By Atiya Bashir – Consultant Pediatrician, Al Ahli Hospital, Doha, Qatar
Importance of Iron in One’s Body
Iron is a crucial part of the hemoglobin present in the red blood cells. Its function is to transport oxygen to the whole body, including such vital organs as the brain and the heart.
When a person develops iron deficiency, their hemoglobin decreases. This results in low oxygen levels in the brain, leading to trouble in memorizing, critical thinking, learning and other analytical skills.
While being unable to reach suitable height and normal weight, their overall well-being deteriorates. Their poor appetite causes them to appear pale and carry a miserable look. Their growth in all areas straggles, hitting the hardest the expressive language. This condition increases the vulnerability of being affected by infections. In severe cases, children develop PICA, which is a compulsive eating disorder, where people desire to guzzle non-edible items such as dirt, paint and paper.
Reasons for the evolution of iron deficiency
Predominantly, the causes of iron deficiency are, firstly, the excessive consumption of milk after the age of one. Twice a day is more than enough. Secondly, it is processed food and meat in the form of nuggets, sausages, frozen white flour Parathas, and so on. Furthermore, refined sugar, such as chocolates, candies, and ice cream, add to the list of causes.
Fast food, the worst of all, is extremely poor in iron and protein but packed with bad carbohydrates and fats. These foods make a child look pale and chubby. Parents assume that their child is apparently bigger and healthier than other kids of his age. However, in reality the child is just dumping poor fats in his liver. Moreover, his blood vessels are deprived of vitamins and nutrients.
Milk intake recommended for infants and children
Until the age of six months, absolute breastfeeding is recommended. Nevertheless, milk itself is a poor source of iron. Generally, if after six months of age, infants are given only milk, without any such iron rich foods as meat, lentils, and vegetables, they will most likely run out of iron in their bodies. This can result in the development of iron deficiency anemia.
| Age | Suggested Diet |
| Birth to 6 months | Breast milk |
| 6 – 9 months | 4-5 times milk, introduce chicken, lentils, vegetables, fruits |
| 9 months – 1 year | 3 times milk, breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 servings of fruits |
| 1 – 15 years | 2 times milk (maximum of 450 ml), no milk while sleeping, 3 meals and 2 snacks per day |
What can you do as a parent to ensure a balanced diet?
The simplest manner to make certain that your child and family have a healthy intake is to prevent bringing unhealthy edibles into your home. When destructive dainties are unavailable, we will accordingly opt for the available foods, which should be fruits, veggies and healthy snacks. They should be barred from flavoured fruit juices and sweetened beverages. Water and milk twice a day should be the only accessible options.
What to do if your child does not feel hungry at mealtimes?
Parents have a unanimous complain that their children refuse to eat at mealtimes and only plump for junk. This happens when, from the beginning, a child is presented with a myriad of sugary snacks and drinks, overloaded with injurious carbs and fats or too much milk in a bottle. This diminishes the child’s appetite for proper food. Once again fundamental advice is that only water should be provided in the 3-4 hours gaps between meals. This will facilitate the feeling of hunger and the child will be ready to eat family diet.
What to do if your child has a habit of sleeping with the mother and has milk all night?
Since birth, the best idea is to make your child sleep next to you in his/her individual crib. Sleeping with the parents should never be encouraged. This will aid the child in going to deep sleep and not utilize a bottle or the mother as a pacifier. When kids receive milk during the night, they are unable to sleep well, owing to habit instead of hunger. Consequently, they are at a loss to obtain maximum boon of growth hormones, which are released only during the deep sleep from 7 pm-7 am. Additionally, they act cranky all day long, because of poor quality of sleep at night. Sugar present in milk destroys teeth; hence, it needs to be watched. In short, over consumption of milk at night and a poor sleep cycle are followed by deficient growth of the brain, weight, and height.
How important is milk or formula milk at night?
No milk should be offered at night, as sugar existing in milk is eaten by bacteria in the mouth, which damages the enamel. Thus, child’s teeth get destroyed. As far as formula is concerned, there is no utter use of providing formula milk to healthy kids after the age of one. In a sippy cup or straw cup, full fat fresh milk should be given twice a day. Flavoured milk should be avoided as much as possible.
Should your child be checked for low hemoglobin?
All children must undergo blood tests checking for their hemoglobin at the age of 12-18 months. If the child appears pale or underweight, then any time before that is also a suitable option. Early detection is important in preventing possible physical and mental damages. Simple measures can aid us in avoiding this preventable state and raising fit children.
What to do if iron deficiency continues in your child?
The growth of your child’s brain and body will be delayed, and chances are that he might not be able to reach his full potential. Even following the treatment, the damage may continue for the rest of life. Ergo, early detection and possible measures to avoid it in the first place are highly consequential.
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Best sources of iron in food
Red meat, white meat, fish, lentils, beans, spinach, garden-fresh leafy vegetables, pomegranate, and iron fortified cereals.
Worst foods with no iron at all
Packaged foods and processed meat like chicken nuggets, hotdogs, cold cuts, bread/parathas made from refined flour are loaded with salts and damaging fats. Beverages, such as store bought juices, contain water and sugar with no real fruit inside. They are prone to damaging teeth the same way as milk can, plus kill a child’s appetite. Thus, sugary drinks and juices must be kept away. Consuming sliced fruit is the finest way of gaining maximum benefit and fiber.
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