Natural Nutrition that Can Increase Children's Concentration in Autism

When we focus and concentrate on one thing, then the other things around us can be easily ignored. This is very easy for normal children to do. However, not for children with autism. Not only is it difficult to communicate, children with autism also cannot focus on things, especially those they don't like. Then how do you increase the concentration of children with autism?

Of course, as a parent you must diligently train and stimulate the focus. Practicing is necessary, but nutrients are also important in helping to increase the focus of the child. What nutrients do children need with autism so that their concentration increases?

Food nutrition can increase the concentration of children with autism

There are various ways to increase concentration in children with autism, in addition to training and stimulating their learning abilities, you can also provide foods that contain various nutrients that they need. What kinds of nutrients does he need to increase concentration?

Glutathione

Glutathione is a type of amino acid consisting of glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine. This substance acts as an antioxidant that protects the body from various poisons that enter the body. in several studies mentioned if children with autism tend to have lower levels of glutathione than other normal children.

Folic acid (Vitamin B9)

The other way to increase your child's concentration is to provide foods that contain high folic acid. Folic acid is believed to be one of the nutrients needed by children with autism.

Research shows that folic acid metabolism in children with autism is different so children need additional folic acid from consuming foods or supplements that contain folic acid. Some studies also show that folic acid supplementation in children with autism shows improvement in symptoms of autism.

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

The average group of B vitamins is beneficial for brain and mental health, one of which is thiamine. In a study published in The Journal of International Medical Research, states that this vitamin plays an important role in sending signals to the nervous system. So from that, vitamin B1 is considered to help children with autism to concentrate more on learning.

Kobalamin (Vitamin B12)

Experts believe that vitamin B12 deficiency is a risk factor for autism in children. Some studies suggest that mothers who lack vitamin B12 during pregnancy are at risk of having children with mental development disorders, one of which is autism.

Therefore, giving vitamin B12 to children with autism is believed to help maximize the development of their learning abilities, including concentration.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that is relied upon to make the brain work better. Just like previous vitamins, this mineral also has a role in the workings of the nervous system. Some researchers believe that by providing magnesium supplements, it can help children with autism grow and develop better - although this still needs further investigation.

Zinc

Zinc is also a mineral whose amount is considered lacking in children with autism. In various studies, it is mentioned that mothers who consume less zinc food intake have the potential to give birth to children with mental development syndromes, such as autism. Therefore, several studies suggest that zinc supplementation is considered to help the growth of children with special needs, such as autism.

Where can I get all these nutrients?

Of course, by consuming a variety of foods that vary every day to make your child's nutritional needs fulfilled easily. All nutrients that were previously mentioned, you can find in vegetables, fruits, food sources of animal protein such as red meat and chicken, as well as food sources of vegetable protein such as beans.

In addition, the way to increase the concentration of other autistic children is by giving them supplements, so that all these nutrients are fulfilled. Of course, you must choose supplements that are safe and natural, for example Bio Strath. Bio Strath is a supplement that contains 61 nutrients - vitamins, minerals and amino acids - that are needed by children with special needs. This supplement has even been shown to reduce anxiety and be able to increase the learning concentration of children with autism.

Rice vs Bread: Which is Better for the Children's Breakfast Menu?

Usually rice or bread is a favorite choice for parents to serve at the dinner table every morning. In addition to serving it quickly, rice and bread are easy to create into various dishes. So if you want to compare the two nutrients, which one is better used as a breakfast menu for children - rice or bread?

Ideal nutritional intake in one portion of a child's breakfast menu

Breakfast provides the energy needed by the child to get through a tiring day. The reason is, breakfast contributes up to 20-25% of the total energy needs per day (the standard calorie needs of school children aged 7-12 years are 1,600-2,000 calories). Breakfast can also help the body to be more efficient in processing food as energy, so children are less hungry.

To be able to achieve this benefit, a healthy breakfast menu for children must consist of 300 grams of carbohydrates, 65 grams of protein, 50 grams of fat, 25 grams of fiber, and intake of various vitamins and minerals. Do not be surprised to see the amount of carbohydrates needed by children. Children's glucose needs are twice as large as adults. Carbohydrates are important for improving the growth and development of a child's brain. Glucose which is broken down from carbohydrates is the main energy for the brain. In addition, glucose is also used by the brain to regulate and run the nervous system.

That's why many studies show that a high-calorie breakfast menu can help children learn better at school. This means that children can concentrate more on remembering and solving problems in each subject. But of course the selected carbohydrate sources may not be arbitrary. Rice and bread are high carbohydrate food sources. Then, which is better for children?

Healthy breakfast menu for children, better to use rice or bread?

Before deciding which is better for a child's breakfast menu, it's a good idea to first understand the concept of the glycemic index in food. Glycemic Index (IG) measures how fast carbohydrates contained in food are converted into sugar by the body. The higher the glycemic value of a food, the higher the increase in body blood sugar levels.

This level of glycemic index can affect the work of the child's brain. As described above, glucose is the brain's main energy source. Therefore, the higher the IG score of a food, the higher the blood sugar level produced, the better the child's brain works. Reporting from Harvard School that the glycemic index in white rice (72) is lower than the white bread IG score (75). So, does this mean that automatic white bread is better than rice for a child's breakfast menu? Not necessarily.

Rice or bread is actually the same

Rice and bread are actually both classified as high glycemic index foods. Foods with a high glycemic index are more quickly digested by the body so that they increase blood sugar faster. But on the other hand, the blood sugar produced will fall back so fast that those who eat high glycemic index foods will feel hungry faster.

This feeling of hunger also influences concentration while working or studying. Hunger children during teaching and learning activities tend to be more difficult to concentrate compared to those who still feel full. Conversely, foods containing a low glycemic index will make glucose levels in the blood last longer and more stable than the high glycemic index level.

A healthy breakfast menu for children is balanced

Regardless of what choices your child's carbohydrate source has for breakfast, a healthy breakfast requires a balanced portion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to keep energy levels steady throughout the day.

An easy way to determine the ideal portion of breakfast is to divide your dinner plate into four parts. Each part must be filled with each of the nutrients your body needs in the morning.

Fill the first part with complex carbohydrates, such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, or oatmeal. The second part you can fill with unsaturated fats like nuts. The third part should be filled with protein, whether from eggs or lean meat. Finally, complete your healthy breakfast menu with fiber sources such as vegetables and fruits.

Immune System for Babies Who Drink Breast Milk and Formula Milk, Which is Stronger?

The bacteria in the baby's intestine must be balanced and exactly in number. Why? Good bacteria are "soldiers" who are tasked with strengthening the baby's immune system to fight the attacks of bad bacteria that can cause illness or health problems. So, in the baby's intestines the number and type of good bacteria must be more than the bad bacteria.

Now, one way to maintain the balance of bacteria (microbiota) in the baby's intestine is to provide breast milk or breast milk exclusively in the first six months. Then what about babies who drink formula milk? Does it mean that the bacteria balance is messed up? Check out the answer below.

Know the role of bacteria in the baby's immune system

At birth, babies have a smaller number and variety of bacteria than adults. Bacteroides and Lactobacillus are groups of intestinal bacteria that play a large role in improving the baby's immune system. The composition of the bacteria will resemble that of an adult after three years.

So, the first two to three years of the baby's life are important times for the development of good intestinal bacteria. The presence of disorders during this period may be related to several childhood diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergies, Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and obesity. The normal and balanced composition of intestinal bacteria is also thought to prevent diabetes.

Why is breast milk important to maintain bacterial balance?

According to recommendations from the World Health Organization or WHO, babies are given exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Then added with complementary food until the first year. Breast milk can be continued until the age of two years.

Breast milk has a variety of functions that are good for babies. The nutrient content in breast milk is in accordance with the baby's intestine because it is easily digested. Breast milk contains passive immunity from the mother, lactoferrin and other substances that play a role in helping the baby's immune system. A study concluded that consumption of breast milk, especially during the first 6 months of life is important in the development of infant immunity.

The most important content in breast milk and related to the development of bacteria in the baby's intestine is Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO). HMOs are oligosaccharides or carbohydrate molecules that are sugar in the human body. Unfortunately, HMOs are only found in breast milk, not in formula milk.

Why is this HMO important? HMOs are sugars that cannot be absorbed by the small intestine. These oligosaccharides will be fermented by intestinal bacteria to become an energy source for cells of the large intestine and become a material for Bacteroides growth.

In addition, there are also short chain fatty acids (SCFA), one of which is lactic acid, which can be used for the growth of Lactobacillus.

Bacterial balance in the intestines of babies who drink breast milk and formula milk

The difference in oligosaccharides causes differences between intestinal bacteria of infants who consume breast milk and formula milk. When compared, Bacteroides and Lactobacillus predominate in infants who consume breast milk. These two bacteria help ripen the baby's immune system and help defend the baby's intestinal tissue.

Whereas in infants who consume formula milk, most bacteria come from Enterococcus and Enterobacteria. As a result, the formation of the baby's immune system becomes less optimal. Therefore, you should try breast milk for the baby. Do not use formula milk carelessly if you have not been consulted and recommended by a doctor.

Complete Guide to Give First Solid Food to Your Baby

Introducing the first solid baby food ideally begins when your child has entered the age of 6 months. Even so, you may not arbitrarily follow the parenting trend on social media. Check out the guide to giving the baby the first meal in this article.

Why wait for the age of 6 months to introduce the first solid meal?

Babies get the main nutrients they need from breast milk or formula until they are around 6 months old. Well, after a baby is 6 months old, breast milk alone is not able to meet its nutritional needs, so your child needs complementary foods other than breast milk. In addition, their intestines are better prepared to digest food and their tongue's reflexes are better.

At the age of 6 months, babies in general are also able to sit alone and hold objects or food around them so that it makes it easier for babies to eat their first solid food. Even so, age is not the only benchmark for giving her the first solid meal. Because some babies may not be ready to be given solid food due to various factors.

Always consult your pediatrician first as a consideration to see the readiness of your baby to be given his first solid meal.

Guide to giving baby's first meal

Introducing a baby's first meal takes time. That is why, you are required to be extra patient in doing so. Try not to worry too much about how much your baby will eat while still early. Because later there will be a day when your baby eats more, eats less, or maybe even refuses to eat at all. In general, here are some guidelines for feeding your baby first:

• Start by giving a few teaspoons of food once a day. However, try to provide different types of food every day so that the baby does not get bored quickly and is more interesting to eat the food.

• Let your baby learn to enjoy, touch, and hold his own food. If he wants, let the baby take and put the food into his mouth.

• Make sure the food you give to your little one is soft textured, easily crushed, and swallowed, thereby reducing the risk of baby choking. Remember, all foods must be soft, not spicy, and cooked well.

• Make sure you don't leave the baby alone when he is eating. This is done to anticipate that he does not choke when chewing and swallowing food.

• Do not add sugar, salt, or even honey to the food or cooking water to be consumed by the baby. Because the digestive system of your baby may not be ready to digest all these foods. So, let your child enjoy the natural taste of the food he consumes.

• Always taste the food before you give it to your little one, especially hot food.

• If you use a spoon, wait until your little one opens his mouth before you give him the food. This is because maybe your child wants to hold the spoon itself.

• Your baby does not always have to eat three times a day. It's better to eat small portions, but often compared to in large portions, but only occasionally.

• Avoid forcing the baby to eat the food. If the child is not interested at this time, it does not mean he will not be interested in eating later. You can try offering other meals the next day.

• Wear an apron on the baby's neck so that the clothes he wears are not dirty with food. Because your baby may be very enthusiastic about stirring up the food and polluting the surrounding area.

All You Need to Know About Infant Formula Milk

Formula milk is a nutritious alternative to breast milk. Although the best intake for babies is breast milk, sometimes breastfeeding is not recommended if the mother or baby has certain medical problems. Finally, giving formula milk can be an option to help the development of babies, especially newborns.

What types of formula milk are there?

There are many types of formula milk from various sources, forms and various brands. Some types of formula milk include:

• Formula milk from cow's milk. Most formula milk comes from cow's milk. Usually this formula contains protein, carbohydrates and fat in the right balance. The protein in formula milk has undergone changes so that it makes it easier to digest.

• Formula milk from soy milk. This type of formula milk is made from soy milk. Usually, babies need this type of formula if the baby has temporary lactose intolerance due to gastrointestinal infection, cow's milk allergy associated with galactosemia, and congenital lactase deficiency.

• Lactose-free formula milk. This formula does not contain lactose (a sugar contained in milk) and is usually replaced with other types of sugar, such as corn syrup.

• Hypoallergenic formula milk. This formula contains protein which has been broken down into smaller forms so that it is more easily digested by the baby. Generally, babies who need this type of formula milk are babies who have milk protein allergy or who have problems absorbing nutrients (usually premature babies).

What formula is suitable for your baby?

The number of brands of formula milk on the market might make you confused, which formula is suitable for your baby. Consult your baby doctor about which brand of formula milk best suits your baby's needs.

If your baby doesn't have allergies or doesn't have problems digesting milk, you can give formula milk made from cow's milk. However, if your baby has lactose intolerance or is allergic to milk protein, you are better advised to give lactose-free formula, soy formula, or hypoallergenic formula for your baby.

Do you need to sterilize formula milk bottles?

Before the first use, you must sterilize the pacifier and bottle in boiling water for five minutes. You can also sterilize it in the microwave.

After that, you don't need to sterilize the milk bottle every time you give your baby formula milk. You only need to wash the bottles and pacifiers with hot water and soap after each use. The reason is that unclean milk bottles can transmit bacteria.

How long can formula milk be stored in the refrigerator?

Store your baby formula in the refrigerator to prevent bacteria from growing. Formula milk should not be given to your baby and thrown away, if you have stored formula for 24 hours in the refrigerator and have been opened within 48 hours.

How long can a bottle of formula be stored at room temperature?

Baby formula milk which is left in room temperature can only last for one hour. If it has been left for more than one hour, you should not give it to your baby again.

In addition, if your baby leaves a portion of formula or does not consume it, it's best to just throw away the rest. This is because there is a possibility that the bacteria have contaminated the formula and might make your child sick.

What about formula milk with the addition of DHA or ARA?

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) are ingredients that can be found in some infant formulas, but not in all types of products.

DHA and ARA are polyunsaturated fatty acids which may be related to brain and nerve development and can be found naturally in fish and egg oils. Fatty acids are also found in breast milk. Several studies have shown that infant formula milk supplemented with DHA and ARA is useful for the development of vision and cognitive function of a child's brain.

Tips for Choosing a Safe Appetite Vitamin for Children

Children's appetite is difficult to predict. Sometimes, a child's appetite increases, so you as a parent love to see children eat heartily. However, sometimes the child's appetite can drop suddenly. This might be a normal thing. Then, when the child's appetite decreases, what should be done? Can a child be given a vitamin appetite enhancer?

Why are children having difficulty eating?

The child's appetite decreases is normal, as long as it doesn't last too long. Usually, the main cause of a child's appetite decreases is because the child is sick or not feeling well. Pain, such as fever, runny nose, flu, sore throat, stomach ache, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, or others can make a child's appetite decrease.

Your child's appetite can also decrease when the child is sad, upset, or angry. For example, when a child is sleep deprived or when the child is angry because the request is not followed, and others.

Do children need to take vitamin supplements?

Not all children need to take vitamin supplements, such as vitamin appetite enhancers. Children with good appetite do not need these vitamin supplements, because all of their nutritional needs can be obtained from various food consumption every day.

However, children with certain conditions may feel they need to be given vitamin supplements, such as:

• Children who don't eat regularly and don't get food with balanced nutrition
• Children who are very choosy in terms of food, so they don't get enough nutrition from food
• Children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma or digestive problems
• Children who consume lots of fast food or processed foods, so they get less fresh food
• Children with a vegetarian or vegan diet, or children with other limited diets
• Children who often drink lots of soft drinks, so they don't get enough vitamins and minerals

If the child does not have appetite, it is better to slowly seduce the child so that the child wants to eat, but do not force the child. Create a pleasant atmosphere while eating, so that children enjoy the food. Try also to provide food that your child likes so he wants to eat, and limit the consumption of snacks so that the child is not satiated during a big meal.

If these methods have been carried out but the child's appetite does not increase, maybe you can provide a vitamin appetite enhancer to stimulate the child's appetite.

Choose vitamin appetite enhancer for children

Before choosing vitamins for children, you should consult with your doctor first whether your child can be given vitamin supplements, especially if the child is taking certain drugs. According to WebMD, you should wait until a four-year-old child wants to provide vitamin supplements for children, unless the doctor recommends something else.

Some things that might need to be considered when choosing a vitamin appetite enhancer for children are:

• Choose vitamin supplements that are suitable for the age and needs of the child.

• Pay attention to what is contained in the supplement. We recommend that you choose supplements that do not provide more than 100% of your child's daily vitamin and mineral needs. Supplements that contain high doses of vitamins and minerals can endanger the health of children, especially vitamin A.

• We recommend that you choose vitamin supplements that are not in forms like candy and which do not contain high sugar. It is feared, children consider these supplements as sweets, so he wants to consume them again and again. Where, this will cause excessive intake of children's vitamins and minerals. This is certainly not good. If you choose supplements in the form of candy, you should keep them out of the reach of children and explain to the child that they are not candy.

• Choose vitamin supplements that have been registered and have passed the certification.

Keep in mind, even though a child has been given a vitamin supplement, you should still encourage children to eat foods with balanced nutrition. However, the goodness of natural vitamins and minerals in vegetables and fruits is irreplaceable.

How Many Eggs Can a Child Eat in a Day?

Whether it's fried, boiled, or processed into other dishes, eggs are one of the children's favorite menus. High protein in eggs is also useful to support child development. The question is, aren't eggs high in cholesterol? So, how many limits for eating eggs for children in one day? Come on, see the following review.

Information on the nutritional value of eggs and their benefits

Chicken eggs are one source of complete animal protein nutrition. Proteins, vitamins, minerals, and omega 3 are all found in eggs.

An egg contains up to 13 types of minerals, ranging from calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium, and selenium. Meanwhile, egg yolks contain more vitamins than egg whites. Each egg yolk contains seven vitamins, namely B vitamins, B-12, B6, folate, A, D, E, and K.

Eggs also contain one nutrient called choline which is very important for the body, which unfortunately is not produced by the body itself. Choline helps maintain heart health and brain function. Without these nutrients, you can also lack other important nutrients, such as folic acid.

Carotenoids in egg yolks, especially carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, are responsible for improving eye health.

According to Live Strong, Dr. Richard E. Allen explains in the November issue of American Family Physicians that toddlers must get 30% of their daily calorie needs through fat (you can also check daily calorie needs at bit.ly/kalkulatorBMR). One egg contains 5.5 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and 68 total calories. Therefore, many child health experts advise families to routinely serve a variety of egg dishes for children aged 18 months to 4 years.

Will eggs increase cholesterol in children?

It's true that eggs contain cholesterol. One egg contains cholesterol levels that are sufficient to meet the daily needs of adults. One egg yolk can contain up to 186 mg of cholesterol, while the recommended daily cholesterol consumption limit is 300 mg.

But also keep in mind that not all cholesterol is bad. Besides LDL bad cholesterol, eggs also contain good HDL cholesterol to balance it. Therefore, you do not need to worry too much about the cholesterol content in one egg for a child.

The human body also produces cholesterol naturally by the liver. So if you don't get enough cholesterol, your body will automatically increase cholesterol production. By consuming whole eggs, cholesterol levels in the body will be more balanced.

In short, cholesterol in eggs for children is not a problem. Provided that their total daily cholesterol intake from other foods remains below the 300 mg limit per day.

So, how many servings of eggs for a child in one day can be considered healthy?

One egg contains about 185 mg of cholesterol. Daily cholesterol intake of healthy children must be under 300 mg a day. As long as a child's daily diet does not exceed the amount of cholesterol intake, one egg for a child every day should not be a problem. Two eggs in one day are able to meet cholesterol needs in one day.

However, there are a number of things that parents need to pay more attention to. Also pay attention to the overall pattern and portion of the child's meal every day. Children between the ages of 2-3 years usually need 1000-1400 calories every day. Do not exceed this limit because excessive calorie intake in the long term can lead to obesity in children.

How to process eggs for children should also not be fried too often, either with butter or with oil. The healthiest egg processing technique for children is boiled.

Also note the number of eggs processed into other dishes. Cakes and biscuits, for example. Cake is generally made of 4 eggs. When cut into 8 parts, then 2 pieces of cake equal to 1 egg.