carbohydrates, and an individual gets the supply from the food one eats. The human body breaks carbohydrates into sugar which is a source of energy for the body. Thus consumption of adequate quantity of carbohydrates is essential for healthy development of any child.

Carbohydrates can be classified into two main types. These are simple and complex carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates or simple sugar ordinarily consumed by a human. This is found in milk and fruits. It is always better to get the sugar requirement from these items instead of a lollypop which is also made of sugar. The advantage of milk and fruits is that these, in addition to sugar, contain vitamins, fiber, calcium and other nutrients essential for healthy development of a child.

Complex carbohydrates are derived from starches present in different items of food like bread, rice and crackers etc. While eating any grain it should be remembered to buy coarse grain like whole flour and non polished rice as the refining process removes fiber and nutrients from grain. Nutrients provide essential inputs to body and fiber provides a sense of fullness and aids a healthy digestive system. This is why a bowl of oatmeal is more filling than a candy even though it has a lesser quantity of sugar.

When a child eats carbohydrates his body breaks it up into sugar which is absorbed in the blood stream. As the stream reaches the pancreas, insulin is released and sugar is transferred from the blood stream to cells which become the source of energy for a human. When the process is fast you feel more and more hungry, as is the case with simple sugar. In case of complex carbohydrates the process of conversion is slow and the child has a feeling of fullness. In addition to the feeling of hunger as the process of conversion is slow and there is no rapid rise in sugar level, the chances of developing heart problem and diabetes are lesser in case of complex carbohydrates.

Thus one can conclude that all items of food which contain carbohydrates are not bad for a child, but excess of primary carbohydrates is bad. To make them tastier, junk food and fast food items are made from items rich in fat and carbohydrates. Excess of consumption of these items are bad for the health of the child as these could be a major reason of obesity.

Balanced diet is must

To enable the child to eat a balanced diet his food should contain whole grain cereals, whole grain bread, brown or unpolished rice, fruits and vegetables. Milk given to the child should also be skimmed before serving or in the alternative you can buy skimmed milk available in the market. In case of a child who is more than 2 years of age, as a thumb rule, more than 50% of energy requirement of calories consumed should come from carbohydrates.

Due to the sedentary life being led by children due to them being glued to TV and computer for long hours and consumption of fast food, rich in refined food and fat, the problem of obesity is spreading fast in the developed world. Due to this, in many countries sale of fast food has been banned in schools. This does not mean that the child should not consume sugar but excess of it in the form of candies and other items is bad. This gets dissolved in the blood stream immediately and raises the sugar level resulting in increased instances of diabetes in children. It is your duty to insist upon your child to eat fruits and vegetables, which in addition to sugar, will be a source of fiber and minerals for the child’s body.

These food habits developed in childhood will continue throughout the life of a child and he will lead a healthier life during adulthood and the best benefits will be derived when he becomes a senior citizen.

Importance of Carbohydrates for Kids is a post from: MyChildHealth

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5. Importance Of Renewable Energy For Kids

It is said that for healthy living, a person should eat at least three meals a day. For any person the first meal of the day is breakfast, this is followed by lunch and dinner. The gap between lunch and dinner is of a few hours, may be six to seven, but generally the difference between dinner and breakfast is about twelve hours.

The body needs energy to conduct its functions in a normal manner. This energy is derived by the body from the food we eat. The requirement of energy during morning time is more in case of children who generally to do a lot of running around when participating in games in school. Energy is consumed during studies also.

In case of the children suffering from obesity there is a general tendency to skip breakfast and eat only lunch and dinner. This is very dangerous for the health of the child. You can just imagine the time gap between dinner and next day lunch and the condition to which the body will be exposed without fresh supply of much needed energy.

Thus one can conclude that eating a healthy breakfast is essential for the child. Eating proper breakfast does have beneficial effect on the performance of the child at school. Children who eat a healthy breakfast have higher energy level and better learning ability as compared to those who skip breakfast or eat improper breakfast. Another study conducted on children reveals that those who have a healthy breakfast are more attentive in the class room. They earn higher grades and suffer less from emotional problems. You can conduct a test on yourself, if you eat proper breakfast you will be more energetic in office or at home.

Breakfast must be Nutritious

Breakfast should be full of nutrition and energy. It is not necessary to make heavy breakfast in the morning but the food should be balanced and have carbohydrates, fiber and protein. All these ingredients are necessary for the child to be active. Fiber provides fullness to the child and he or she does not feel hungry and think about food the whole day long. Fiber is also necessary for the healthy digestive system. Protein helps to convert carbohydrates into energy.

By slight innovation you can convert the leftover of last night into good and tasty breakfast for the child. For carbohydrates you should give your child whole grain cereals and brown bread. The rule should be that wherever possible whatever you eat be eaten without removing the outer crust. Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of carbohydrates and should be part of breakfast. To enable the child to get adequate quantity of protein serve one egg which is a good source of protein. Similarly meat and nuts are rich in proteins. These should form part of breakfast. The third essential ingredient is fiber. It is present in brown rice, whole grain wheat bread and other grains. Vegetables are a rich source of fiber.

You can make a variety of preparations for breakfast which are not time consuming and will not only be liked by the child but the whole family. Custard with fruit and nuts, cooked egg in one form or the other, peanut butter or cheese on bread slices, could be some items of breakfast. These days a vast variety of breakfast cereals are available in the market. You can buy one for the child. These are balanced and provide full inputs. Yogurt is good for the stomach and is rich in protein and the child can eat a cup of yogurt and fruit or vegetables with a slice of whole grain or multigrain bread.

In case of time constraint on some day, you can at least give your child a glass of milk with a banana and some other fruit. Do not make this a habit as it is your duty to bring up your child whom you love so much, well. Refueling the child is essential before sending to school.

Importance of Breakfast for Kids is a post from: MyChildHealth

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