The harm of picky eating in children

Each type of food has its own irreplaceable nutrients, and the composition of these nutrients can effectively ensure the growth and development of children in all aspects. Now many parents like to use drugs to supplement their children with some trace elements, but from a long-term perspective, it is more reliable to let children expand their food range and absorb different nutrients from food. Children's picky eating is very detrimental to their physical development.

1. There are many nutrients needed by the human body, such as protein, fat, inorganic salts, vitamins, etc., and it is impossible for all of these substances to be contained in one or several foods. Therefore, picky eating cannot meet all the nutrients needed for children's growth, resulting in nutritional imbalance and children cannot grow and develop healthily and quickly. Studies have shown that malnutrition, eating less or excreting more, and picky eating are most likely to cause potassium deficiency.

2. Picky eaters often play while eating, and often take more than an hour to eat a meal. This not only affects the intake of nutrition, but may even cause gastrointestinal dysfunction and affect digestion and absorption. If not corrected, the child's growth and development may be delayed or even stagnant.

3. The child's intake of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and fat is insufficient, his weight is low and his growth rate is slow. Studies have found that picky eaters are twice as likely to be underweight as babies with a normal diet.

4. Being picky about food can cause children to lose their appetite, which in the long run can lead to malnutrition and nutritional anemia, reduced disease resistance, and susceptibility to infectious diseases and digestive tract diseases.

5. Being picky about food can also cause various vitamin deficiency diseases. If you do not eat whole-fat dairy products, egg yolks, beans, liver and other foods, or do not eat carrots, tomatoes, green vegetables, etc., you may suffer from night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency. In severe cases, it may cause corneal opacity, softening, ulcers and even perforation, eventually leading to blindness. Lack of trace elements such as zinc, chromium, copper and selenium may cause visual impairment and myopia in children.

6. Children who like to eat meat but do not eat fresh green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and fruits may suffer from skin diseases due to lack of vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C. Scurvy may also be caused by severe lack of vitamin C in the body. In mild cases, the gums may bleed, and in severe cases, it may cause subperiosteal, intra-articular and intramuscular bleeding. Children will suffer from limb pain, refuse to be hugged, and their limb activities will be affected. In severe cases, fractures may be caused.

7. Not eating foods rich in vitamin D such as fish, shrimp, egg yolks, and mushrooms can lead to vitamin D deficiency. If not supplemented and treated in time, mild symptoms include sweating and crying at night, while severe symptoms include convulsions and bone deformities such as "pigeon breast", "O"-shaped or "X"-shaped legs, etc.

8. Picky eating affects children's intellectual development. The intelligence development index of normal children is 14 points higher than that of picky eaters. Picky eaters are also prone to inattention.

9. Various types of food also play an important role in the development of children's personality. Nutritional imbalance may cause children to develop extreme personality. Studies have shown that excessive intake of acidic foods can affect children's personality and psychological development, leading to autism. Children who are malnourished in early childhood are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior than well-nourished children.

Above we have introduced to you the dangers of children's picky eating, hoping to increase everyone's awareness of picky eating. When children are young, parents should create a good eating range for their children, which can effectively prevent children from being picky eaters. For older children, parents should tell them about the disadvantages of picky eating, improve their cognitive abilities, and make conscious adjustments.