Just In
- 4 hrs ago Aditi Rao Hydari Marries Siddharth, Exploring Heeramandi Star's Ethnic Style Statements, Bookmark Now!
- 6 hrs ago Solar Eclipse 2024 Date And Time: Will It Be Visible In India? When And Where To Watch It, Deets Inside!
- 8 hrs ago Balenciaga Tape Bracelet: Is It Worth Spending A Bomb On Adhesive Looking Accessory? Know Our Take!
- 11 hrs ago In China, GenZ Workers Are Ditching Formal Attire For Pyjamas, Know The Reason Behind This
Don't Miss
- News Karnataka Weather Alert: At 37.9 Degrees Celsius, Bengaluru Urban Records Hottest March Day In Past 7 Years
- Automobiles Xiaomi SU7 Electric Car Launched – May End Apple Inc.
- Movies Aadi Celebrates 22 Years. Here Are 5 Reasons To Watch Jr. NTR's Film
- Finance 2 Tata Group Stocks To Buy: Brokerages Give Buy Call After Big Updates, TP Rs 640- Rs 9,000
- Sports Rishabh Pant becomes first player to play 100 matches for Delhi Capitals: Check Top Five List
- Technology HONOR Pad 9 With Bluetooth Keyboard Up For Grabs At Rs 22,499 in India
- Education RSMSSB Junior Instructor Recruitment 2024; Apply online for 2500 Posts, Check out for more details
- Travel Explore Tamil Nadu's Diverse Wedding Venues
Effects Of Salt On Your Child's Growth And Development; What Is The Recommended Amount
As we all know, high salt intake is associated with high blood pressure in adults, but what about your kids? How does salt intake affect them?
Salt consumption, even at a young age, may have long-lasting effects on your child's health. And of course, every parent would like to be vigilant about their child's nutritional needs. Why would you overlook the sodium intake in the diet of your child?
Sodium is a salt based substance, one of the most important components of the body. It is essential for maintaining the right balance of fluids, transmitting nerve impulses, relaxing and contracting the muscles. You must regulate the amount of salt your child consumes in order to achieve the full health benefits of sodium [1].
There is evidence that a high salt intake in children may contribute to high blood pressure and osteoporosis, respiratory illnesses such as asthma, stomach cancer, and obesity in adults [2].
Let's take a look at how sodium/salt affects your child's health.
Harmful Effects Of Salt On Children
Processed foods such as pizza, French fries and other snacks are highly loaded with sodium and therefore must not be consumed by your children. Feeding your children more fruits and vegetables while they are young would be wise as they will be better able to control their cravings as they grow up eating healthier foods.
1. High blood pressure
Approximately seven percent of children between the ages of three and eight have hypertension or pre-hypertension [3]. When blood pressure increases in children, arterial blood vessels become thicker, thus predisposing the child to cardiovascular disease [4]. As in adults, hypertension is often silent in children, meaning the child may not be aware of symptoms and parents may not be able to detect any symptoms.
2. Dark, very yellow urine
One of the many causes of children's urine being dark yellow is excessive sodium salt consumption. Dark, yellow urine with a strong smell is very common in people of all ages with high sodium intake, including children [5]. The paediatrician can perform a urine test known as urinalysis if you are unsure if your child's urine fits the description.
3. Weight gain
Many parents believe that sweets and fats are responsible for obesity, but studies indicate that weight gain can also be caused by increased salt consumption. Obesity increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease [6].
Aside from controlling sugar and fat intake, doctors advise parents to monitor salty and high sodium processed foods in order to keep the child's sodium intake within the recommended range.
Salt in the diet of children has also been linked to diseases such as asthma and kidney stones, as well as obesity in them. Therefore, you should limit the salt in your child's diet to prevent the harmful effects of sodium [7].
What Is The Recommended Amount Of Salt For Children?
According to studies, children under one year should consume less than one gram of salt every day. The recommended amount of salt for children between the ages of 1-3 is 2 grams, and for children between the ages of 4-6 is 3 grams. However, milk, meat, and vegetables are naturally high in sodium, so you should keep this in mind when choosing salt for children between the ages of 7-10 [8].
To maintain the proportion, you should limit your child's intake of raw salt when they consume any of the above-mentioned foods. Otherwise, a high salt intake can be harmful to their health.
On A Final Note...
Until your child is one year of age, you should not add salt to their diet because the kidney cannot cope with excessive salt intake. Breast-milk is already sufficient to meet their salt requirement. It is important to plan your child's meal with whole cereals, vegetables and fruits that contain a limited amount of sodium, as processed foods such as sauces, gravies, crisps etc. are extremely high in sodium.
- healthAdding A Pinch Of Salt To Your Tea Can Transform Your Health, Combats Skin Issues, Migraine, Know The Benefits
- insyncWhy Does A Splash Of Seawater Can Sting Our Eyes While A Dip In Lake Doesn't? Let's Talk About Sea Salinity!
- insyncHow Did We Go From Salt To Salary? History Behind Concept Of 'Salary' Will Make You Appreciate Ancient Roots
- insyncPink, Red, Gey Or Black? Unique Profile Of These 12 Salt Will Transform Your Dishes Into Culinary Masterpieces
- healthDoes This Everyday Cooking Ingredient Trigger Diabetes?
- healthUnravelling Diet’s Dark Side: The Salt and Brain Connection
- healthFrom Salt To Slim: How Reducing Salt Consumption Help Lose Weight
- healthReasons Why You Should Reduce Your Salt Intake; Does Salt Intake Affect Men And Women Differently?
- skin careSalt For Skincare: Different Ways To Use It
- wellnessStress Levels Are Associated With High Salt Intake, Study
- improvementYour Next Laundry Load Needs These 4 Kitchen Ingredients
- wellnessWorld ORS Day 2021: Can Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) Speed Up Recovery From COVID-19?