A child's diet should be approached in stages, with certain foods to avoid at each stage. Therefore, it requires extra attention from the child's parents to ensure their baby is not harmed by their diet. Let's take a look at the details below.
1. Do not eat salt within 3 months
Babies under 3 months do not need salt because the salt absorbed from breast milk or formula is sufficient. After 3 months, as they grow and develop, the baby's kidney function gradually matures, and the need for salt increases. At this point, a small amount can be given appropriately.
The principle is that after 6 months, the daily salt intake should be controlled to less than 1 gram.
2. Do not eat honey within 1 year
The normal intestinal flora of a baby under one year old is not yet fully established. Eating honey can easily lead to infection, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. After a baby turns one year old, the normal intestinal flora is established, so eating honey is not a problem.
3. Do not drink tea within 3 years
Children under 3 should not drink tea. Tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which interferes with the absorption of protein, minerals, and calcium, zinc, and iron from food, leading to deficiencies in protein and minerals that affect normal growth and development.
The caffeine in tea is a powerful stimulant that may trigger attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
4. Do not eat supplements within 5 years
The first 5 years are a critical period for a child's development. Supplements contain many hormones or hormone-like substances that can cause the epiphyseal plates (growth plates) to close prematurely, shortening the growth period and resulting in short stature. Hormones can interfere with the growth system, leading to precocious puberty.
In addition, taking supplements at a young age can also cause symptoms such as gum bleeding, thirst, constipation, high blood pressure, and bloating.
5. Do not eat cured meat products within 10 years
There are two reasons why children under 10 should not eat cured foods:
First, cured products (such as salted fish, cured meat, pickles, etc.) contain too much salt. A high-salt diet can easily induce hypertension.
Second, cured products contain a large amount of nitrite. Along with aflatoxin and benzo[a]pyrene, it is one of the three recognized carcinogens in the world. Research data shows that children who start eating cured products before the age of 10 are three times more likely to develop cancer as adults, with a particularly high risk of developing pharyngeal cancer.