Among the 73 children aged 3-6 who participated in the test, 26% had advanced bone age. As children get older, the proportion of those with advanced bone age also increases. In children aged 11-18, that is, what is commonly known as adolescents, about 60% have the problem of precocious puberty due to early development.
Researchers have stated that the factors for early development may include environmental pollution, consuming more ingredients containing hormones, and individual psychological factors. It is worth noting that many parents in Guangdong like to cook medicinal soups for their children to "tonify," which may also be a reason for early development.
Since precocious puberty in children is closely related to diet, parents must pay close attention and, in particular, keep their children away from the following types of food:
1. Tonic ingredients
Some foods used in medicine, such as Cordyceps sinensis, bird's nest, ginseng, Astragalus, and Glehnia, may alter a child's normal endocrine environment, causing an imbalance in physical and mental development. If parents are making soups or giving their children such supplements, it is best to stop immediately, especially for people in the Guangdong region.
2. Fried foods
Fried foods such as fried chicken, french fries, and potato chips can be converted into excess fat in a child's body, which in turn can cause endocrine disorders and lead to precocious puberty.
Furthermore, after cooking oil is repeatedly heated at high temperatures, it oxidizes and denatures, which is also one of the causes of "precocious puberty."
3. Health supplements
Some parents buy health supplements for their children, hoping they will grow taller, but be careful as this may have the opposite effect.
A considerable number of supplements and oral liquids for children contain hormonal ingredients. These hormones can make children taller, stronger, and sturdier than their peers at the age of 5 or 6, but when they enter the normal developmental stage, their growth may stagnate.
In fact, children's metabolism is relatively vigorous. As long as they maintain a normal diet, it can fully provide the nutrients they need for growth and development. Excessive nutrition is more of a concern. Therefore, there is no need to worry about malnutrition; excessive supplements are not good for a child's health.
4. Honey and royal jelly
Royal jelly contains a certain amount of plant-based estrogen. If children take it for a long time, it may lead to precocious puberty. Honey is relatively safer; natural honey generally does not cause precocious puberty, but most honey on the market is not natural, so parents should still be cautious.
5. Protein powder
Some children have naturally poor constitutions, and parents, having heard that protein powder on the market can boost immunity, give it to their children to take long-term.
In fact, protein powder is made from soy products. Soy products contain isoflavones, which are a type of plant estrogen and can be considered a phytoestrogen. If children consume them long-term, it can promote the onset of precocious puberty.