Summers are synonymous with food, holidays, parties, travel, and outdoor games. With the onset of summers, many Indian parents tend to get worried about their kids. Since its holiday time for kids, poor lifestyle and junk food can affect their health. To ensure proper nutrition, parents often commit the mistake of giving shakes and juices to their kids. Thus, they end up replacing their meals with different liquids, including mango shakes, smoothies, and lemon water. However, Jaipur doctors severely condemn this notion. Many doctors in Jaipur have strictly asked the parents to avoid fruit juices, especially in the case of kids less than 5 years.
Why Jaipur Doctors Prefer Salads and Fruits over Juices?
However refreshing and tasty as it seems, Jaipur doctors condemn fresh fruit juices, as they:
- Lack fiber and calories,
- Are at a high risk of contamination,
- Cause health-related problems,
- Fulfill all nutritional requirements.
According to Dr. R.K. Gupta, Senior Professor in Paediatric Gastroenterology and doctor at JK Lon Hospital, “Juices don’t fall into the category of good weaning foods”. Liquids are prone to contamination, hence it’s essential to keep kids away from contaminated food.
He strictly forbade parents from giving fruit juices to children below one year because of insufficient calories present in the juice. Growing kids need more energy dense food such as rice and lentils, mashed potatoes, milk and khichdi (porridge). These foods can easily replace fruit juice. Containing low quantities of fibre, juices don’t match the calorie intake of kids.
To make things worse, they can lead to further complications such as obesity, constipation and restricted bowel movement. Preservatives present in canned and bottled juices are harmful for mental and physical development, according to Dr. Tarun Patni (President, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Jaipur). Quoting the American Academy of Paediatrics, Dr. Patni said that except in medical conditions, parents must avoid fruit juice. If kids are fond of juices, parents can give them mashed fruit pulps.
Consumption of full fruits is recommended over juices.
