हिंदी
CHANDIGARH
Honey can be safer to add to your baby’s diet, but it’s important to wait until 12 months of age. But, there are some kinds of honey including liquid honey, mass-produced honey, or any processed food including honey, are harmful for children. Before buying the honey from the store or online, read the labels carefully.
Honey is rich in nutrition but should be given to the child when they are above 1 year as it can create infant botulism. Doctors say infant botulism is an illness that can be caused due to the early consumption of honey by tiny tot.
Honey can be added to kids’ diet in various methods such as;
- You can mix a little spoon of honey into oatmeal.
- Making a smoothie for a child, squeeze the honey into it.
- Children love waffles and pancakes in their snack time, to add nutrients to it, use honey.
- Mix honey into yoghurt.
Paediatricians recommend parents to substitute sugar with honey as it has more health benefits for children above 1 or more years old. Honey looks to taste sweeter than sugar, so you can start with fewer amounts just to add taste to the dish.
For every 1 cup of sugar called for in a recipe, substitute in 1/2 to 2/3 cups of honey, rest it’s up to the parents.
How does honey protect child health?
- Antiviral properties: Pure honey has bactericidal and antiviral properties against bacteria and enteropathogens. These aspects are the probable reason for honey’s use in Ayurvedic medicine, especially for treating cough and cold. Honey consumed in limit can prevent tooth decay. A child having a cold or cough, just give them a little spoon of honey twice a day.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: Homey has antioxidant activity that is the reason it is considered as a raw medicine for treating diseases like sore throat, asthma, gastroenteritis, etc. Just add a few amounts of honey in their dishes.
- Boost Energy- A teaspoon of honey contains approximately 20-30 calories which can be added to a child’s diet to fulfil their calorie requirement. Choose a low Glycemic index known as (GI honey) for the child as it promotes health on an overall basis.
