Nutrition and metabolism are vital for children’s growth and development. Proper nutrition provides essential nutrients that support physical health and cognitive function. During childhood, adequate nutrition is crucial for optimal growth, while metabolism determines how efficiently the body uses these nutrients. Understanding the relationship between nutrition and metabolism helps parents and caregivers promote healthy eating habits and prevent health issues. This article explores the importance of nutrition and metabolism in children, highlighting key factors for fostering a healthy future.
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The main components of food
The Macronutrients:
Macronutrients are the main nutrients that make up the biggest part of the diet. There are three broad classes of macronutrient: proteins, fats and carbohydrates. These nutrients build and repair body tissues, regulate vital processes and provide calories or energy and are required in large amounts to maintain body functions and carry out the activities of daily life.
Carbohydrates (ie, starches and sugars) in poor countries and conflict areas forming 80% of the diet and the main source of energy.
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Micronutrients:
Micronutrients are known as vitamins and minerals, they have a profound effect on health. Although only needed in tiny amounts. The micronutrients enable the body to produce enzymes, hormones and other substances essential for proper growth and development.
Consuming a variety of nutrient-rich foods along with breastfeeding is the ideal way for young children to obtain micronutrients.
Micronutrient deficiency is often referred to as (hidden hunger) because it develops gradually over time, and it leads to great problems as the child may go to sleep every night with a full stomach, but the lack of micronutrients means that child’s body still needs good nutrition.
Millions of children suffer from stunted growth, cognitive developmental delay, weak immune system and disease as a result of micronutrient deficiencies.
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Different types of micronutrient deficiencies:
Iodine deficiency:
is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies, affecting nearly a third of the world’s population. It may cause mental retardation and developmental abnormalities especially in children. Most of its serious effects occur during fetal development and in the early years of a child’s life.
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Vitamin A deficiency:
affects about a third of children living in low and middle-income countries. Vitamin A deficiency leads to a weak immune system, and thus increases a child’s risk of infection from diseases such as measles and gastroenteritis.
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Iron deficiency:
leads to anemia in mothers and children, and thus the possibility of premature birth. The child may suffer from infections, learning difficulties and growth delay.
Approximately 40% of pregnant women and more than 40% of children under the age of five years in developing countries are anemic. It is estimated that about half of these cases are due to iron deficiency.
Zinc deficiency: leads to weaknesses in immune functions and is associated with an increased risk of infection with gastro-intestinal infections, which are a contributing factor to infant mortality due to diarrhoea.
Zinc deficiency is especially common in low-income countries due to low dietary intake of zinc foods.
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Calcium, Vitamin D and Folic acid Deficiency:
The deficiency of these substances is common especially during pregnancy and can lead to health complications for both mothers and babies.
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Water:
In rare cases, vitamin C, vitamin B3 or vitamin B1 deficiency may happen.
The body needs water to carry out all its reactions, and all other nutrients dissolve in water as it transports and distributes them to tissues.
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