Salt and Sugar: Small children are very delicate. 6 month old babies get complete nutrition from mother's milk only. Even after weaning, when they start eating small amounts of food, they should be given only healthy food.
But many times we feed our children what we eat and also add salt and sugar to their food for taste, so that they eat it well. But this is harmful for their health.
Do not give salt and sugar to children below 1 year of age.
Salt and sugar should not be given at all to children below 1 year of age. This can have serious effects on their kidneys, digestive system and heart. Therefore, children should be breastfed for one year and given healthy diet like khichdi, oats without sugar or salt.
After one year, salt and sugar can be gradually included in your diet. But according to the national dietary guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), only 5% of calories or sugar should be given to a child in the entire day.
Kidneys may get damaged
The child's kidneys are not fully developed. Till the age of one year, the kidneys of children are very small and weak. If salt is given to them during this period, it may put a burden on their kidneys. Salt puts more pressure on the kidneys and makes them work harder, the weak kidneys of children are unable to bear this pressure. It can harm the kidneys.
bones become weak
When children eat too much sugar, their body is not able to digest protein properly. Protein is very important for our body. It helps in keeping our bones, muscles and skin strong. When protein is not digested properly our bones and muscles become weak.
can harm eyes
Eating sugar also reduces the elasticity of our skin and blood vessels. Due to this, children's teeth may get damaged since childhood or their eyes may become weak. Therefore, children should not be given sugar at all. Sugarcane juice or honey is enough for them. Therefore, salt or sugar should not be given to children till 1 year.