Cereal breakfast gives your children the start they need.IRON deficiency iron deficiency A relative or absolute deficiency of iron which may be due to chelation in the GI tract, loss due to acute or chronic hemorrhage or dietary insufficiency Sources Meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables, cereals, especially if fortified with iron; per the in British children is surprisingly common, despite most being well-nourished. If it becomes severe, the condition can have a serious effect on mental development. Many dietary surveys of children have revealed iron intakes are low, and also uncovered the importance of breakfast cereal breakfast cereal, a food made from grain, commonly eaten in the morning. The oldest type of cereal, known as porridge or gruel, requires cooking in water or milk. The modern breakfast cereals, however, are entirely precooked and eaten in cold milk. in contributing to the required daily intake. It is difficult to pinpoint how much cereals can add, but a recent survey has found breakfast contributes more to iron intake than meat in children's diets. The study by Dr Sigrid Gibson tried to identify which dietary habits may lead to poor iron intake. In children aged between one and four years, eight per cent were anaemic a·nae·mic adj. Variant of anemic. anaemic or US anemic Adjective 1. having anaemia 2. pale and sickly-looking 3. lacking vitality Adj. and 20 per cent had low iron stores. Dr Gibson, independent nutrition consultant, said: "Children from manual social class backgrounds and the youngest age groups were at greater risk of low or borderline borderline /bor·der·line/ (-lin) of a phenomenon, straddling the dividing line between two categories. borderline iron status. "Independently of age, sex and social class, however, low intakes of breakfast cereal and fruit juice, and high intakes of biscuits, cakes and puddings were significant risk indicators." Vitamin C vitamin C or ascorbic acid Water-soluble organic compound important in animal metabolism. Most animals produce it in their bodies, but humans, other primates, and guinea pigs need it in the diet to prevent scurvy. has been identified as a major diet enhancer, and Dr Gibson believes the increase in awareness has resulted in iron levels in children being maintained in the face of declining meat consumption. Dr Gibson said: "Nevertheless, social class inequalities in Vitamin C intake and in iron status remain." Children should eat a varied diet, including a fortified fortified (fôrt  ´fīd),adj containing additives more potent than the principal ingredient. breakfast cereal together with a source of vitamin C. |
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