Ayurvedic Perspective of Undernutrition in Children

Good nutrition is essential for the physical and cognitive development of a child, especially during the early stages of growth. There are certain circumstances in which your child lacks sufficient nutrition and essential minerals to lead a disease-free and healthy life. Undernutrition is a serious concern discussed globally in which your little one is prone to stunted growth and chronic illness. The beautifully woven Ayurveda preventive approach has a unique perspective to deal with childhood nutritious deficiencies. So read along to understand the Ayurveda Perspective of Undernutrition in Children. 

Ayurvedic Perspective of Undernutrition in Children

Nutritious food(Ahara) during childhood (Balyavastha) is the need of the hour to keep your child nutritionally fit and healthy. Ayurveda taught to stick to a balanced healthy diet that improves their digestion, immunity, energy, and overall health. Ayurveda formulas along with simple daily habits for the diet can support the growth, development, and health of your child without any side effects. 
According to Ayurveda, and Agni, the digestive fire happens only when the food intake is burnt properly, and there is minimal production of waste through the body. Ayurvedic treatment for malnutrition in children provides wholesome nourishment to improve the physical and mental performance of your child by boosting prompt immunity. Read more about the role of Ayurveda in child care and understand the perspective of ayurvedic nutrition in children.

Five Warning Signs That Your Child Is Malnourished

Malnourishment or undernutrition in children is the condition in which your child does not receive essential nutrients, minerals, and calories due to digestive disorders, lack of breastfeeding, lack of physical activity, poor or irregular diet, and certain other reasons. A timely diagnosis of malnutrition is essential to prevent long-lasting and devastating effects such as anemia, weak bones, weak immune system, and sometimes organ failure. Spot the five warning signs of undernutrition that you should look for in your children at the initial times before it becomes worse.

• Weight loss, slow weight g ain, lack of growth, or underweight
• Tiredness and a lack of energy
•  Not eating efficiently due to stomach problems
• Diminishes behavioral and intellectual development resulting in learning difficulties
• Less active or less playful with peer groups

Five Ways for Reducing Child Malnutrition

The initial stages of undernutrition in children are recovered with proper care, parental monitoring, and consumption of a balanced and nutrient-rich diet. Here are some home remedies to recover from undernutrition in children.

• Eating a well-balanced diet that includes cereals such as wheat, barley, maize or starchy tubers or roots, vegetables, fruits, and food from animal sources.
• Consume at least 8 glasses of water each day
• Prepare and consume fresh meals to maintain the right amount of essential nutrients. Include sattvic(pure) food such as cow's milk, ghee, yogurt, paneer, whole seeds, whole grains, and natural sweeteners such as jaggery and honey in a child's diet.
• Avoid processed, packed, and preserved foods that affect one's digestive system, metabolism, and brain nourishment.
• Exclusively breastfeed infants for the child's first six months to prevent early childhood malnutrition. This promotes the perfect blend of vitamins, protein, and fat that the baby needs to grow nutritionally fit.
• Depending upon the severity and cause of nutrition deficiency, certain medications and Ayurveda therapies are suggested by the professionals to ensure your child gets the right amount of nourishment every day.

How To Prevent Malnutrition in Children

According to the holistic philosophy of Ayurveda, nutritional disorders in Ayurveda are characterized by qualitative dietary deficiency (insufficient absorption of proper nutrients), quantitative dietary deficiency (insufficient intake of proper foods), quantitative and qualitative overnutrition (overeating), toxins in foodstuffs (heavy metals, hormones) and foods that are unsuitable and unstable for your dosha.

Herbal supplements along with a healthy diet with natural additions are preventive steps to all kinds of nutritional disorders in Ayurveda. Ayurveda approaches malnutrition in such a way that natural additions are easily absorbed into the bloodstream to aid in better sleep, good memory, healthy skin, gut health, and easy metabolism in children.
A nutritional diet along with Ayurveda herbs is the best pillar for immunity boosting to support the physical and psychological development of the child. For the prevention of malnutrition in children, parents should ensure that their child receives the right balance of nutrients through food intake and diet supplements. Once the root cause of malnutrition is identified, dietary changes are modified by the physician to rectify undernutrition in children. Take preventive diagnosis and treatment in time to reverse or rectify the adverse effects of undernutrition in children.

Every child meets with a unique constitution of their body for better emotional, physiological, and psychological nourishment. These unique steps are easily identified by an Ayurveda physician by making changes in your child's diet for better wellbeing. Consult with our Ayurveda expert at Dr. Jasnas Ayurveda Clinic LLC, Al Khallafi Building, Office M 06, Block - A, Al Mamzar, Dubai, UAE. Call us to book an appointment at +971 55 400 9339 or +971 4 252 1010