General Guide On
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When you decide to give fresh fruit and vegetable juices to your kids, firstly consider their age. There are no hard and fast rules but we need to be wise as kids' tummies are much more sensitive than ours, especially when introducing new foods. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are one of the best things that you can give to your child. They contain the highest quality nutrients that are essential for your child as she grows up. Children who drink fresh juices regularly are less likely to fall sick compared to children who don't drink. |
Do not fear that juices will make your child obese. Fresh juices contain naturally occurring fruit sugar (fructose) that your child's body can easily assimilate. More and more researches and studies have confirmed that there is no association between drinking juice and being obese.
Children who drink fresh juices also tend to eat fruits and vegetables. These are the children who have learned healthy eating from a young age and will be healthier in their adult life because of the solid foundation that you have given them.
Avoid letting your child drink packet or canned "juices" that you buy off the shelves or at fast foods. Even if they boast of "real fruit" or "added calcium" or similar labeling, they most likely have only less than 10% real juice. Most of these are laden with sugar, coloring, preservatives, emulsifiers, food stabilizers, etc. Chemicals that your kids can do without.
Before you embark on safe juicing for your kids, please be sure that you yourself understand the important lessons about juicing first. Here are some other pointers to bear in mind when juicing for your kids:
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When introducing juices to young kids (under 12 years old) for the first time, always dilute the juices with one part of water (1:1). Concentrated juices are very potent and may not go down well with your child initially.
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Observe your child when you first give her juices to see if she had any pains or diarrhea or other complaints. If she does, note what fruits or probably amount that may not be suitable for her. Adjust accordingly the next time.
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Give the juice to your child in a cup, never in a bottle. Slow sucking from the bottle will bathe your child's teeth in sugar for longer periods which may corrode their teeth.
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Fruit juices contain sugar and acids that can cause tooth decays. Always give your child another cup of water after drinking juice, to rinse off the excess sugar in her mouth.
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Do not give juices to your child close to meal times. It may deter her from taking her meal as the juice may cause her to feel full. A good time to give your child juices is in the morning, together with her breakfast. Drinking juice with food will slow down the absorption of the juices, thus avoid fluctuations in energy levels. The complex carbohydrates in juices will also provide her energy for many hours in the morning when she is most active.
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Some children may like to drink fruit juices because of the sweetness. Even though juices are good for your child, always remember that moderation is best. Hydrate your child throughout the day also with plenty of water.
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