September 18, 2013

When can I introduce SALT & SUGAR to my baby?


Sumber : DoktorBudak

Q: Salam and morning doctors, may i know the age that we (parents) can start to intro salt and sugar in baby foods? (Nor)

A:  Thank you for the question.

There is no age recommendation to start salt intake. Salt, in the form of sodium, chloride and potassium is vital in the normal functioning of the body. Breast milk also contains salt in the form of these electrolytes to maintain normal functioning of the body.

However excess salt can cause serious problems to the body. The immature kidney cannot process excess salt to be eliminated into the urine. It will remain in the blood stream causing imbalance of the body function that can later cause the child to be unwell, having high blood pressure or seizures.

The recommended daily intake of salt differs according to age. Since the kidney is immature in the infancy period and gets gradually mature over time, the amount of salt recommended increases with age. This is the recommendation:

Less than 1 year:               1g/day

1 – 3 years:                       2g/day

4 – 6 years:                       3g/day

7 – 10 years:                     5g/day

11 years above:                 6g/day

Infants below 1 year old should not have excess salt in their diet since breast milk and formula milk already has the adequate amount of salt in them. It is therefore recommended not to use chicken stock or other flavouring or additives that may contain excess salt in them into the baby’s food.

With regards to sugar, it is also important for the normal function of the body. Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that provides energy to the body. There are many types of sugar but are generally classified as simple or complex sugars. Simple sugars such as glucose, fructose and galactose are the ones that are absorb in the body to provide energy. Excess of these sugars are converted to glycogen and stored in the liver. However when there is too much of sugars, the body cannot cope to store it and will start to eliminate it through the kidneys. The body tissue will become resistant to this high sugar state and will no more absorb and utilize it. Later these excesses are converted to fat.

( answered by Dr Aznor Fadly )

Related article : Baby weaning foods found 'lacking'

Ngomel KakJade: Alhamdulillah terjawab sudah persoalan kakJade akhirnya...as a new mama ni banyak benda kena kena banyak bertanya..kena gali..kena cari..kena belajar...demi mu wahai anak teruna kesayangan kami..hehe

Udah 3 hari hero ibu ni demam..Alhamdulillah hari ni dah semakin pulih..risau kalau demam lama2 ni..biasa sehari dua dah kebah..

4 comments:

Unknown said...

good info.. tq2..

alahaiii.. ciannye die.. cepat sembuh yer sayang~

Puan Kutu said...

wo baru tahu..tq ye atas info berguna ni..

si comel semoga cpt sembuh..:)

GREENJADE said...

Nafira - tentiu auntie..

GREENJADE said...

Puan Kutu - sharing is loving gitu hehehe