There is an old saying that beans are good for heart and should be included in daily diet. They are best sources of protein from vegetable world. Read on to learn about many health benefits of beans for kids.Proteins are building blocks of our body and so extremely important for everyone. However, it becomes all the more important for kids because it is their growing age. Proteins can be obtained from animal as well as plant sources.
Although almost everything that we eat from the vegetable world has some quantity of protein, but beans and legumes have the most. In fact, beans have some health benefits that even animal sources do not have. It contains high amount of dietary fibre, vitamins, essential minerals and antioxidants.
Why You Must Include Beans in Your Child’s Diet?
You must consult a paediatrician before including beans in your child’s diet as they are heavy to digest. Have a quick look at the health benefits of beans for kids.
1. High Source of Protein
Beans are one of the highest sources of protein among all edible products of plant kingdom. If added in daily diet, it fulfils the requirement of protein for your child.
2. Good Source of Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins needed by your child. It helps promote
eyesight, strengthens the
immune system and is also a powerful antioxidant.
3. Good Source of Folic Acid
Folic acid helps in producing red blood cells which are extremely important to supply nutrients to different parts of the body for apt and quick development. It is also useful in strengthening brain cells and is very helpful in apt working of the
brain.
4. Good Source of Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps improve immune system and saves your child from falling sick easily. It also prevents your child from common cold, cough and similar health ailments. In addition to this, vitamin C acts like an antioxidant and helps keep free radicals away.
5. Dietary Fibre
Green beans are full of dietary fibre and so helps your child have regular bowel movements keeping diseases away and promoting good appetite as well. Dietary fibre absorbs water and helps flush out all the impurities out of the body.
6. Antioxidants
In addition to vitamins, beans are good source of antioxidants also. They help neutralize the free radical which would otherwise damage the cells and even the DNA. Therefore, it is very important to include antioxidants in the daily
diet of your child.
7. Minerals
In addition to vitamins, dietary fibre and antioxidants, beans are good source of some essential minerals required by growing children. Minerals are helpful in carrying out different bodily functions.
Right Time to Add Beans to Your Child’s Diet
Introducing beans too early may cause indigestion and also may cause certain other issues. So, it is advisable to start adding green beans to the diet of your child after he or she is one year old.
Once you know about the health benefits of beans, you would definitely try introducing them into your child’s diet. Here you need to be slightly careful and start with small amounts and then gradually increase. Beans can be heavy for your kid and so starting with 2 – 3 teaspoons is advisable especially if they are very young.
There are many different ways you can add beans and legumes to the daily diet of your child. Make sure you keep in mind the best way he or she likes and also the best process of cooking in which the nutritional value is at the top. Try to offer beans in different ways and by changing the recipe so that your child likes to have them and become stronger.
Is it safe to include beans in the diet of children? When to introduce beans in the diet of children? How to include beans in the diet of children? Discuss here.