Not many parents have thought about including seaweed in their children's daily diet. In fact, the benefits of seaweed for children are numerous, you know, Bun. No need to be surprised, because the plants belonging to this group of algae are indeed rich in important nutrients.
There are several types of seaweed, including nori, aonori or sea lettuce, kelp, wakame, dulse, and kombu. The color also varies, ranging from green, red, brown, to black.
Seaweed is one of the healthy foods that can be given to children and can be processed in the form of sushi, soup, stew, salad, or stir fry.
Seaweed Nutrient Content
In 100 grams of seaweed there are about 36 calories and a variety of important nutrients, namely:
- 5 grams of carbohydrates
- 6 grams of protein
- 0.3 grams of fiber
- 70 milligrams of calcium
- 60 milligrams of phosphorus
- 350 milligrams of potassium
- 50 milligrams sodium
- 1.8 milligrams of iron
- 1 milligram zinc
- 40 milligrams of vitamin C
- 260 micrograms of vitamin A
In addition, seaweed also contains antioxidants, iodine, folate, B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin K, omega-3, choline, manganese, selenium, and copper.
List of Benefits of Seaweed for Children
Thanks to its diverse nutritional content, the benefits of seaweed for children's health are many, including:
1. Supports growth and development
To support your little one's growth and development, make sure that their daily nutritional intake is well fulfilled. The trick is to give him healthy and nutritious foods, such as seaweed.
This is because seaweed contains protein, carbohydrates, and various important vitamins and minerals, so its consumption can support children's weight gain and support brain development.
In fact, not only that, Bun, the content of choline, omega-3, and protein in seaweed is also good for supporting the intelligence of the Little One.
2. Improve thyroid function
The thyroid has a big role in the body's metabolic processes and the growth of children. To perform these functions, the thyroid gland requires iodine. Well, one of the best natural sources of iodine is seaweed.
With adequate intake of iodine, your little one's growth and development process will run more smoothly, and he can also avoid hypothyroidism.
3. Maintain digestive tract health
The benefits of seaweed for the next child is to support digestive health. These benefits can be obtained because seaweed contains fiber and prebiotics.
Fiber is able to help absorb the nutrients needed by your little one's body, while preventing him from experiencing constipation. Meanwhile, prebiotics are useful for maintaining the growth of good bacteria in the intestines.
4. Prevent obesity
If all this time your baby likes to eat unhealthy foods, such as fried foods, fast food, or instant snacks, from now on you can replace these foods with healthier options, such as seaweed, fruit, and vegetables.
Seaweed is not only nutrient dense, but also low in calories. That is, the consumption of seaweed can help keep your little one's weight ideal, so he/she avoids obesity.
5. Maintain heart health
Seaweed is one type of food that is good for consumption to reduce bad cholesterol levels in the body. In addition, the content of potassium and antioxidants are high enough to keep blood pressure stable.
This makes seaweed beneficial in maintaining the health and function of a child's heart.
6. Increase endurance
The content of protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants in seaweed are useful in maintaining a child's immune system.
By consuming seaweed, your little one's immune system can be stronger, so he will get sick less often because his body is able to fight various types of germs that cause disease.
7. Strengthens and supports bone growth
In order to achieve the ideal height, children need strong bones. To support the growth and strength of your little one's bones, he needs a variety of nutrients, such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D.
Well, this nutritional intake can be obtained from various types of food, ranging from milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, nuts, to seaweed.
Seeing that there are many benefits of seaweed for children, from now on you can include it in your baby's daily menu, yes. So that your little one gets the optimal benefits of seaweed, Mother is recommended to choose fresh seaweed.
In addition, Mother is advised to combine seaweed with other healthy foods, so that the daily nutritional needs of the Little One are well fulfilled. Food choices that can be combined with seaweed include vegetables, beans, eggs, fish, meat, milk, tempeh, and tofu.
Although the benefits of seaweed for children's health are many, you must be careful when you first give it to your baby.
The reason is, although it is rare, some children may experience allergic reactions in the form of itchy and red skin, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and swelling of the lips and mouth after consuming seaweed.
If your little one has an allergic reaction after consuming seaweed or you still have questions about the benefits of seaweed for your child, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.
