Egypt's Health Minister reviews upgrades at Gustave Roussy Hospital    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Suez Canal Bank partners with CRIF Egypt to advance sustainability through Synesgy    Russia hits Ukraine with huge barrage as first Australian tanks arrive    Russia unveils 'Kinzhal' interceptor drone to counter low-altitude threats    Lebanon's PM says US proposal includes full Israeli withdrawal, state control of arms    Saib reopens Mansoura branch after comprehensive renovation    ABE signs cooperation protocol to finance beneficiaries of state-owned lands in Minya    Sandoz Egypt introduces OMNITROPE 15mg biosimilar growth hormone for the treatment of short stature    Egypt After 2025: Navigating a Critical Inflection Point    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A mother's call
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 19 - 03 - 2013

A mother's responsibility for her kids' health starts at pregnancy. “A mother who is iron-deficient through her pregnancy risks giving birth to an iron-deficient infant,” Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, who is medical director of Nutricia Middle East and Africa, told Nesmahar Sayed. One of the main goals is to raise awareness among mothers of the importance of iron and the idea of balanced nutrition for children and toddlers. “As for breast-fed babies, healthy nutrition for the mother is a must, in addition to avoiding giving children under three any cow milk,” he said.
According to Egypt's Demographic and Health Surveys, two in three infants aged 6-12 months in Egypt suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. “Iron deficiency leads to hyperactive kids and kids who suffer from lack of concentration,” according to Sanna Youssef, a professor of paediatrics at Ain Shams University and the founder of the first clinical nutrition unit at an Egyptian university in the late 1990s.
Youssef believes that the high frequency of iron deficiency among children in Egypt comes from unhealthy nutritional habits especially among the young generation. Many working mothers are also used to eating fast food, which affects the iron levels in their bodies. As a result, their breast-fed babies are at a high risk of iron deficiency. For toddlers, the problem is compounded by a culture of appeasement in Egypt that relies on giving them sweets and unhealthy food. “We should really try to limit how much sweets we give our children during any given day or week,” Youssef added.
When we contemplate the shocking statistics that the highest prevalence of cancer among children under the age of two is in Egypt, we can see how crucial it is to focus on healthy nutrition. One way to do this, according to Youssef, is to make it a point for families to eat together at specified times like in the good old days. She emphasised that iron should be supplemented when the kids begin eating.
Healthy food:
· A plate should be divided into four quarters; half for vegetables and fruits and half divided into two parts, one for carbohydrates, such as rice and pasta, and the other for meat.
· Dairy products daily: one cup of milk and yoghurt or custard or pudding.
· Nuts and dried fruits.
· Orange juice.
· Green leafy vegetables (spinach-broccoli).
· Alfalfa and molasses (the best sources for immunity).
Foods to avoid:
· Packed juices.
· Sweets, biscuits, chocolate (except for once or twice per week).
· Processed foods (sausages, hamburgers).
· Excessive saturated fats.


Clic here to read the story from its source.