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Categories Dietician for children

Lactose Intolerance 

Lactose Intolerance 

Lactose intolerance is a type of reaction to lactose present in cow’s milk or formula manufactured from it that you or your child may experience. This occurs when our bodies are unable to digest lactose, a natural sugar found in milk. Lactose intolerance affects over 70% of the world’s population. People from Asian, African, and Hispanic ethnic groupings are more likely to have it.

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

Lactose intolerance has certain symptoms that are comparable to those of a cow’s milk protein allergy. Digestion issues such as belly aches and bloating may be among them. Diarrhoea can also be a symptom.

 A lactose intolerance test, which evaluates blood sugar levels before and after drinking a lactose solution drink, may be given to confirm the intolerance.

If the test reveals lactose intolerance, you will most likely be directed to a dietician, who will advise you on appropriate meals and beverages. To ensure normal growth and development, babies and young children require the right nutrition. If your baby is bottle-fed and has lactose sensitivity, your doctor will probably recommend switching to lactose-free formula milk. Lactose replacement drops, which make it easier for your infant to digest lactose in breast milk, may aid if you’re nursing. For many babies and young children, lactose intolerance is only transitory. Within a few weeks or months, their symptoms will usually improve. It’s safe to gradually reintroduce milk and dairy into their diet at this time.

How Do You Deal With Lactose Intolerance?

When a child is diagnosed with lactose intolerance, the symptoms are relieved by avoiding milk and other dairy products. Those with primary lactose intolerance, on the other hand, have various degrees of lactase insufficiency and can tolerate varying levels of dietary lactose. Lactose-intolerant youngsters (and their parents) should be aware that symptoms caused by dairy products are usually temporary and do not cause harm to the gastrointestinal tract (as compared with celiac disease or allergic reactions, including milk-protein intolerance that can lead to ongoing inflammation and mucosal damage). Despite the fact that lactose malabsorption does not predispose to calcium malabsorption, avoiding milk products to alleviate symptoms may be detrimental to proper bone mineralization. It’s been proven that children who don’t drink milk get less calcium than they need for appropriate bone calcium accretion and mineralization.

Beyond infancy, lactose-free alternatives to cow milk based on rice, soy, or other proteins are widely accessible, albeit the nutritious content of most of these milks is not comparable to cow milk. Lactose is present in other mammalian milks, including goat milk. Tolerance to milk products may be partial, so some people may be able to avoid symptoms by simply changing their diet. Lactose in little doses, spaced throughout the day and ingested with other foods, may be tolerated in some cases, without causing discomfort. Because the bacteria in yogurt convert the lactose into lactic acid before intake, many lactose-intolerant individuals who are intolerant of milk can consume yoghurt. Furthermore, the semisolid nature of yoghurt reduces gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit, resulting in less lactose intolerance symptoms.

Aged cheeses have a lower lactose content than other cheeses and may be better tolerated as a result. Finally, oral lactase replacement capsules or lactase-enhanced milk or dairy products are widely available, allowing lactose-intolerant people to consume some or all milk products without restriction. Because the vitamin D amount of milk substitutes vary, labels must be verified to ensure that each brand’s vitamin D content is accurate.

Lactose-Free Formulas

Low-lactose and lactose-free formulas have no clinical advantages over standard lactose-containing formulas in developed countries, even in the case of acute gastroenteritis, because enough lactose digestion and absorption is preserved, except in severely undernourished children, in whom lactose-containing formulas may worsen diarrhoea and lactose-free formulas may be advantageous. In all circumstances, human milk should be continued for breastfed newborns. Despite the widespread availability and popularity of lactose-free cow milk–protein-based formulas, no research has shown that they have any therapeutic influence on infant outcome indicators such as colic, growth, or development.

Calcium Absorption and Bone Mineral Content Lactose, Calcium Absorption, and Bone Mineral Content

Recent research suggests that dietary lactose improves calcium absorption and that lactose-free diets decrease calcium absorption. Lactose intolerance (and lactose-free diets) may thus predispose to insufficient bone mineralization, a condition now identified in a variety of other paediatric illnesses. The long-term effects of lactose-free diets on bone mineral content and the risk of fractures and osteoporosis as people age have yet to be determined. Protein intake, vitamin D status, salt intake, hereditary and other factors all affect calcium homeostasis, making long-term research necessary to assess the hazards of each or all of these to bone health. Recent research suggests that genetic testing may one day be effective for detecting those at risk of lactase deficiency and, as a result, decreased bone mineral density, allowing for early management with dietary changes or nutrient supplementation.

Summary

Lactose intolerance has been recognised as a frequent condition in many children and people around the world for many years. Despite the fact that lactose intolerance is rarely life-threatening, its symptoms can cause severe discomfort, interrupted quality of life, and loss of school attendance, leisure and sports activities, and work time, all at a cost to individuals, families, and society. Treatment is straightforward and focuses on lowering or eliminating lactose, from the diet or “predigesting” it with supplemental lactase-enzyme replacement. Calcium must be obtained from nondairy sources or as a dietary supplement to avoid indolence.

Kanupriya Khanna, a Senior Consultant Nutritionist & Dietitian with over 18 years of experience in child nutrition, can provide expert advise and the right kind of diet. Kanupriya Khanna is regarded as one of the best dietitians in Delhi because of her unwavering commitment to making a difference in people’s lives by instilling good eating habits and lifestyles.

Dietary Supplements for Children
Categories Dietician for children, Nutrition Blogs

Things You Should Know About Dietary Supplements for Children and Teens

Nutrition plays a very important role in the overall development of infants and young children, especially in the first 24 months. Supplements for children can be really helpful if your family’s dietary practices are limited. Your toddler’s diet should include critical vitamins and minerals especially vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, vitamin A, calcium, and zinc. So if your family follows a strict vegan or vegetarian diet, it’s important to consult your child’s dietitian for an appropriate diet for your children. The normal protocol followed by all pediatricians and medical institutions includes a shot of vitamin D at the time of birth to your newborn baby. Breastmilk provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed by a baby for optimal growth. All infant formulas these days are also fortified with many vitamins and minerals.

Once a baby turns one year, your pediatrician will recommend an iron supplement, which is part of the normal guidelines followed all over the world for supplementation in infants.

But be cautious about how much supplement you give your baby as excessive doses can sometimes be harmful. Keep the supplement dosage as per the recommendation.

Nowadays, teenagers are amongst the largest growing population taking supplements, especially those that claim to help in muscle building, weight loss, etc. According to a national survey conducted in 2012 in the US, about one out of nine children rely on dietary supplements. But most of these bodybuilding and weight loss supplements contain harmful ingredients that are bad for their bodies and the side effects may end up messing your teen’s overall health.

Here are few things that you should know about dietary supplements for children and teens.

• Most dietary supplements claim that they are derived from natural sources, but natural doesn’t always mean safe.

• Dietary supplements are less regulated as compared to over-the-counter drugs or prescriptions.

• Various dietary supplements contain low-quality ingredients and may contain contaminants like chemicals and metals. The results of studies conducted by the “Studies of Dietary Supplements” show that the labels of some supplements are misleading.

• Some of the children end up in the emergency room every year because of unsupervised intake of dietary supplements.

• Do not confuse vaccinations with dietary supplements.

• Most body-building supplements contain hidden ingredients like steroids which can lead to liver injury, stroke, or even kidney failure.

• Supplements for weight loss is another segment that misleads their customers and can have serious side effects. They should be taken only under medical supervision.

Conclusion

Dietary supplements must be taken under the doctor’s supervision and your child’s dietitian’s advice. For expert advice on child nutrition and dietary supplements, contact Kanupriya Khanna, a senior Consultant Nutritionist & Dietitian and one of the best child dietitians in Delhi with over 17 years of experience in Child nutrition. She can help you to plan a balanced diet that can help your children in their overall development.

Most Common Food Allergies
Categories Dietician for children, Nutrition Blogs

Most Common Food Allergies Among Children

Food allergies are one of the most common problems faced by children and adults. Studies predict that about 5% of adults and 8% of children are affected by food allergies. In this article, we will look into some of the most common food allergens, their symptoms, and treatment.

What is a food allergy?

Food allergy is said to occur when on the consumption of a specific food, your body triggers an abnormal immune response. Your system recognizes this food as a threat and triggers protective measures which can cause different types of reactions in the body.

Symptoms of Food Allergy

The symptoms of allergies can begin anywhere within minutes of ingesting the particular food, to an hour or more after taking the food. Some of the mild symptoms include:

  • Swelling of lips, mouth, and tongue
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Cramps

Some of the more severe reactions include:

  • Hives
  • Eczema
  • Low blood pressure
  • Tightness or swelling in the throat
  • Difficulty in breathing

As per the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious disease, even a small amount of allergic food can cause severe reactions in people with allergies.

Is food intolerance different from food allergies?

Some people often mistake food intolerances for food allergies. Food intolerance occurs when your body cannot digest specific foods. Certain foods might also irritate the digestive system of your body causing food intolerance. Food intolerances are not life-threatening as compared to severe food allergies.

What foods can cause food allergies among children?

Studies show that there are eight common types of foods that cause allergies in children. They are:

  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Wheat
  • Soy
  • Tree nuts
  • Peanuts
  • Fish
  • Shellfish

Out of the foods mentioned above peanuts, fish and shellfish generally cause a more severe reaction as compared to other foods.

Possible treatments of food allergies

There are no permanent treatments for food allergies. In order to control them, you must avoid the foods that cause the reactions.

You should also consult your child’s dietitian or doctor to make sure you are taking important vitamins and minerals that you might not be taking because of certain food allergies. In severe food allergy cases, your doctor can also prescribe an emergency kit including epinephrine which can help you with a severe allergic reaction.

Some children may outgrow the allergies as they grow older and their immunity improves. Others may not outgrow their food allergies at all. So it is advisable to consult your child’s dietitian.

Contact Kanupriya Khanna, one of the best dietitians in Delhi holding more than 15 years of work experience in child nutrition and start a healthy journey for your child.

Categories Children Diet, Dietician for children, Nutrition Blogs

Type 1 Diabetes in Kids

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body is no longer able to produce an important hormone (insulin). As a result, the level of sugar in the blood remains higher than normal. High blood sugar levels are a problem because they can cause a number of health problems. Hence, the missing insulin needs to be replaced with injections or with an insulin pump.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include:

➢ Extreme thirst and hunger

➢ Frequent urination

➢ Unexpected weight loss

➢ Blurred vision

➢ Nausea and vomiting

➢ Fatigue, irritability, or behavioral change

➢ Foul, fruity, or sour-smelling breath, etc

• Diabetes in Kids

Just like adults, kids also suffer from Type 1 diabetes. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. However, as per health experts, genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role in this process.

All the above symptoms of type 1 diabetes are common in kids as well. At times, the first sign of diabetes in kids is bedwetting.  Diabetes should also be suspected if a girl hasn’t started puberty, yet gets a vaginal yeast infection.

In most cases, the symptoms aren’t always obvious, as they take a long time to develop.

• Diagnosis

Diabetes can be done by testing blood and urine samples. It helps detect the glucose level in the body. The doctor may also ask about the family’s health history, in order to confirm the disease.

• Treatment

➢ Kids with type 1 diabetes are given insulin injections or insulin pumps daily – to keep the blood glucose level within normal ranges.

➢ Regular monitoring of sugar levels is compulsory.

➢ The treatment also requires regular exercise and changes in the health diet plan.

• Meal Planning

Everything your child eats can affect their blood sugar level. Hence, meal planning is important if your child is suffering from Type 1 diabetes. While your child doesn’t have to avoid any particular foods, you would want to keep the below tips in mind:

➢ Increase fiber in your child’s diet plan. It will not only help the child maintain an appropriate weight, but will also help him/her control the overall blood sugar level.

➢ Serve healthy carbohydrates, at every meal.  Examples are whole grains like millets, quinoa, amaranth or rajgira, brown rice, whole-wheat roti, oatmeal, etc.

➢ Do not serve sugary drinks or carbonated drinks. Instead, try infusing your drinking water with fresh fruits and herbs. Make sure you do not add sugar.

➢ Restrict fast foods from your child’s diet plan.

➢ Serve freshly cooked homemade food as much as possible.

➢ Change your cooking methods. Instead of frying, choose healthier options like baking, boiling, or steaming, etc

➢ Don’t let your child skip meals, even if your child is trying to lose weight.

➢ Serve fruits, salads or homemade soups in between, to avoid hunger.

Remember, there’s really no such thing as a diabetic diet. It’s just that you need to make healthier choices when it comes to your child’s meals and snacks.

However, if you need personalised help – consult a dietitian Kanupriya Khanna. One of the best child dieticians in Delhi, Kanupriya can help you build the best diet plan for your child.

food recipes for kids
Categories Children Diet, Dietician for children, Nutrition Blogs

Changing Your Cooking Method to Make Unhealthy Food Healthy

Changing Your Cooking Method to Make Unhealthy Food Healthy

If you are serious about eating healthier you need to shake up, and change certain cooking habits. Healthy cooking doesn’t mean you need to be a chef or a cooking expert. By just following some basic cooking techniques you can prepare the best food in healthy ways.
Here in this section, we have listed down some simple cooking tips. You can use them often to transform unhealthy recipes into healthy ones.

Change Unhealthy Cookware


Many people choose non-stick Teflon cookware because it’s convenient and ubiquitous. But not everyone knows that this cookware contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – which is further linked to several types of disease.

There is a rise in the cases of precocious puberty in young girls nowadays, and studies have shown a relationship between Teflon cookware and precocious puberty.

Go back to the basics, and use cookware made of stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic, etc.

Bake, Broil, Grill, Roast and Steam

food recipes for kids
Instead of frying food, choose for other healthy cooking techniques like baking, broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming. By using these techniques, you can cut fats from your diet.

These techniques require less or no oil and reduce the risk of many lifestyle disorders.

Choose Healthy Substitutes


Always include healthy substitutions in your diet plan. Healthy substitutions not only reduce the amount of fat, calories, and salt in your recipes but can also improve its nutritional content.

For example:
➢ Instead of white pasta, choose multigrain or whole wheat pasta
➢ Amaranth or rajgira is another super food to boost the immune system. It can be used instead of rice in various preparations.
➢ Use toned milk instead of whole milk
➢ Instead of sour cream use Greek yogurt
➢ Use nuts and seeds as cake/muffin toppings instead of cream
➢ Prepare frozen fruit sorbets with banana as a sweetener instead of consuming store-bought ice creams
➢ Use jaggery or honey instead of refined sugar as a sweetener

Explore New Ways To Flavor Foods


Try creating meals with natural flavorings. It is one of the best ways to add colour, taste, and aroma to foods without adding fat or salt.
Tips:
➢ Use homemade spice powders, instead of packed ones
➢ You can add pinches of dried herbs in the earlier stages of cooking, instead of prepackaged seasoning mixes.
➢ Some vegetables and fruits like mushrooms, chilies, cranberries, cherries — give away a more intense flavor when dried than when fresh. Add them when you want a burst of flavor.

The tips outlined above will significantly improve your health. It will boost your immunity, lower the risk of disease and help you maintain an appropriate weight.

You can also seek guidance from a registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes. The dietician will help you prepare healthier versions of your favorite recipes, in simple ways.

Kanupriya Khanna is one such dietitian in Delhi – who can give you concise advice on how and what to eat. Check her website at https://kanupriyakhanna.in for some healthy diet plans and food recipes for kids. You can also get in touch with her at https://kanupriyakhanna.incontact-us/

easy dinner recipes for kids
Categories Dietician for children, Recipe

8 Easy Dinner Recipes For Kids

Want to engage your child is a healthy nutritious meal? Discover these easy dinner recipes for kids  that will have them asking for more.

Beetroot Rice

Dietician for children
Beetroot rice is a quick and easy dinner recipe for kids. It is an excellent way to include beetroot in your kid’s diet.
To prepare this dish take a small vessel with ghee or oil. Saute various Indian spices with ginger garlic paste, chopped chillies, onions and tomatoes. Later add grated beetroot, potato cubes, green peas and fry it for 2-3 mins. Next, add rice along with the required quantity of water and allow it to cook until done. You can serve beetroot rice with cucumber raita or with an egg, or with any of your or your kiddo’s favorite sides.
This dish so colourful and appealing that even beetroot haters might crave for more!

Palak Roti

dietitian for kids
Palak roti is a healthy snack for kids. Simple and easy to prepare – this snack is scrumptious and tempting.
To prepare this dish, mix palak puree with wheat flour and various other spices. Knead the dough well and prepare small balls from it. Next roll them into rotis and roast them in your normal cooking pan. Once cooked, you can either serve them with a vegetable or with some raita.
Palak has lots of iron. So ensure you pack these for your kids’ lunch box as well.

Vegetable Rice Cutlets

Easy dinner recipes for kids
Vegetable rice cutlet is one of the easiest dinner recipes for kids.
To prepare this dish blend boiled rice with a mixture of vegetables. Shape the mixture in the form of round patties and grill it or roast it .
Crispy and delicious – this kid-friendly vegetable dish is a perfect accompaniment with chapatti, paratha, and puris. You can also serve these cutlets with inside a burger bun with some cheese, salad leaves & sliced tomatoes.

Veggie Packed Burger

food recipes for kids
Burgers are easy on the purse, quick to make, nutritious and kids love them!
To prepare this dish combine mashed boiled quinoa, rajma with different vegetables like carrot, capsicum, peas, cabbage etc. You can add different Indian spices to the mixture, as per your preference and taste. Once combined, shape the mixture into patties. You can grill or just roast the patty, the choice is yours. Serve the patty inside a burger bun.One bite of this multi-packed veggie nutritious burger and those little taste buds will dance with happiness and joy.

Aloo Egg Curry

easy dinner recipes for kids
This recipe is the daily doze of protein your kids need.
To make this delicious recipe, boil the eggs and remove their shells. In a separate pan fry chopped onions, tomatoes, and potatoes with various spices to prepare the gravy (add water as required). Once the potatoes get cooked, add the boiled eggs to the gravy.
Extremely luscious – you can serve this dish with some delicious home made whole wheat tortilla or homemade chapattis.

Fish Tacos     

dietician for children                                                                                                                                                           Fish is packed with omega 3 fatty acids. Hence we give you this inventive method to introduce more fish into your kid’s mealtime.
To create this kid-friendly dish you can use any kind of white fish. In a bowl, combine boiled shredded fish with finely chopped tomatoes, red bell pepper, lettuce, onion, halved lime juice, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Put the mixture into whole wheat tortillas and roast it. You can serve this dish with a some tomato sauce and homemade curd.
Healthy and nutritious – this dish will surely tempt your children to try something new.

Pasta and Chicken

child nutritionist
This dish is chock-full of textures and flavors, featuring cooked chicken, pasta, and lots of vegetables. It’s a perfect dinner recipe for kids who love to eat something fancy and delicious.
To prepare this dish, take some olive oil in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions, green bell pepper, carrots, mushrooms, olives, black pepper, along with boiled pasta and shredded chicken pieces.Later transfer the mixture into a baking dish and toss it with coarsely ground oats, shredded cheese. Bake the dish for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly and the oats topping is lightly browned. Serve hot with salad or with crispy buns.
When it comes to weeknight dinner recipe for kids, pasta and chicken are king. Luscious, lip-smacking and healthy this dish is inviting and appealing on the dining table.

Chicken Stew

food recipes for kids
Chicken stews are packed with nutritious vegetables; they don’t require a lot of fussy arrangements and only take one pot to prepare.
To prepare this dish sauté chopped onions and garlic in a pan. Later add herbs, spices, various vegetables, chicken pieces, and the broth and cook until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is cooked.
Once all the ingredients are cooked – season the dish with salt and black pepper (optional).You can serve this dish with rice or rotis, as per your preference. Economical, packed with protein and blessedly mild in flavor, this dish rules the roost when it comes to planning easy dinner recipes for kids.

If you are looking for more such fun and easy dinner recipes for kids contact Kanupriya. One of the best child dieticians in Delhi, Kanupirya will help make your kid’s weeknight meal planning easy for you!

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