10 Signs Of Nutritional Deficiencies In Kids

Parents do everything to give the best for their children, right? And probably you are the one among them. Even if parents put their best efforts, children suffer from one or the other nutritional deficiencies. Nutritional deficiencies in children can hamper their overall development and growth. These occur when the body is unable to absorb the basic essential nutrients from the diet. This may lead to abnormalities in the physical growth and psychological development.

Surprisingly, some kids even with nutritional deficiencies may look normal and it is difficult to the parents to spot them in their kids. It is not easy to find whether kids have nutritional deficiencies unless we are aware of the signs and symptoms. Here are the top 10 signs which indicate nutritional deficiencies in kids.

Depression / Anxiety: Nutritional deficiencies in children can lead to depression and anxiety. Proteins contain amino acids which aid proper functioning of the brain. So, children should get required amount of proteins every day through their diet. Most of the proteins from plants have fewer amino acids. Whereas animal foods contain all amino acids and are more easily absorbed by the body. A diet with high-quality proteins can help the kids suffering from protein deficiency.

Restlessness / Hyperactivity: Most of us think that hyperactivity is a good sign of healthy kids. But children who are hyperactive tend to have poor digestion which in turn makes it hard for the body to absorb the nutrients. Research shows that usage of food colours can cause hyperactivity in children. Hence, it is advisable to stop the usage of artificial food colours and processed foods for children to avoid hyperactivity. As children with hyperactivity suffer from poor digestion, they should be provided with more healthy and natural foods like papaya, yogurt, and buttermilk to aid digestion.

Delayed Speech: Usually, speech problems like delayed speech is related to heredity. But it indicates that the child might have a deficiency of Vitamin B12. Children should not be given the supplements of B12 unless they are diagnosed with a deficiency. Increasing the intake of natural foods rich in vitamin B12 like dairy products, eggs, fish, chicken and organ meats can help kids who are vitamin B12 deficit.

Dry Skin/Hair: Dry skin or hair in children indicates a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, E and K2. So, children should get high-quality fat soluble vitamins through their diet. It is advisable to consult a pediatrician to find out the vitamin supplements that can help.

Crowded Teeth: Crowding teeth is another example which is usually related to heredity. But research has shown that crowding of teeth occurs mostly due to nutritional deficiency. The lack of proper dental spacing is because of having a lot of processed foods by kids and also due to mothers who don’t pay proper attention of taking nutritional food during pregnancy as well. Children who have traditional foods which contain rich fats, proteins have enough spacing in teeth. To avoid crowded teeth, it is advisable to include properly cooked food and nutritious foods such as lentils, pulses, egg, and poultry.

Frequent Colds & Flu: Many children fall ill very often due to the weaker immune system. Making healthy changes in kid’s diet boosts immunity and prevents frequent illness in kids. Instead of paying attention to anyone nutritional deficiency, focus on offering all nutrients to kids through their diet and opt for a traditional way of cooking.

Dental Cavities: Parents often think that dental cavities result from having too much of sugary products or candies. Though too much sugary foods are one of the causes for cavities, deficiency of fat soluble vitamins also leads to form dental cavities in children. To avoid the risk of developing cavities, children should be given with foods which are rich in fat-soluble vitamins such as green leafy vegetables, cabbage, and milk.

Low Energy Levels & Foggy Brain: Children who are iron deficit have low energy levels and get tired easily. These children also exhibit the symptoms of the foggy brain such as feelings of confusion, forgetfulness, and lack of focus. To treat the iron deficiency in kids, they should have foods like meat, nuts, seeds, vegetables, legumes and dried fruits in their diet regularly.

Cranky or Sporadic emotions: Good saturated fats like butter and coconut oil helps to keep our brains calm and are vital for good mood stabilization. Even hormones play an important role on emotions and unbalanced hormones can cause to feel irritable and moody. Extra estrogen in our body makes us feel irritable. To avoid cranky behaviour in kids, feed them with good saturated fats and include carrots in their diet to absorb a high amount of estrogen.

Obesity: Our bodies feel hungry when we have foods that are not nutritious. They starve for good nutrition which makes us feel unsatisfied. Therefore nutritional deficiency leads to obesity. To avoid this, give your children a balanced food to provide proper nutrition which protects them from obesity.