What You Should Know About Children's Health
As a parent, your job is to protect your child at all costs. Learning about health options for your child is the best and first step in parenting. You may not have all the answers, but it's important to know some of the things your child needs to develop properly and know the warning signs if something are wrong. Nutrients For Kids Children need the proper nutrition for healthy growth and metabolism. Some of the most important nutrients they could be missing are fiber, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium. Fiber is important in childrens diets for healthy bowel movements. It may help reduce the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol as they grow older and maintain a proper diet enriched with fiber. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children should receive 10 g of fiber daily. They are able to consume fiber naturally through fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Vitamin D is important in kids health because their bodies and bones are still growing. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium into their bones. Rickets is a disease in which bones grow soft. This is comparable to osteoporosis. The AAP recommends that children receive 400 IU of Vitamin D daily. Children are able to receive Vitamin D through milk products, cereals, orange juice, and tuna fish. Calcium aids in proper bone growth, good muscle functioning, and good blood clotting. Depending on the child's age, the AAP recommends children receive anywhere from 500 mg to 1,300 mg of calcium daily. Children can get calcium from milk products and orange juice fortified with calcium. Potassium is important for good fluid balance, a normal heart, healthy bones, and for a strong metabolism. The AAP recommends children receive anywhere from 3,000 mg to 4,700 mg of potassium daily. The best sources of potassium are in fruits, vegetables, dairy, and seafood. Top Mental Health Concerns For Children Parents must actively watch their children to see if there are mental health concerns. You can work with your child care provider if you are concerned, so they can help pay attention to. As a parent, you may not recognize the symptoms and think it's just another stage your child is going through. Here are a few concerns: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Autism Bipolar disorder Depression Schizophrenia Top Warning Signs Of Mental Illness It's hard distinguishing between a regular mood swing or temper tantrum and a genuine warning sign of mental illness. If you notice a rapid change in your child's attitude or health conditions, you could contact your childrens healthcare provider and seek a referral to a children's mental health hospital for an evaluation. Here are the top warning signs of mental health: Behavior changes Concentration and focusing issues Frequent vomiting Harm to their own bodies Loss of appetite Mood changes Substance abuse What To Do If You Suspect Your Child Is Malnourished Or Has Mental Health Issues If you feel your child has some type of problem, mentally or physically, it's important to get them to your health care provider. After a thorough examination and referral to other specialists, they may refer you to a children's hospital. It's important to never neglect your children's health. If deemed necessary by the government, they can be taken into children in care. This is not healthy for a family. So pay special attention to your child's needs. Ian Smith (Distinction) D.Hyp T.F.T M.U.F.H M.A.A.H U.K.C.H.O N.R.H C.I.S.H Quays Clinic of Hypnotherapy in North Shields Telephone: 0774 3353367.