So are Fats Really Bad For Children? A lot of parents have a misguided understanding about fat when it comes to their child. In fact, fats, especially essential fatty acid or EFA are very important for the development of the child.
Children need a combination of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to grow and develop optimally. Reserves calories needed should contain at least 15% protein, 30% fat, and the rest are from carbohydrates.
Fats are usually blamed for many health related problems and while it is true there are good fats that are actually very important as an energy source for body cells growth including brain cells.
As a mother, you need to understand more about type of fats for growth and development of your children.
Every day a child needs a balanced composition of carbohydrates (50% -60%), protein (15% -20%), fat (30%) and various vitamins. Today many people have some kind of phobia of the word fat. However, this is incorrect. Not all fats are bad for your body and some fats are even required especially for children ages 1 to 5 for optimal growth.
Ages zero to three years are the most important period in the growth of children. The development of their brain is much more rapid compare to their physical development at these ages. Their brain grows as much as 80 percent towards their adult brain.
For children optimum growth, their fat intake should meet the 30 percent composition and it is important to understand the type of fat needed for growth. Of the total 30% of fat consumed, preferably not more than 7% fat is saturated fatty acid (SAFA), and while the rest are unsaturated fatty acid (UFA).
From this unsaturated fat, around 6 to 10 % are usually Poly Unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and 15 to 19% are Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA). These PUFA and MUFA are very important for children growth. PUFA or essential fats that are needed for growth are especially omega 3 and omega 6.
A balanced intake of essential fats can help shape and integrate the children cell membrane, making it flexible and better and easier nutrients absorption and removal out of the cell. Essential fats also have an active role in the nervous system and hormone formation.
Essential fats also have a positive impact on cardiovascular health. This should really get special attention considering the factors that cause cardiovascular disease has increased in modern times, and prevention efforts must begin at an early age.
Even children who are obese still need essential fats, because essential fats are one component in the formation of the cell. Lacking essential fats can cause the body’s cells to be easily damaged and can lead to serious health problems later on in their life. So now you have the answer to are Fats Really Bad For Children.
