Do you know what your child should be eating?
A recent survey of British parents suggests that there’s an increasing level of misinformation around what parents should and should not be feeding their children.
The survey, as reported in this article by MENAFN, found that as many as eight in 10 parents felt as though they needed more guidance on their child’s nutritional requirements while a quarter of those surveyed are concerned about their child’s nutrition levels.
One of the key findings of the study was the lack of understanding on the amount of vitamins and minerals that should be consumed daily and where they can be sourced through diet, with a fifth reporting that they don’t know which foods should be consumed for vitamin D consumption and just four in 10 were aware that vitamin C assists with iron absorption and supports the immune system.
While the findings illustrate that there’s a serious issue that sh9ould be addressed in arming parents with nutritional information for their children, there are an abundance of sources readily available on the internet to provide this information, such as the Metabolics weekly Nutrition News, but it is important to ensure the public is reading creditable sources.
Healthy blue fruits to include in your diet
You may be already aware that blueberries are a fantastic source of antioxidants due to their high anthocyanin content but there are several other blue fruits that are beneficial to our health. The article, “7 Delicious Blue Fruits with Powerful Health Benefits” by Healthline, lists some of the most nutritionally beneficial:
- Blackberries
- These dark blue berries have a high vitamin C and manganese content as well as supplying an impressive eight grams of fibre per 144 gram serving. They also are among the richest sources of vitamin K of any fruit.
- Elderberries
- While smaller in size than the blackberry and blueberry, elderberries offer an impressive nutrient profile, being a great source of vitamin C and B6, however, it’s important to note that these berries are best eaten cooked to avoid an upset stomach.
- Concord grapes
- Used to make wine, juices and jams, concord grapes are a purple-blue variety of the fruit that provide important antioxidants and vitamin K.
- Blackcurrants
- Blackcurrants are particularly high in vitamin C, which can support your immune system and has a key role in the maintenance of skin, bones and teeth. The tart berries are also an excellent source of antioxidants.
- Damson plums
- Damson plums are a versatile fruit that are delicious on their own or can be dried to make prunes. They are also beneficial to health as they’re high in fibre with an 82 gram serving contain 6 grams of fibre.
- Blue tomatoes
- Lesser known than their red counterparts, blue tomatoes are rich in anthocyanins, which give them their blueish hue. Also known as Indigo Rose tomatoes, they contain other antioxidant compounds, such as lycopene, in higher volumes than the traditional red variety.
Can you support bone density through nutrition?
Bone density peaks when a person reaches their late 20s and when a person loses bone density, it leaves them more prone to breaks following trips and falls. However, according to Medical News Today in their article “11 ways to increase bone density naturally”, there are many ways to support bone density through the foods that we eat in addition to safe weight and strength training exercises.
Calcium is a well-known nutrient for bone health as it supports the maintenance of normal bones and helps to reduce the loss of bone mineral in post-menopausal women. Foods rich in calcium include milk, cheese, yoghurt, beans and sardines.
Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones as well as assisting with absorption of calcium and can be absorbed by the body through moderate sun exposure.
Zinc and magnesium are also important nutrients for bone health and can be obtained through consumption of nuts, legumes, seeds and whole grains.
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Alison is Director and Founder of Metabolics who writes about Metabolics updates, events and natural healthcare. Her experience and passion for natural supplements and healthcare comes from her years of experience as a practising osteopath, having founded Metabolics in her search for high quality, natural products in her own work. Alison has been a qualified and practising Osteopath since 1981 and regularly gives seminars on a range of healthcare subjects to the wider practitioner community helping share her knowledge and experience.