Benefits Of Dried Fruits For Children – Parenthood

Did you know that dried fruits have many benefits for children? Rich in healthy fats, fibers, vitamins and antioxidant minerals, they provide them with an important energy supply. They are truly an ideal snack for their health and school performance. Surprisingly, you will find that they hardly consume any. Maybe it’s time to increase their presence in their diet.

First of all, keep in mind that up to the age of 3, the child will eat crushed or mixed food to avoid the risk of suffocation. These foods are best enjoyed raw or cooked, with no added salt or sugar, and not fried.

Now let’s take a look at the benefits of consuming a handful of nuts and dried fruits (15-20 grams) on a daily basis for children’s metabolic, cardiovascular and brain health.

Benefits of dried fruits for children

Reduction of cardiovascular risks

Did you know that diseases related to the heart are the ones that cause the most deaths? However, their prevention involves food. This is where nuts and dried fruits come in, essential because of their richness in mono and polyunsaturated acids.

Thanks to phenolic compounds, whose function is antioxidant, and omega 3 fatty acids, these two fats reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and the oxidation of lipids, and produce HDL cholesterol.

In children with overweight or obesity, improvement has been observed after replacing unhealthy snacks with nuts. They not only help reduce the thickness of the carotid artery, a reliable indicator of early vascular damage, but also lower blood pressure.

Diabetes, obesity and dried fruit consumption in children

Dried fruits help reduce insulin resistance and blood sugar values. In other words, they minimize the risk of developing diabetes. As long as you keep a balanced general diet, low in added sugars and trans fats.

Another benefit of dried fruits, although very energetic, is that they do not cause any weight gain or abdominal buoyancy. Indeed, they contain 160 to 180 kilocalories per 100 grams, but are not fully absorbed due to the expense of their metabolism.

In addition, these fruits are very satiating thanks to their high fiber content. The children are thus wedged for several hours. Finally, nothing better than a handful of oilseeds to reduce constipation and the risk of colorectal cancer.

Improved school performance and immune system

Consuming dried fruits is linked to improved brain function, as the brain is 60% fat. It is therefore essential to include foods high in fat, such as nuts, in your daily routine to reduce cognitive decline in adulthood. In addition, they are great for increasing memory, learning, and the speed of cognitive tasks.

Regarding the immune system, dried fruits are rich in vitamin E, selenium and magnesium. They therefore help fight against infections caused by viruses, bacteria and external attacks such as cold.

You should also know that fibers and polyphenols are fermented by bacteria in the intestine. They therefore act as prebiotics which increase the diversity of the microbiota and maintain the integrity of the digestive mucosa. In addition, they are anti-inflammatory, which would explain their protection against obesity and other metabolic pathologies.

Conclusion…

In summary, dried fruits are very healthy foods to include in children’s breakfasts and snacks as a supplement. As you can see, they are a great help for their concentration and memory. They are also used to reduce the appearance of diseases most prevalent today. In addition, they are useful in preventing the progressive neuronal deterioration that occurs with age.

Although the best way to consume them is whole, today we find in the supermarket spreads without added sugar. They look great on bread with a few slices of banana, apple or pear and cinnamon. And even as a garnish in yoghurts! Would you like to try?