Kid's First Pediatrics

29Mar2021

Growing Healthy Bones

When you think about nutrition for your children, you are probably most concerned about limiting sugar and ensuring that your children are maintaining healthy weights. Even though your child’s bone health has probably not made it to the top of your list of concerns, this is the single most important time in your child’s life for building healthy bones. In fact, almost all of their bone mass is built by the end of their teenage years. The bone built during these beginning years will be used throughout the rest of their lives.

Nutritious Yet Delicious Foods

Now that you know just how important it is to focus on your children’s bone health, you may be wondering how they can ensure their bodies have what they need to create stronger and more resilient bones. Your first concern will certainly be nutrition. The most important vitamins include vitamin D and vitamin K. Of course, many minerals are also vital, with calcium and magnesium quickly coming to the forefront of the nutrition discussion.

Most parents know about the importance of calcium, but your children may not be interested in eating many naturally calcium-rich foods, such as cheese, yogurt, and leafy greens. Thankfully, many foods that kids do love, such as breakfast cereals, milk, and juice, are typically fortified with calcium along with vitamin D, which is necessary for your children’s bodies to make full use of the calcium they consume.

Physical Activity & Exercise

However, while good nutrition is vital for the growth of healthy bones throughout childhood, regular physical activity also plays a major role. High-impact exercises that put plenty of pressure on the bones actually help the bones grow stronger. Encourage energetic games and sports, particularly those that include jumping, such as jump rope, basketball, and volleyball. Even a high-energy family dance party counts as a bone-building exercise.

In addition to these tips, you will also want to encourage your child to stay away from soda and processed foods. Consuming these foods and drinks will actually strip bone material as the body will use bone cells to get the nutrients it needs. Instead, focus on good fats, such as avocados and nuts.

Kids 1st Pediatrics is here to help your child stay strong and healthy all the way through the teenage years. Schedule an appointment today for an annual physical or to discuss any concerns that you may have about your child’s health.

Kids Staff

Pediatrics

BonesChildrenExerciseHealthNutrition

24Feb2020

Help Your Child Build Strong Bones

Childhood is the most important time to focus on bone health because 90 percent of one’s bone mass is in place by the time he is 20. If bones are not properly built during childhood, there may not be another good time to strengthen these vital cells. In fact, this could set up individuals for osteoporosis and dangerous fractures much later in life. If you are a parent, you should be aware of three key ways that you can affect your child’s health in this matter.

Give Children Plenty of Calcium and Vitamin D

Nutrition is a key component of good bone health. You probably remember hearing your mother reminding you to drink your milk for strong bones. This tip remains true today as milk and other dairy products are great sources of the important bone mineral known as calcium. Even if your child is not a big fan of dairy products, you can find plenty of calcium in many other common foods, such as leafy greens, fish, and nuts, as well as in calcium-fortified bread and juices.

You must also give vitamin D along with calcium because it helps the body absorb this necessary mineral. Vitamin D can be found in some types of fish, as well as in egg yolks and fortified milk. If your child does not get enough vitamin D in his diet, your doctor may recommend a supplement.

Encourage Physical Activity

Weight-bearing activities are important for growing not only strong muscles but also strong bones at any age. Sadly, many children get very little activity on most days of the week, leading to weak bones. Running, climbing, and jumping are all great activities at this age.

Keep Children Away from Secondhand Smoke

Cigarette smoke is a known cause of weak bones at any age. While you may not be concerned about this for your child because he most likely has never tried a cigarette, you should be aware that many people try cigarettes for the first time at a very young age. In addition, secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous for children to breathe.

While these tips can positively affect people of any age, they are particularly important for children who are actively growing new bone cells and especially for those in their teenage years. For more information, schedule an appointment at Kids 1st Pediatrics today.