“Good Nutrition is a foundation of a child’s survival, health, and development”.
What are your insights on this quote?
I definitely agree with the quote as good nutrition is vital in keeping a good foundation for a child's survival, health, and development. Good nutrition helps in improving the child's immunity against different diseases and illnesses, ensures healthy development of the brain and other essential organs in the body, and enhances a child’s activity levels and cognitive performance. Moreover, good nutrition in children is critical since it sets the foundation for them to have a healthy and balanced lifestyle throughout their life. Without proper nutrition, children are at risk of malnutrition. According to UNICEF, around 95 Filipino children die because of malnutrition. Children that are malnourished could be undersized for their age, underweight or bloated, listless, and have impaired immune systems. Nutritional deficiencies can disrupt any organ system in the body, as well as the senses of sight, taste, and smell. Anxiety, mood swings, and other psychiatric problems can also occur with children who have malnutrition.
There are many ways in establishing proper and good nutrition in children and one of which is breastfeeding. It is encouraged and recommended that the first 6 months of the baby should be breastfeeding only. Breastfeeding is important as it helps in boosting the immune system of the baby, lowering the risk of acquiring and developing any diseases and illnesses, and improving the bond emotional bond between the mother and the child. Moreover, complementary feeding for the first 1000 days of a child is necessary for building good nutrition for the child. Complementary feeding is the combination of breastfeeding and semi-solid food foods in order to meet the nutritional requirement for a child.
References:
Smile Foundation. (2020). Importance of Nutrition. https://www.smilefoundationindia.org/blog/importance-of-nutrition-for-children/
UNICEF. (2014). Child Survival. https://www.unicef.org/philippines/child-survival
Johns Hopkin Medicine. (nd). Malnutrition. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/malnutrition
DLSUMC. (2020). The First 1000 Days. https://www.dlshsi.edu.ph/dlsumc/health-advisory/first-1000-days