Just like oranges and strawberries, kiwi fruit has a refreshing sour taste. However, because of the taste, some mothers are worried about giving kiwi to their children. Actually, is it safe to give kiwi to babies and what are the benefits?
Kiwi fruit or Actinidia deliciosa has the shape of a chicken egg, but bigger than that. Kiwi fruit flesh is green and the skin is grayish brown with fine hairs on the outer surface. This fruit tends to have a sour taste.
Kiwi is Safe to Give to Babies
Although it has a taste that tends to be sour, kiwi is OK and safe to give to babies as complementary foods, Bun. In addition, this fruit is one of the foods that are low in allergy risk.
Mothers can give kiwi when the little one starts learning to eat or is 6 months old. However, make sure the kiwi texture is appropriate for your little one's age.
Besides being safe, the reason this fruit should be included in the complementary food menu is because it contains macronutrients and micronutrients that can be beneficial for babies, including carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, several vitamins such as folate, vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin E, as well as various vitamins. kinds of antioxidants.
List of Kiwi Benefits for Baby's Health
Because it contains many nutrients, kiwi fruit can provide a myriad of benefits for baby's health, including:
1. Increase endurance
Kiwi fruit is rich in vitamin C. This vitamin is able to improve the work of the immune system, so that your little one can avoid the transmission of various infectious diseases, including Corona virus infection.
In addition, kiwi fruit also contains antioxidants that play an important role in preventing damage to body cells, including immune cells, caused by excessive exposure to free radicals.
2. Maintain a healthy digestive system
In 1 kiwi fruit, there are about 2 grams of fiber. Although not too much, the fiber in kiwi can help maintain the health of the baby's digestive system. In addition, about 80% of kiwi fruit is also water which can facilitate the movement of stool in the intestine, so that it can prevent your little one from getting constipated.
3. Reduce asthma symptoms
The content of antioxidants and vitamin C in kiwi is believed to be able to reduce asthma symptoms, such as shortness of breath and wheezing. A study revealed that there was an improvement in lung function in people who regularly consumed fruit, including kiwi fruit, on a regular basis.
4. Smooth blood circulation
Just like vitamin C, vitamin E contained in kiwi fruit also increases endurance. In addition, this vitamin plays an important role in improving blood circulation. With smooth blood flow, the cells in your little one's body can function optimally.
5. Prevent anemia
One kiwi fruit can meet 20% of the needs of folic acid (vitamin B9) and more than 100% of children's vitamin C needs. Both of these vitamins have an important role in the formation of red blood cells. So, meeting your little one's daily needs for vitamins C and B9 will help reduce the risk of developing anemia.
After knowing the information above, now you don't need to hesitate anymore to give kiwi to your little one, yes. However, giving kiwi to babies is only as a snack, not a substitute for the main meal.
Mother can process this fruit into pudding, ice cream, puree, toppings on oatmeal, and served directly as finger food.
For some babies, kiwi may be too sour. So, try to choose kiwis that are really ripe to reduce the level of acidity.
Mothers need to know that foods that are too acidic can cause diaper rash, because the baby's stool will also become acidic. If this happens, you are advised to delay giving kiwi until your little one is 8-10 months old.
In addition, although kiwi rarely causes allergies, it does not mean that the risk of allergies does not exist at all. If your little one experiences swollen lips, itchy skin, and vomits after eating kiwi, stop giving this fruit and consult a doctor immediately.
