Why is it that babies are not allowed to eat salt or sugar until they are one year old? This must be one of the most pressing concerns for all new mothers who begin weaning their infants.
A new parent emailed me a few days ago asking “Can I add Salt to My Baby Food?” Due to the high volume of emails I receive on a daily basis, I simply replied that she shouldn’t add salt to her baby’s food until she is one year old. Almost immediately, a response arrived in my inbox, inquiring about the basis for the no sugar, no salt rule for babies under the age of one year.
This generation of parents is extremely curious and can only be satisfied with a well-researched piece. So, for today’s blog, I’ve opted to tackle the no sugar, no salt guideline.
A baby’s daily salt need is less than 1 g (0.4 g sodium), which is largely covered by breastmilk or formula. As a result, any more salt will put a strain on the tiny kidneys, and the kidneys will be unable to operate effectively as a result of the increased workload. This has been linked to kidney disease and has also been linked to hypertension in adults. Excessive salt consumption throughout childhood has been linked to disorders such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory problems.
Is there a way to flavor infant food without adding salt?
While most of us prefer homemade baby food, there are times when we must rely on commercial baby food, such as while traveling with babies.
Not just for babies, but also for children, high-salt foods should be avoided, and you should constantly be cautious when choosing food.
Sodium content is usually expressed as a number. As a rough guide, food containing more than 0.6g of sodium per 100g is considered high in salt ³. The amount of salt in foods can be calculated by multiplying the sodium content by 2.5.
Without the use of salt, foods can be made more flavorful. Cumin powder, asafoetida, cinnamon, and herbs like coriander and mint can be used to flavor and enhance the taste of the food. Onion and garlic can also be used to season the food. Spices, on the other hand, should be used sparingly, and new foods should be introduced gradually (1 tablespoon the first day, two the next, and so on) to avoid allergic responses. Herbs should be well rinsed and cut or minced finely. They should only be included to the baby’s diet once he or she has reached the age of seven months.
There are several reasons why salt and sugar should not be included in a baby’s diet:
Kidney Function is Affected
A baby’s kidneys are unable to absorb and remove high salt levels from the blood if he or she consumes too much salt. This puts strain on the kidneys, which can lead to renal disease later in life.
Kidney Stones: What Causes Them?
Too much sodium in the diet leads the body of the newborn to excrete more calcium in the urine, which can lead to kidney stones.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a risk for children who have a lot of salt in their systems. Salt causes the body to expel water through urine and sweat.
Breast Milk Avoidance
When babies develop a taste for sugar, they begin to reject breast milk, which is essential for their growth and serves as their primary source of antibodies. More problems can arise as a result of consuming processed sugar and salt. These problems can be fully prevented if babies’ salt and sugar intake is limited.
What to Do
- To enhance the flavor of foods, use fresh or dried herbs and spices. Try roasted root vegetables with cinnamon, baked salmon with dill, or soft cooked noodles with a dried herb mixture.
- Enhance the sweetness of dishes using fresh fruit or purees. Make a yogurt with mashed bananas or oatmeal with applesauce.
-
Read food labels and ingredient lists to find out which foods have added salt or sugar and how much of it there is. The new nutrition facts label will list how much added sugar a product has! -
For your child’s snacks, choose whole, fresh foods over “toddler friendly” meals with extra salt and sugar. Snacks for kids include fresh sliced fruit, hummus-dipped vegetable sticks, hard boiled eggs, and yogurt.
For babies, salt and sugar might cause more harm than benefit. As a result, it’s best to avoid them until the infant is at least a year old. Processed foods, which contain, should also be avoided by babies. Sugars may be added to many commercial infant foods. If you’re using commercial baby food, read the ingredients carefully to see how much sugar it contains. Give your infant homemade food with no added sugar to keep him or her healthy.
