Every child requires a nutritious diet, yet many kids have special needs because of a nutritionally related health problem. Between 15 percent and 18 percent of children in the United States live with a chronic health condition, such as asthma, diabetes or cancer, which may have unique dietary needs. Consult your doctor if your child's health problem requires a special diet.
Asthma
Asthma is a respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Exposure to sulfites, commonly used food preservatives for dried fruit, shrimp, potatoes and processed foods, can trigger asthma symptoms. Eating a Mediterranean diet that includes whole plant-based foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, olive oil and fish, may prevent asthma symptoms, according to research by scientists at the University of Edinburgh Medical School in England and published in the "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" in 2010.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a common and growing health problem among children. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by high blood sugar and inability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic condition characterized by high blood sugar and insulin resistance. Increased weight and obesity are risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. Children with diabetes can control blood sugar through diet by eating low glycemic foods and avoiding high glycemic foods. Glycemic index measures the speed of absorbing sugar from foods into the blood. High glycemic foods, such as white bread and white rice, may rapidly increase blood sugar and elevate risks of cardiovascular complications. Low glycemic foods, including whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts, enable you to slowly absorb sugars into your blood, making it easier for your body to metabolize the sugars.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also called ADHD, is a mental disorder that commonly affects children and adolescents and is characterized by continuous talking, difficulty sitting still and experiencing problems doing quiet activities. Eating foods that contain artificial colors or organophosphates, common types of pesticides used in farms that grow fruits and vegetables, can stimulate and exacerbate hyperactive behavior. Scientists at Harvard University School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, found children with higher urinary concentrations of metabolites from organophosphates are twice as likely to have ADHD than children who have undetectable levels, according to research published in "Pediatrics" in June 2010.
HIV
AIDS is a common disease among children born to mothers infected with HIV. Increasing the amounts of immune-stimulating nutrients, such as vitamin A, C, E and zinc, through diet and supplements may improve health and support growth in children born with HIV. Scientists at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, found that vitamin A supplementation improves growth in infants infected with HIV, according to research published in "Pediatrics" in January 2002.
References
- Kids Health; Kids Who Might Need Extra Help; 2011
- University of Michigan Health System; Children with Chronic Conditions; 2011
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention; Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05; 2010
- Cleveland Clinic; Sulfite Sensitivity; 2010
- "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology"; Nutrients and Foods for the Primary Prevention of Asthma and Allergy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; U. Nurmatov, et al.; December 23 2010
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Diabetes; 2010
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