Parents often choose to feed their children raisins instead of the conventional sugary snacks in an attempt to create long-lasting healthy or healthier habits for the little ones. Raisins are sugary fruits that contain fiber, iron, and potassium – to name the three most important nutrients in them.
But are raisins good for children?
Low in cholesterol and low in fat, raisins make a good addition to children’s diet.
Advertisement:
However, because they are high in sugar, it is important to look after children’s teeth, especially to attend to a child’s permanent teeth to prevent tooth decay and cavities.
Although some nutritionists and pediatrics believe that raisins cause as much damage to the teeth as candy, others maintain that the fruit actually prevents and fights-off cavities. Raisins were found in more recent laboratory studies to contain phytochemicals that protect the teeth against cavity-causing bacteria.
With special care to the child’s teeth, raisins can become part of the daily diet served with other dried fruits and nuts or incorporated into meals.
How are raisins good for babies?
The American Academy of Pediatrics took raisins off the list of choking hazards in 2010. The decision was based on not having registered cases of children choking on raisins, which encouraged more parents to start feeding their babies these nutrient fruits.
Raisins can be given to babies from as early as 8 months old or as soon as the baby is ready for finger food. Because they are chewy and tend to stick to the teeth they should be given as part of a meal to make sure leftovers from the fruit are dislodged.
Otherwise, raisins should be fed one by one and always under supervision. It’s best not to feed raisins in a moving car or if the baby experiences any physical problem.
Babies can benefit from raisins in a number of ways.
- The physical development of a baby depends a lot on proper nutrition and raisins contain many nutrients that help with developing a strong brain and body. Iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium are some of the most beneficial and relevant components in raisins.
- Babies who experience constipation can benefit from raisins as natural laxatives. Regular intake of raisins regulates a baby’s digestive system in a positive way to prevent constipation, and babies who get constipated can be fed raisins to relieve the condition.
- Raisins are some of the best fruits to eat for brain damage and brain injury, playing an important role for the central nervous system. Babies who are fed raisins from an early age and are kept on diets highly nutritious are less likely to develop brain injuries in the future.
Advertisement:
Raisin water is also recommended when babies have problems with new food.