Its sweet and refreshing taste makes mangoes favored by all people, including children. But, you know what, Mother? This yellow fruit actually contains many important nutrients that are beneficial for the health of your little one.
Mango fruit has a Latin name Mangifera indica. This tropical fruit is very good consumed by everyone because it is low in calories and contains a variety of nutrients needed by the body.
These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, sugar, fiber, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, B5, C, E, and K.
List of Benefits of Mango for Children
Mothers can give mangoes to your little one since he is 6 months old or when he is allowed to eat solids. This fruit can be consumed directly or enjoyed in the form of fruit salad. puree, ice cream and mango sticky rice.
The various benefits of mango fruit for children are:
1. Helps digest food
Mangoes contain the enzyme amylase, which is a digestive enzyme that plays a role in breaking down large food molecules into small ones, so that the nutrients in food are more easily absorbed by the child's intestines. Generally, this enzyme is found more in ripe mangoes.
In addition, the fiber content in this fruit is good for your little one's digestion, can make him feel full longer, and can prevent him from digestive disorders, such as diarrhea and constipation.
2. Increase endurance
Consuming mangoes regularly is also beneficial for increasing your little one's immune system. you know, Bun. Vitamin C and antioxidants present in mangoes are known to play a role in producing white blood cells to fight infectious diseases.
In addition, vitamin C and antioxidants also function to help improve the health of the cells in your little one's body, maintain the function of connective tissue, and ward off free radicals that cause various types of diseases.
3. Maintain eye health
Vitamin A and antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin The mango fruit is useful for maintaining the health of your little one's eyes. In addition, consumption of mango fruit can also help meet the daily needs of vitamin A.
4. Improve skin and hair health
Besides being able to increase your little one's immune system, the vitamin C contained in mangoes is also useful for helping the body produce collagen, which is a type of protein that plays an important role in maintaining strength, flexibility, and overall skin health.
In addition, the vitamin A content in mangoes can encourage hair growth and the production of natural oils on the scalp to moisturize it. That is why this sweet fruit can improve hair and skin health for the audience.
5. Lowers the risk of anemia
Many anemias in children are caused by iron deficiency. Although the iron content in mangoes is relatively small, mangoes are rich in vitamin C which can increase the absorption of iron in the intestines.
Therefore, to meet your little one's iron needs, you also need to give him other iron sources, such as meat, green leafy vegetables, nuts, and bread or cereals that have been fortified with iron.
Even though it is healthy and contains important benefits for children, giving mangoes to your little one should not be excessive, right, Bun. Mango fruit contains sugar which is quite high, while giving sweet foods to children should be limited to reduce the risk of obesity.
Also make sure you don't give mango juice if your little one is under 1 year old. This is because mango juice can be filling and make children not want to eat other foods. This risks causing the child not to get enough of the nutrition he or she should get.
In addition, although the occurrence is very rare, some children can experience mango allergies. If your little one has a rash, itching, or even anaphylactic shock after giving manga, stop giving this fruit immediately and check with the doctor to get the right treatment.
