The benefits of mango for baby complementary foods are very diverse. The nutritional content is quite complete, making this fruit one of the recommended foods for your little one. Come on, Bun, see more about the benefits of mango for MPASI.
Entering the age of 6 months, babies begin to need more energy and nutrients for their bodies. At this age, the supply of breast milk or formula alone is not enough to meet these daily nutrients, so babies need complementary foods to support their growth and development process.
5 Benefits of Mango for Baby MPASI
It is recommended that complementary feeding to infants come from fresh and varied food ingredients, ranging from meat, vegetables, seeds, tubers, to fruits. One of the fruits that are recommended to be included in the baby food menu is mango.
Mangoes should be given to babies because of their rich nutrition. This sweet and yellow fruit contains carbohydrates, sugar, protein, fiber, folic acid, potassium, manganese, copper, magnesium, several important vitamins, such as vitamins A, B1, B3, B5, B6, C, E, and K, as well as various natural antioxidants.
Some of the benefits of mango for baby solids are:
1. Increase body immunity
Vitamin C and antioxidants contained in mangoes have benefits for increasing the baby's immunity. Both also play an important role in fighting germs that cause various types of diseases.
In addition, mangoes can meet your little one's daily vitamin A needs. Fulfillment of children's vitamin A needs is known to reduce the risk of diarrhea and measles. So, this fruit is very suitable for consumption in the midst of the current pandemic, so that your little one is always protected by a strong immune system.
2. Prevent anemia
Fruit with Latin name Mangifera indica It also has the benefit of preventing anemia in infants, which is generally caused by iron deficiency. Although the iron content in mangoes is not too much, its abundant vitamin C can increase the absorption of iron in the intestines.
Mangoes also contain vitamin K which can prevent your little one from the risk of developing anemia. However, of course these benefits can be optimal if the consumption of mango is accompanied by the consumption of other foods rich in iron.
3. Smooth digestion
Mangoes contain the enzyme amylase which is able to break down large food molecules into small ones, so that food is more easily absorbed by the little one's intestines.
In addition, the fiber and water content in this fruit can also overcome digestive disorders that are quite common in infants, such as constipation and diarrhea. Both of these contents can also make your little one full between main meals.
4. Maintain eye health
Vitamin A along with the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin The mango fruit is known to help maintain eye health and reduce the risk of babies experiencing visual disturbances, especially those caused by exposure to sunlight.
5. Educate the brain
Mangoes are a good source of vitamin B6. One of the functions of this vitamin is to support the development of children's intelligence. In addition, vitamin B6 can also optimize energy production, which is of course very much needed by children in learning and doing activities.
Those are the various benefits of mango for baby solids. So that your little one gets these benefits, Mother can process mangoes into various forms of complementary foods, such as puree, jelly, fruit salad, mango sticky rice, or can be eaten directly as finger food.
Mother can give mango as a snack in between the main meal of the Little One. However, make sure you don't give mangoes in excessive amounts, okay? This fruit contains high enough sugar so that it can increase the risk of obesity in babies.
Giving too much mango can also fill your little one and make him not want to eat his main food. This risks making him deprived of the essential nutrients he should get from these foods.
In some babies, giving mangoes can cause allergies. If after consuming mangoes, your little one experiences itching, rash, or even shortness of breath and loses consciousness, stop giving this fruit immediately and take him to the emergency room or the nearest doctor.
