Apanemia Health Centre

Eating too much protein can cause serious health problems, especially for its association with multiple nutrients from meat and other foods for which they wrongly tends to abuse.

The energy contributed by protein in childhood should involve between 10% and 15% of total calories from the diet. Slightly more than half of them, about 65%, would have to be of animal origin, while the remaining 35% would have to bring the consumption of vegetables.

But the current children’s diets tend to stay away from this general pattern and, usually, children eat more protein foods (dairy and meat in particular) than it would be advisable.

Keep in mind that eating too much animal protein implies a higher supply of calories, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. It is no coincidence that these nutrients are those that, in excess, are associated with development of chronic diseases with the highest incidence in adulthood: obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and kidney problems.

They are all good reasons for that, from an early age, taking into account the fair amount of animal protein foods that are required, especially those that provide dairy products, meat and meat products, fish and eggs. To these may be added together the grams of vegetable protein provided by cereals, legumes and nuts, considering that many of them supplement if you eat a variety of vegetables together.

Protein for Growth
The first year is critical from the nutritional point of view because it is at this stage when the growth and development are the fastest in the life cycle. In just twelve months the baby was three times the weight at the time of birth and almost doubles its size.

After one year the child enters a stage of transition between the rapid growth phase, specific to the infant, and the period of steady growth, which extends from nearly three years until the onset of puberty. But it is already in the first year of life when there is evidence the physiological effect of nutrients: sugars and fat in milk and complementary foods you eat the child at this time will provide the energy needed to gain weight. Proteins that must be taken sufficient for growth and healthy development of all body tissues.

Overall, the pediatrician has only one formula for measuring good nutrition: comparing the weight and size of the child with percentiles established for the child population by area and age. If weight, height or both are inadequate for their age, the pediatrician will examine the health of children and who will be deemed if necessary to supplement the diet. If, on the contrary, the burden is disproportionate, the specialist will give the instructions needed to moderate the amount of food from the infant diet.

Children supercharged

There are still many parents who worry that their children reject the steak that they have prepared. The conflict may be less important if the rations were reasonable and not transmitting the misconception that hunger is satisfied with proteins.

Many people can not understand not to take meat, fish or eggs both for lunch and dinner. They feel that the menu based on a first course of salad and a second based on rice, pasta or vegetable, or does not satisfy their appetite nor the children. Nothing is further from the truth. It is not healthy, for example, a toddler, take two petit suisse snack, eat two back wheels or two pieces of cheese for dessert because these foods are added to a pint of milk your child drinks daily, and egg fish wheel or dinner. The result is a higher protein intake at 40 grams and 1200-1300 daily calories recommended for their age.

Give the child amounts of protein than would need is a habit so insane as it is not to insist on eating fruits, vegetables or fish. From a nutritional point of view, is off the supply of protein and calories, and is shown to influence the genesis of excess weight and even the emerging childhood obesity.

The habit of eating as a dessert or between-protein foods (yogurt, cheese, petit suisse, ham, sausages …) travels to other equally healthy food and certainly more appropriate for that time. These foods should be a place for fruit and nuts, usually absent.
The right amount

Proteins provide amino acids essential for growth and development of tissues and organs. In young children, protein requirements decrease gradually during the first three years.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in the first half of life the baby needs about 2.2 grams per kilo of weight and day, which decreases to 1.6 g / kg / day from the second half and year, and 1.2 g / kg / day during the first three years. This stage, along with adolescence, are the two moments in life where protein needs are higher than those of adults, the WHO estimates that 0.8 g / kg / day.

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