Foods that compensate for iron deficiency What causes iron deficiency in children? 




Foods to compensate for the deficiency Iron deficiency in children can affect their growth and lead to anemia. 

Find out how much iron your child needs, and children with this condition are at higher risk of infections. 

Iron deficiency can harm physical and mental development in infants and young children, even a small deficiency. It can also affect mental development. 

1. Common causes of iron deficiency in children 

Iron deficiency in the diet is a common cause of anemia in the body, children can also suffer from malaria and stomach worms. 

Iron deficiency is relatively common in children and occurs when Hemoglobin in the blood is less than the optimal level. 

Iron deficiency usually appears for three reasons. 

1. Bad diet 

Children are at a higher risk of iron deficiency due to their high iron requirement, or you could say that a diet with poor-quality iron sources can lead to iron deficiency. And don't use too much milk. A diet high in milk, which is a poor source of iron, can put a baby at risk of iron deficiency.


2 Anemia


Causes of anemia can range from stomach ulcers (which are not common in children) to acute intestinal inflammation, and parasite infections such as hookworm.


3. In capability to absorb acceptable iron from food


This can happen with diseases such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease. In which you are eating food well but it fails to absorb well.


2. Symptoms of Iron Deficiency in Children


Several symptoms may indicate that your child may be iron deficient.

1. Extreme lack of energy and fatigue. 

2. Paleness with a decrease in hemoglobin level. 

3. nails that look broken. 

4. A tongue that looks redder than usual and/or cracks in the mouth. 

5. Low appetite or desire to eat unhealthy food items such as ice, mud, paint, or starch. 

6. Children with iron deficiency may also be at increased risk of lead poisoning and infections.

Important Foods to Replenish Iron Deficiency in Children 

A lack of iron in your child's diet can lead to anemia. Increasing iron-rich foods in your diet can be a simple step to combat anemia. 

Foods rich in heme iron (easily absorbed) Foods from animal sources are foods rich in heme iron, which is easily absorbed by the body. Our body can make up for iron deficiency more quickly from a heme iron diet than from a non-heme diet.

1. large meat (hamburger, beef liver, corned beef, steak). 

2. Small meat like chicken, or turkey (this meat has more iron). 

3. Fish. 

4. sausages. 

5. eggs, etc 

Non-heme foods (difficult to absorb) 

1. Wheat. 

2. Porridge. 

3. Iron-fortified breakfast cereals. 

4. beans. 

5. handfuls of grass 

6. lentils. 

7. cooked beans (in a can). 

8. oven-baked potatoes (with skin) 

9. Dry fruits. 

10. dried apricots. 

11. dried figs. 

12. High-quality pasta. 

13. High-quality rice. 

14. Jaggery syrup. 

15. Broccoli and spinach 

Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables for iron absorption Eating vitamin C-rich fruits or vegetables with a meal or within 1 to 2 hours after a meal can increase the absorption of iron from plant sources. 

1. Example, kiwi fruit, citrus fruits (like orange, grapefruit, cano, malta, etc.) 

2. Papaya, pineapple, guava, melon, strawberry, honey. 

3. Includes peas, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, pumpkin, etc. Vitamin C is water-soluble. It dissolves easily due to heat. So avoid soaking vegetables for too long. To reduce the loss of vitamin C due to cooking, cook these vegetables as quickly as possible with a small amount of water, or lightly fry them with a small amount of oil.


Other nutrients needed to prevent iron deficiency in children 

1. In addition to iron, the body also needs folate and vitamin B12 to produce red blood cells. 

2. Green leafy vegetables, beans, oranges, papaya, etc. are good sources of folate. 

3. Vitamin B12 is found in meat, fish, eggs, and milk. 

4. Vegetarians can obtain vitamin B12 from food products containing vitamin B12, or take supplements as directed by a nutritionist. 

5. A balanced diet to get all the necessary nutrients is very important to prevent iron deficiency.