Does your baby cry and refuse to eat at meal times, but then snack on various snacks as soon as meal time is over? This has no benefits for the child's growth and can actually lead to problems such as food retention. Therefore, parents should pay attention to the baby's health and avoid the dangers of food retention.
Symptoms of food retention in children
1. Loss of appetite
Loss of appetite, food stays in the mouth for a long time without swallowing, it takes a long time to finish a meal.
2. Poor digestion
Poor digestion, easy bloating, hard stools or diarrhea.
3. Weak immunity
Low immunity, frequent colds, coughs, and even pneumonia.
4. Sleep problems
Restless and crying, difficulty falling asleep or restless sleep, sweating profusely or night sweats.
How to deal with food retention in children
1. Exercise after meals
Many people believe that exercising after meals can be detrimental to health, but for children with food retention, doing some gentle exercises after meals can aid digestion. It is recommended to take children to the park for a walk after meals or use some fitness equipment in the community to promote digestion.
2. Pay attention to diet
If a child has food retention, it is best not to let them eat foods that are difficult to digest. Since a child's digestive function is not yet fully developed, it is recommended to eat easily digestible soups, fish, vegetables, and avoid the condition of food retention becoming more severe.
3. Massage therapy
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that using massage can help alleviate the symptoms of food retention in children. When a child has food retention, they can receive massages such as back massage, abdomen massage, and pressing the Yongquan acupoint. These three massage techniques combined can improve food retention.
4. Pay attention to zinc supplementation
Some experts believe that food retention in children is due to a lack of zinc, so parents can let their children eat more lean meat, pork liver, and egg yolks, which are high in zinc. However, zinc supplementation should not be excessive to avoid zinc poisoning.
Avoid giving children the following foods as much as possible
1. Instant noodles
One pack of instant noodles can contain up to 25 food additives, including monosodium glutamate, caramel color, citric acid, and tert-butylhydroquinone. Prolonged consumption of products containing citric acid by children may lead to hypocalcemia.
2. Ham sausages
They contain additives such as sodium nitrite and potassium sorbate. Sodium nitrite can generate carcinogenic substances called nitrosamines in the body.
3. Preserved fruits
They contain additives such as citric acid, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate. Sodium benzoate can destroy vitamin B1 and affect calcium absorption in children.
4. Jelly
The most common additives used are potassium sorbate, citric acid, and carrageenan. Excessive intake of potassium sorbate can cause allergic reactions and affect calcium absorption in children.
5. Ice cream
The most common additives used are artificial flavors, thickeners, and artificial synthetic colors. Some artificial colors are not permitted for use in food according to foreign regulations.
6. Biscuits
They contain additives such as sodium metabisulfite, citric acid, and sorbitol. Excessive sodium metabisulfite can damage cells and has biological toxicity.
7. Milk tea
They contain additives such as potassium sorbate and sodium hexametaphosphate. Excessive consumption of sodium hexametaphosphate can cause calcium metabolism disorders.
8. Chewing gum
It may contain additives such as aspartame, sorbitol, and citric acid. Excessive sorbitol can cause diarrhea.
