What is the amount of calcium to be taken daily? Calcium heavy nutrition, especially milk, improves the child’s quality of life in the future and provides strength against other aspects that may impair his health.
Calcium malnutrition plays an active role in many issues, from the child’s rapider contraction to various epidemics to the development of intelligence.
Best source of calcium: Milk
Milk; it consists of water, fat, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. A glass of milk (200 ml) contains approximately 9 g of carbohydrates, 6 g of protein and 6 g of fat. Calcium mineral, which is of great importance in all periods of life, is especially valuable for children of growth and developmental age.
Dairy products are cited as the best source of calcium. Calcium helps in the completion of bone and tooth formations of children, preventing the reduction of bone density in later years.
For the first 6 months, only breast milk, continued milk in the absence or absence of breast milk is recommended. After the 6th month, breast milk should be given until the age of 2 years with complementary nutrition. Before the age of 1 year, babies should never be given cow’s or goat’s milk.
Set an example for your child to drink milk
One of the basic building blocks of child development is calcium, the most important mineral for bone structure. Calcium taken with breast milk in the first years of life provides healthy bone development in children and protects against osteoporosis, i.e. bone loss, which may pose a risk in later life.
In the prepubescent period, children’s calcium needs are 800 mg per day. It is important to give children eating habits at an early age, including dairy products.
For this purpose, the child should not be forced and the reward-punishment method should not be used. It should be explained logically and set an example; it should be remembered that children practice what they see rather than what they hear.
For kids to drink milk easily:
The taste sensation of the baby of the mother who consumes milk during pregnancy is unsymished and can easily drink milk. After your baby has passed the age of 1 year, you can kefir with milk, provided that it does not exceed 500 ml per day.
Consuming more than 600 ml of cow’s milk daily can cause constipation, anemia and loss of appetite. Children whose parents drink milk can drink milk more easily. Children who like to use straws can be given colored straws or colored cups.
Adding fruits such as bananas, strawberries or dates will both increase the nutritional value and provide easy drinking. It should be remembered that drinking milk, especially at night after 1 year, will cause tooth decay later. Therefore, drinking milk in the morning and afternoon hours will be more suitable for oral and dental health.
Insufficient calcium makes heart palpitations
In the absence of calcium, a wide variety of problems arise in the bones. In childhood, rickets occurs, osteomalasis osteoporosis occurs in adults. Children can have crying, viciousness, loss of appetite.
Sensory defects, twitches in the muscles, sleep disturbance, absent-mindedness, hair and nail fractures can be seen. If the deficiency lasts long, a table called tetani, which is accompanied by cramps in the legs, palpitations in the heart, lethargy, tinnitus and tremors in the body muscles, may also develop. Therefore, care should also be taken to feed children rich in calcium.
The amount of calcium that children should take daily:
- 0-6 months: 360 mg
- 7-12 months: 540 mg
- 1-10 years: 800 mg
- 11-18 years: 1000 mg
- About 250 mg of calcium in 1 cup of milk
- About 250 mg of calcium in 1 cup yogurt
- 1 serving of white cheese contains about 100 mg of calcium.
- Opt for pasteurized milk in glass bottles
It is also worth paying attention to the conditions for consuming and storing milk. Pasteurized daily milk can be stored in the refrigerator at 4-5 degrees one day in summer, 2-3 days in winter. When heated in milks that have not been pasteurized fully, there is a change in taste and color.
Harmful bacteria in these milks should never be consumed, as they may not have been completely destroyed. Therefore, it is right to prefer reliable brands when purchasing and pasteurized milks stored in glass bottles if possible.