The benefits of beets
- With regular use, beets will help strengthen the vascular wall, normalize the work of the hematopoietic system.
- Improves digestion, prevents constipation.
- The high content of various vitamins contributes to the improvement of intelligence, general physical development.
- The high content of iodine and iron helps prevent diseases of the thyroid gland and blood.
- Beets have an immunomodulatory, antioxidant effect.
- This root vegetable is a powerful hepatoprotector that improves the functioning of the biliary system.
- Contains betaine. Thanks to him, beets have such a rich red hue.
- Beetroot dishes are great for children with nervous excitability.
Negative properties of beetroot dishes
- beets contain nitrogenous compounds that, passing through the kidneys, can disrupt their function. Therefore, you should not get carried away with beets every day;
- high allergy of the product;
- lowers blood pressure (negative effect under reduced pressure).
When to start feeding beets?
Children with the manifestation of diathesis are better off starting to eat beets after a year.
The optimal age when you can start giving your baby beetroot puree is 7 to 8 months.
Beets are one of the last to be introduced among all vegetables. This is due to the fact that it causes allergic reactions more often than others.
Beets are high in fiber and have a laxative effect. This occurs due to increased intestinal peristalsis and accelerated movement of feces.
If the baby is breastfed, then the mother can try the beets herself and watch the baby's reaction.
How to introduce beets?
The most optimal way to introduce beets into the baby's diet is to give them in the form of puree. You can use it both as an independent dish, and as part of complex mashed potatoes and with the addition of meat. Homemade mashed potatoes, cabbage and beets are especially good for babies.
How to make beetroot puree?
We introduce gradually, starting with ½ teaspoon.
Always start introducing a new meal in the morning to see if there is any allergic reaction.
- The beets should be washed.
- You need to cook it for a long time, about 1.5 hours.
- The readiness of the beets is determined with a knife. If the knife runs smoothly to the middle of the beet, it's done.
- After that, the water must be drained.
- Pass the boiled root vegetable through a blender or meat grinder, then grind through a sieve for uniformity.
- Beet puree can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day. Therefore, you don't need to do too much of it.
Be sure to add ¼ teaspoon vegetable or olive oil to the beetroot puree.
It is better to start introducing beets for a child as part of other vegetables - cauliflower, zucchini. Then, when the baby gets used to it, you can give it as a separate dish.
By 10 - 12 months, if the baby has teeth, you can make beetroot salads with sour cream, vinaigrette. Beetroot salad for children will perfectly complement the dinner with its pleasant taste.
The prepared salad cannot be stored in the refrigerator for more than a day, it loses its useful properties.
By the age of one year, the baby can consume up to 50 grams of beets, but not more than 2 times a week. Children over one year old can be given up to 100 grams. In vegetable salads, beets should be present up to ¼ of the whole dish.
Should you give your baby beet juice?
Boiled root vegetable provides more benefits than raw beet juice. During heat treatment, nitrates are destroyed. So beets are better absorbed in a small organism.
This kind of juice should not be given if the child has:
- diabetes;
- a tendency to loose stools;
- kidney disease;
- gastritis with high acidity.
The allowed age for beet juice is 12 months.
Be sure to dilute it with water or other juices. This is due to the fact that beets irritate the stomach and intestinal mucosa.
Beets color urine pink and feces burgundy. Do not be alarmed if you see these changes in the pot.
Dr. Komarovsky E.O .: “Of course, beets are important in the life of both an adult and a child. Contains a lot of trace elements, vitamins, which are useful to all organs and systems. Also, beets have a pleasant sweet taste, and children are known to love sweets. Buy beets in trusted stores, but rather grow it yourself. "
The crumb does not eat beets
You cannot force-feed a child. This can make him averse to food in general. Try to "hide" beets in curd casseroles, pancakes, cheese cakes, salads. So the child will not understand about the content of beets in the dish.
The children's diet needs to be supplemented with new foods and tastes. Do it gradually and correctly. Then your baby will be healthy.
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