How can you use yogurt and honey as a magic recipe to increase your child's weight and boost their immunity?

 Mothers still insist on giving yogurt to their children from a young age, considering it one of the most important foods and a nutritional powerhouse that is easy to swallow and digest. Yogurt, as it's called in some countries, contains calcium, which is beneficial for bones and teeth in general. However, many mothers fall prey to misconceptions about giving yogurt to children. They can also add honey to yogurt to maximize its benefits for their child's health and immunity.

Yogurt with honey can be offered as a nutritional option for children, providing numerous benefits through simple dietary suggestions. Therefore, "Sayidaty wa Tiflak" (My Lady and Your Child) interviewed Dr. Mai Younes, a consultant in therapeutic nutrition, who explained how to introduce yogurt and honey as a magical recipe to help your child gain weight and boost their immunity. She discussed the frequency of serving it, the method, and the precautions associated with giving honey in particular, as it should not be given to children under one year old. All this information can be found below.

Benefits of Yogurt for Children's Health

Yogurt

Introduce yogurt to your child at an early age, as it is a source of calcium, an essential element for a child's health and bones. It is particularly beneficial during teething and walking.

Be sure to include yogurt in your child's diet, as it is rich in vitamin D, which aids in calcium absorption. Vitamin D is crucial for a child's growth and development, supporting healthy teeth and facilitating painless eruption. The teething stage, which can be tiring and stressful for mothers, is significantly lessened when the child is healthy and has adequate levels of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus.

Make sure to include yogurt in your child's diet. Because it strengthens and boosts a child's immunity and protects them from many diseases, yogurt helps prevent digestive problems, especially diarrhea. Yogurt, due to its tryptophan content, also helps children fall asleep quickly, as tryptophan is converted into melatonin. This significantly improves the child's sleep quality. Therefore, a child can eat yogurt after returning from school for a good nap, and again before bedtime to wake up refreshed and alert for school.

Offer your child yogurt according to specific guidelines, as animal protein can be obtained from other sources besides yogurt. For example, a child aged 2-3 years needs about 13 grams of protein daily, and a child aged 4-8 years needs about 19 grams. Thus, you can diversify your child's protein intake by including the protein found in yogurt daily with other sources.

Stop peeling off the creamy, gelatinous layer that forms on top of yogurt containers or bowls. Some mothers believe it will be difficult for a baby to digest or that it might be harmful. In fact, this layer, especially when it's homemade, contains a wealth of important natural antibiotics that boost a baby's immunity. It's also a source of beneficial bacteria that aid digestion and protect against digestive upset.

Benefits of Natural Honey for Children

Honey

Know that natural, white honey from a known source contributes to improving the overall health of a child's digestive system. It's particularly helpful in alleviating diarrhea. Numerous scientific studies have proven the importance of honey in treating peptic ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria.

Note that natural, white honey obtained from a reliable source, not the cheap honey sold in supermarkets, is an excellent source of antioxidants such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. These contribute to the health of human cells and protect them from damage, making it a potential preventative treatment against cancer and heart disease.

Use honey to treat coughs and colds in your child. It is an effective remedy for upper and lower respiratory tract infections and a natural way to relieve the pain of a sore throat. Older children can take it by the spoonful, while younger children can add it to sweeten hot liquids with a drop of lemon juice.

Note that honey is a good source of energy. Every 100 grams of honey contains approximately 17 grams of carbohydrates, in addition to a good amount of fructose, which is metabolized more slowly than glucose. This makes it an ideal choice for children and athletes to start their day with a healthy breakfast, providing them with energy and vitality. How often should you give your child yogurt with honey?

Give your child yogurt to reap several benefits when combined with honey, including boosting their immunity and aiding weight gain. Two to three times a week, add a spoonful of honey to a small cup of plain yogurt.

Make sure to offer homemade yogurt. You can find recipes online, as this is the best way to ensure the source of the milk used. Greek yogurt is also a good option, as it's rich in probiotics, which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. This aids digestion and helps your child gain weight by strengthening their immunity. Frequent illnesses can hinder weight gain, leaving children underweight and weak.

Simple suggestions for giving your child yogurt with honey: Gradually introduce the yogurt and honey, adding a few chia seeds after soaking them in lukewarm water for a few minutes. Don't add them directly to the yogurt.