MediPharm: Conditions: Children's Health

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Healthy Eating in Children

Good nutrition and a balanced diet help kids grow, develop and learn. The development of healthy eating and physical activity habits can prevent disease and support a lifetime of good health.

When you give your children good nutrition, you are giving them the nutrient-building blocks that sustain life and that promote physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. Good nutrition is critical to optimizing each child’s potential for success. Meeting nutritional requirements throughout childhood is essential to full intellectual development. Research showed that undernutrition impacts children’s behavior, performance and overall cognitive development.

Colds & Flu in Children

Both the common cold and the flu are infections of the respiratory tract, which includes the throat, nose, airways and lungs.

Although the common cold and the flu share many similar symptoms, they are two different conditions.

The symptoms of a cold include:

Fever up to 102°F (38.9°C)
Runny or stuffy nose (often with green or yellow-colored discharge)
Sore throat
Cough
Sneezing
Fatigue and muscle aches
Headache

The symptoms of the flu include:

Fever up to 102°F (38.9°C)
Stuffy nose
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Chills and sweats
Fatigue and muscle aches
Cough
Headache
Loss of appetite

Nutrition Your Child

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential in the diet of all children. However, few foods actually are rich in vitamin C. Citrus fruits are among the few foods that are rich sources of vitamin C. Ensure that your child consume at least one high-vitamin C fruit as part of the recommendation for five to nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables. As a water-soluble vitamin, vitamin C is not well retained by the body. A study recently showed that plasma (blood) vitamin C levels drop onto the deficient or depleted range within one to three weeks when high-vitamin C vegetables and fruits are removed from the otherwise healthy diets.

Vitamin C deficiencies are characterized by anemia, bleeding gums, breaks in capillary walls, emotional disturbances, impaired digestion, loose teeth, lowered resistance to infections, nosebleeds, scurvy, slow healing of wounds or fractures, swollen and painful joints, and the tendency to bruise easily.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a microscopic alga that possesses diverse biological activities and nutritional significance due to its high concentration of natural nutrients. It is rich in proteins, vitamins, essential amino acids, phycocyanin, chlorophyll, minerals and essential fatty acids like γ-linolenic acid (GLA). Next to mother's milk, spirulina can be considered one of the best known sources of this important fatty acid, which is important for growth, development and immunity.

Spirulina can be a healthy part of your child's diet every day. Spirulina offers remarkable health benefits to an undernourished child. It is rich in beta carotene that can overcome eye problems caused by vitamin A deficiency. In fact, spirulina contains more beta-carotene than carrots. The easily digestible protein and B-vitamin complex make a major nutritional improvement in a child's diet.

Spirulina

Vitamin C-250 mg