How often do you overhear new or expectant mothers question- “are you doing enough to ensure the sound growth of your toddler?”. While most would dismiss remarks like these as a part of daily ‘chit-chat’, India at present is troubled with ‘micronutrient deficiency’ and its compounded effects on the health and well-being of a newborn baby.
One of the most startling facts about ‘hidden hunger’ resulting from micronutrient deficiency is that it doesn’t necessarily make an infant feel hungry. Moreover, there are no visible symptoms of ‘hidden hunger’, but it surely does have a deep impact on child development and cognitive growth.
Micronutrient deficiency is one of the primary reasons for low levels of immunity among toddlers, impaired cognitive and motor development, along with stunted brain growth. This is especially pertinent during the first 1000 days of an infant.Furthermore, it exposes a newborn baby to long-term issues such as heart diseases, diabetes, and hypertension during adulthood.
Although the need for daily intake of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats in infants are met in many households, key micronutrients are often absent or minimal in the daily diet. This is exactly why micronutrients play a monumental role towards ensuring constructive baby care.
Possessing sound knowledge about the essential micronutrients and the daily dose needed should become the central theme for Mothercare and child development. Therefore, the importance micronutrients in the daily diet of a newborn baby, such as Zinc, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Selenium, Iodine, Folate, and Vitamins can’t be emphasized enough. The inclusion of micronutrient-enriched foods such asCeregrow is also indispensable towards safeguarding proper nourishment and baby care, apart from guaranteeing proper brain development.
One of the greatest personalities ever to have inspired children unquestionably is - Walt Disney, who once remarked, “our greatest natural resource is in the minds of our children.” It must be stressed here that our greatest natural resource is depleting rapidly, and much of it is due to micronutrient deficiency.
Consequently, there should be increased coherent efforts from the government, doctors, food manufacturers, and above all - proper parenting to ensure effective food fortification and combat micronutrient deficiency.
