Vitamins play an important role in the life of any person. If they are in excess or, on the contrary, they are not enough, the person starts to get sick, his health worsens for no apparent reason. It is especially important that the body has enough vitamins of group A. They are responsible for the proper functioning of many internal organs, affect the condition of the skin, improve vision, and increase the body's resistance to diseases.
What is the benefit of vitamin A and how should it be given to children?
In adulthood, vitamin A deficiency is not as dangerous as it is in children. Children who do not receive the required amount of this vitamin are greatly delayed in development, often suffer from rhinitis, have poor eyesight and are prone to skin diseases. That is why a child aged from birth to one year should receive 400 mcg per day. This amount is sufficient for normal growth and proper development of internal organs. The older the child gets, the more vitamin he needs. At the age of one to three, the baby should consume at least 450 mcg, then this rate increases to 500 mcg. Doctors with a lack of vitamin A often prescribe a special diet, which consists of eating foods high in this vitamin.
What foods are high in vitamin A?
Without animal products, it is impossible to maintain a normal amount of this vitamin in the body. These include liver, fish oil, milk, eggs, kidneys, cream, and butter. Such products should be stored in sealed containers and in a dark place, as vitamin A is afraid of light and oxygen. This vitamin does not disappear during heat treatment, unlike many others.
Vegetable products should also be present in the child's diet. Although most of these foods do not contain vitamin A, it is present in the form of carotene. Once in the body, it is processed into vitamin A. Among fruits and vegetables, the highest carotene content is found in apricots, red peppers, carrots, apples and red tomatoes. Sea buckthorn can be distinguished from berries, and sorrel, parsley and spinach from herbs. These products can be used to make delicious salads, juices, or use them neat.
Of course, you cannot give such products to children under one year old. If the child is breastfed, then the mother should consume enough vitamins, including vitamin A. With artificial feeding, the child receives everything he needs from the mixtures. After a year, the baby can already be given foods such as carrots and apples, only in small quantities, so the delivery of vitamin A to the child's body is simplified.
If the child's body is critically lacking in vitamins, then the doctor may prescribe special medications that can only be given as directed. Most often these are multivitamin complexes that are selected strictly individually. It is impossible to give the child any vitamins on their own, this can lead to the development of diseases.
