Children generally prefer foods that are colorful and delicious, and some children also like to eat adult foods and drinks; while parents always try to supplement their children with some nutritional foods. Medical experts here remind parents that the following 20 foods are not suitable for children to eat often or in large quantities, otherwise, they are harmful and not beneficial.
1. Oranges
Although oranges are rich in nutrients, they contain carotene. Eating too many can easily lead to "carotene dermatitis," abdominal pain and diarrhea, and even cause bone diseases. Therefore, children should not eat more than 4 medium-sized oranges a day.
2. Spinach
Spinach contains a large amount of oxalic acid. When oxalic acid encounters calcium and zinc in the human body, it forms calcium oxalate and zinc oxalate, which are not easily absorbed and are excreted. Children need a lot of calcium and zinc for growth and development. If the body lacks calcium and zinc, it can not only lead to poor development of bones and teeth, but also affect intellectual development.
3. Eggs
Although eggs are a relatively nutritious food, eating too many can increase the cholesterol content in the body, easily lead to nutritional excess and obesity, and also increase the burden on the gastrointestinal, liver, and kidneys, causing dysfunction. Therefore, children should not eat more than 3 eggs a day.
4. Strong Tea
Strong tea contains a large amount of tannic acid. When tannic acid encounters iron in the human body, it forms tannic acid, which is difficult for the human body to absorb and can easily cause iron deficiency. Iron deficiency in children can not only lead to anemia but also affect intellectual development.
5. Jelly
Jelly is not made from fruit juice and sugar, but from thickeners, flavors, acidulants, colorings, and sweeteners. These substances have no nutritional value for the human body but have a certain toxicity. Eating too much or often can affect children's growth, development, and intellectual health.
6. Salted Fish
All kinds of salted fish contain a large amount of dimethyl nitrite. After this substance enters the human body, it is converted into dimethyl nitrosamine, which is a strong carcinogen. Studies have shown that starting to eat salted fish often before the age of 10 increases the risk of cancer in adulthood by 30 times compared to the general population. Therefore, children should not eat salted fish often or in large quantities.
7. Bubble Gum
The plasticizer in bubble gum contains trace toxicity, and its metabolite, phenol, is also harmful to the human body. Furthermore, the way children chew bubble gum is unhygienic and can easily cause gastrointestinal diseases.
8. Saccharin
Currently, many sweet foods and drinks for children contain saccharin. According to research, large consumption of saccharin can cause diseases of the blood, heart, lungs, and peripheral nerves, and damage organs such as the stomach, kidneys, liver, and bladder. Therefore, our country stipulates that saccharin shall not be used in foods for patients and children.
9. Beans
Beans contain a factor that can cause goiter, which can promote the excretion of thyroid hormone, resulting in a deficiency of thyroid hormone in the body. To adapt to this need, the body increases the size of the thyroid gland. Children, who are in a period of growth and development, are more vulnerable. Therefore, children should not eat beans often or in large quantities.
10. Ginseng
Currently, there are many ginseng foods on the market, such as ginseng candy, ginseng malted milk, ginseng milk powder, ginseng cookies, and ginseng royal jelly. Ginseng has the effect of promoting sex hormone secretion. Children who eat ginseng can lead to precocious puberty, seriously affecting normal physical development.
11. Canned Food
Canned foods contain a certain amount of food additives during the production process. Additives have trace toxicity, which has little effect on adults but a great impact on children who are in a period of development. It not only damages their health but can also easily cause chronic poisoning. Therefore, children should not eat too much canned food.
12. Popcorn
Popcorn has a high lead content. Lead entering the body can damage the nervous system, digestive system, and hematopoietic function. Children's ability to detoxify lead is weak. Often eating too much popcorn can easily lead to chronic lead poisoning, causing decreased appetite, diarrhea, irritability, purple gums, and impaired growth and development.
13. Instant Noodles
Instant noodles contain unfavorable food colors and preservatives for the human body. Often eating or eating too much can easily cause nutritional imbalance in children, affecting their growth, development, and health.
14. Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds contain unsaturated fatty acids. Eating too many sunflower seeds by children can consume a large amount of choline in the body, affect the function of liver cells, and also cause "fluid deficiency" leading to children's dryness syndrome.
15. Cola Drinks
Cola drinks contain a certain amount of caffeine. Caffeine has an excitatory effect on the central nervous system and has potential harm to the human body. Since children's various organs and tissues are not fully developed and their resistance and detoxification functions are weak, the harm is even greater. Therefore, children should not drink too many cola drinks.
16. Animal Fat
Children often eating or eating too much animal fat can not only cause obesity but also affect the absorption and utilization of calcium, which over time can easily lead to calcium deficiency and cause diseases.
17. Grilled Lamb Skewers
Foods such as lamb skewers that are grilled or smoked produce strong carcinogens such as 20-aminobiphenyl and 3,4-benzopyrene during the smoking process. Children often eating or eating too much of these carbonized foods can allow carcinogens to accumulate in the body, making it easier to develop cancer in adulthood.
18. Chocolate
Children eating too much chocolate can make the central nervous system abnormally excited, causing anxiety, muscle twitching, and a rapid heartbeat, affecting appetite.
19. Salt
Children's daily salt intake should not exceed 5 grams. If they consume too much salt, they are more likely to develop hypertension, coronary heart disease, stomach cancer, and other diseases in adulthood.
20. Pork Liver
Pork liver contains a large amount of cholesterol. Children often eating or eating too much pork liver can increase the cholesterol content in the body, making it easier to induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in adulthood.