Brain Booster for speech and eye contact

February 11, 2023April 12, 2023 | aadyasathe

Does your child struggle to gaze and make eye contact with you? Does it also gets difficult for him/her to express using longer sentences? Are you also worried about their unclear voice? Did they used to speak wonderfully earlier and now somehow have unknowingly stopped speaking? It’s quite certain for your worry to creep in. But here we have something very useful for you on the platter! Parents!! Need not worry. Let’s dive deep into the secret ingredients of the Brain Booster.

Also check, Focus and attention building games for the brain.

What do the parents have to say?

Here’s how it works!!!

1. 2-3 years

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Also check, Types of Autism spectrum disorders.

VIDEO FEEDBACK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlISdpi3rKE

What does Rama have to say?

I started Brain Booster along with therapies, after using it for a month noticed improvements such as:

Not repeating same words
Command following
Understanding and focus
Calm and obedient
Learning new words
Autism Assessment score decreased from 10 to 4.

Also check, Autism and eye contact.

2. 4-5 years

IMAGE FEEDBACKS

Also check, Speech regression in kids.

VIDEO FEEDBACK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVKfGXdNyQA&t=160s

What benefits did Barkha notice in her 5 years old?

I used Brain Booster for 4 months and could notice lot of improvements like :

Voice became clear
Able to spell difficult words
Started using lot of new words and sentences
Expressing in clear and commanding tone

Also check, Does high screen time cause speech delay in kids?

3. 6-8 years

IMAGE FEEDBACK

Also check, Benefits of Brahmi in Brain development.

VIDEO FEEDBACK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfG9U9RaKqM&t=22s

What benefits did Neeta notice in 1-2 months?

Overcame speech delay
Can frame and speak lengthy sentences
Became more interactive and social
Confidence has increased at expressing herself

Also check, Oral motor exercises for kids.

4. 9-12 years

IMAGE FEEDBACK

Also check, Omega 3 foods for Brain development.

VIDEO FEEDBACK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df7B-2hkNTI&t=9s

After using for 3-4 months , Monalisa could notice positive changes like :

Focus and also concentration is increased
She began speaking broken sentences
Understanding has improved

Also check, Techniques to reduce stammering.

So Come on! Lets hold more focus upon it’s working.

How does it work?

Indeed it’s a pack of Brain health with the perfect combination of all potent ingredients!

It is a healthy brain booster food made up of ingredients such as Nuts, Seeds, Ayurvedic herbs like Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, Ashwagandha which can strengthen the left side of the brain which has a language development section. The brain booster food also helps in naturally providing omega-3, healthy fats and protein to the child. You will first notice the benefits of concentration. Once higher concentration is formed, there will be an improvement in eye contact and also attempt-to-speech will begin within 2-3 months of regular use.

Brain booster is available as two variants. BRAIN BOOSTER chocolate spread and BRAIN BOOSTER savoury spread (Non-sweet). These provide daily nutrition for kids & teens to help support brain development (Memory, Focus & Mood), especially for kids who typically:

Are unable to focus and also feel distracted
Have to develop brain’s full potential for learning
Are restless and also unusually active
Feel emotionally low and dull
Have Speech Delay, Autism, Dyslexia, Stammering, Lack of eye contact

Hold on! Let’s take a look at the ones who have been benefited.

Also check, Speech sound disorders in kids.

Benefits of Ingredients

Brain booster chocolate spread by Iyurved is a preservative-free health food product made entirely of natural ingredients. It includes:

1. Nuts : Nuts are treasure house of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, healthy fats, protein, and also fibre, all of which help children grow, develop, and learn. All nuts, including almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, and hazelnuts, are high in vitamin E and also aid in memory enhancement. They are also antioxidants that protect cells from harm. Walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids and are also therefore beneficial for brain function, memory, and reasoning ability. This fatty acid also promotes cognitive function and aids with communication.

Also check, Best Nuts for protein.

2. Seeds : Apart from nuts, seeds such as flax, chia, melon, sesame, and pumpkins offer potent antioxidants such as vitamin E, which protect the brain from free radical damage. Sunflower seeds have an effect on overall mood and so also mental processing abilities, hence they are regarded as a brain-boosting snack. Pumpkin seeds contain more magnesium, copper, and zinc than other seeds, which aid in concentration, memory, and attention span. One of the simplest brain-boosting foods for children to consume.

Also check, Health benefits for pumpkin seeds.

3. Ashwagandha : It is the most potent herb for boosting the neurological system. It promotes brain function, understanding, and cognitive performance. Ashwagandha is a kind of adaptogen. It has been shown to also reduce anxiety and stress. Furthermore, it raises acetylcholine levels, which aids in memory, mental focus, and intelligence and also speech. Ashwagandha increases brain function and may also help protect against cognitive deterioration.

Also check, Health benefits of Ashwagandha.

4. Brahmi : Brahmi is a brain superfood thought to sharpen the mind by safeguarding cells and also enhancing chemicals involved in learning and memory. It also acts on the central nervous system, where it increases grasping capacity, eye contact, memory, cognition, and also speech, as well as rectifying emotional, mood, and also personality aberrations in an individual

Also check, Benefits of Brahmi in Brain development.

5. Shankhpushpi : Shankhapushpi is an ancient treatment for improving brain function. Its potent antioxidants and flavonoids boost an individual’s memory ability, focus, concentration, calmness, and also alertness. Shankhapushpi also improves autistic symptoms such as eye contact, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and other cognitive abilities because it is a brain tonic and stimulant.

Also check, Echolalia in kids.

6. Cocoa : Pure cocoa powder (unsweetened) has brain-boosting components because it contains a high concentration of antioxidant molecules, the most important of which is epicatechin, which has also been shown in studies to enhance cognitive and speech impairment. As a result, cocoa powder is an important brain development feed for the children.

Also check, Speech therapy fun exercises for kids.

7. Omega 3 fatty acids : A lack of omega-3 fatty acid consumption might cause speech development delays in children. It can also have an impact on speech quality. These healthy fats are crucial for brain development and also help to manage speech sound disorders and delay in kids. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid, is especially crucial for brain and so also eye development. Furthermore, DHA also has an important function in mental health throughout childhood and so also even into maturity.

Also check, 10 reasons of giving the kids Omega rich foods.

PRODUCTS

It’s no SECRET that following an Ayurvedic lifestyle has so also numerous advantages. This unique collection of Kids Ayurvedic Brain Booster is also an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Brain development to kids so also without any fuss. Made with Proven Ingredients. No Preservatives or Artificial Colour or Flavour. No Side Effects. Trusted by 20000+ Parents and Practitioners. To know more about kid’s ayurvedic foods – SHOP HERE.

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

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Does high screen time cause Speech Disorders in kids?

September 21, 2022December 10, 2022 | Srilekha

Does your child always love to sit in front of the screen with absolute unawareness about his surroundings? Despite calling out his name like 1000 times, does he not get his eyes off the mobile screen? All these things, if continued ahead, can creep in a kid, a sense of complete social detachment with the world! Perhaps you may be wondering, can prolonged screen times cause speech disorders in the child? Yes, it can! Continue reading to know more!!

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How does High screen time cause speech disorders in kids?

The early years of a child’s life are critical for their language development. Children who spend too much time in front of screens essentially miss out on opportunities to engage with others and learn via observation of their surroundings. Other than the visual and auditory senses, a child’s other senses are not sharpened by more screen time. This may be one of the main causes of speech disorders.

Kids engrossed in the screens in front of them get so much bonded to it that it becomes an addiction for them. This can not only hamper the eyes, but also harm the brain development and can result in speech delay. Thus, sincere efforts must be put in to reduce the screen time for kids and instead involve them in productive activities which will also foster language development!

Causes of Speech disorders due to prolonged screen-times

1. Hampers the attention span:

Kids sitting all the time in front of television , computer screen or playing video games on the mobile screen can eventually not be able to pay attention to other important things around. Their crazy engrossment on screen does not allow them to sincerely pour their attention into things which they actually need to! This can interfere with their expressive abilities and negatively affect language development.

Also, check Autism and Sensory Sensitivity

2. Downfall in receptive language:

Receptive language is indeed the understanding of information provided in a multitude of ways such as sounds and words; movement and gestures; and signs and symbols. With screen as a constant in a kid’s life, it can also mess up with his understanding of words and expressions. Without face to face interaction a child will certainly not be able to sharpen his receptive language and would probably suffer with delay in speech.

Also, check Tantrums and ADHD: How to manage?

3. Fear of human interactions:

Getting so heavily involved in screen sittings, children will often lose interest in talking to people, understanding their emotions, analysing their expressions and responding correctly in return. If the child won’t mix up or talk to anyone, his vocabulary of words will also be put at stake! And the inability to express will ultimately lead to speech regression.

4. Losing interest in daily chores:

This can also be a cause for speech delay. Unceasingly remaining engaged on the screen, a child develops disliking in performing his routine tasks. Due to this, he/she will not get acquainted with studying, reading books, solving mathematical problems, working upon language and grammar, etc. Thus if a person is trying to explain something to a kid, he may not be able to interpret and respond to it due to lack of understanding and exposure.

Also, check Sensory Processing disorder

42% of kids under 8 own a smartphone, according to Common Sense Media. That’s up from 7 percent just 4 years ago. Isn’t that alarming? Are we not spoiling our upcoming generations with technological advancements? It’s the need of an hour to connect the kids more authentically with the outer world!

TIPS TO REDUCE SCREEN TIME AND IMPROVE SPEECH IN KIDS:

Try to engross the child in activities which will encourage language development in them and enhance their social interaction. To know about some ways to tackle speech delay issues, keep reading!

1. Five New words each day:

Try to talk with the child at your best. Read out story books or poems to him. Try to explain the meaning of words by playing some role or performing some actions. This will make it easier for the child to understand the meaning of words and so also the emotions behind them. Make the child try to learn any 5 words each day and try to use them in some simple sentences. This will boost his language grasping and improve speech delay.

2. Adding Limits:

Try to limit the screen time gradually. Reduce it by 5 minutes each day and try to arrive at a good time span for screen watch. This will help the child to also develop interest in performing other activities at his fullest potential. Immediate reduction of screen time can make the child feel frustrated about everything. And thus take one step at a time.

Also, check Tips to reduce screen time in kids

3. Audio learning:

Within a child’s routine, try incorporating audio learning each day for a span of about an hour. You can let the child listen to any song, poems or talks. After that, ask the child to sing that song or say out the poem or try to explain what he understood from any particular talk in brief. While doing so, he will be pushed to his highest potential to express himself at his best. In this way audio learning can help out with speech delay.

Also, check 8 Fun and Engaging Activities for kids

4. Decoding the drawings:

If a child has liking towards drawing or watching animations on the screen, ask the child to decode the animated video and write it down on a sheet of paper as per his understanding. In this way, a child will try to make a choice of best words for describing any scene within the animation. This will challenge his ability to think in a broader dimension and significantly enhance his grip over language. This will also help him out with his expressive development.

FOODS THAT HELP WITH SPEECH Disorders:

Apart from all this, Nutrition also plays a primary role in the overall development of a child. Let’s take a look at times of foods that can help with speech disorders.

Some of the foods that can help with the speech delay include:

1. Nuts:

All the nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashew, peanuts and hazelnuts are rich in vitamin E and help in boosting memory. They are also antioxidants which protect against cell damage. Walnuts are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and are a valuable substance for brain function, memory and thinking abilities. This fatty acid also encourages cognitive functions and helps out with speech. (Best nuts for protein)

2. Seeds:

Apart from nuts, seeds like flax, chia, melon, sesame and pumpkins also contain powerful antioxidants like vitamin E that protect the brain from free radical damage. Sunflower seeds impact overall mood and mental processing powers and therefore it is considered a brain boosting snack. Pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium, copper, and much higher in zinc than other seeds, which help in increasing concentration, memory and attention span. One of the easiest to feed brain boosting foods for kids

3. Cocoa Powder:

Pure cocoa powder (unsweetened) contains brain boosting components as it is packed with a large number of antioxidants molecules, the main is epicatechin helpful to improve cognition and speech impairment in studies. Hence cocoa powder is also an important brain development food for children. (More benefits of cocoa powder)

4. Brahmi:

Brahmi is a superfood for the brain and is believed to sharpen the brain by protecting cells and increasing chemicals associated with learning and memory. It has shown to improve spatial learning and retaining power in kids. That is why in older times, kids were often given Brahmi powder with ghee/honey. This would increase their focus and attention while keeping them calm and distressed.

5. Shankhapushpi:

Shankhapushpi is a traditional remedy for increasing the functioning of the brain. The powerful antioxidants and flavonoids present in it improve the memory capacity, focus, concentration, calmness, alertness of an individual. Since it is a brain tonic and stimulator, people taking shankhapushpi have improved memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and other cognitive abilities.

Also, check Stimming in Autistic kids

6. Ashwagandha:

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen. It is known to reduce anxiety and stress. Moreover, it increases acetylcholine levels which support better memory, mental focus and intelligence. Ashwagandha also improves communication between nerve cells and stimulates the body’s capacity to heal any nervous system damage. It also helps in speech improvement.

Products:

It’s no SECRET that following an Ayurvedic lifestyle has numerous advantages. This unique collection of Ayurvedic spreads is an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Immunity, Eye, Brain development, Bone strength and overall growth to kids without any fuss. To know more about kid’s ayurvedic foods –SHOP HERE.

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

For Speech delay and high screen time, give Kids & Teens Brain Booster Chocolate/ Savoury Spread & Eye Health chocolate spread | 0% preservatives | 0% refined sugar | 0% palm oil | Fortified with SHANKHAPUSHPI, ASHWAGANDHA, BRAHMI, GINKGO, LUTEIN, ZEAXANTHIN | ORDER |

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Health Benefits of Fruits for Kids

July 27, 2022February 16, 2023 | vandana

Do you worry that your kid isn’t eating any fruits? Are they still picky eaters despite your best efforts to get them to eat? Fruits health benefits are endless, but despite knowing this fact, are you unable to feed them? Continue reading for suggestions on how to get kids to eat their fruits.

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Why should kids consume fruits?

Fruit supplies nutrients including vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, and phytonutrients, which keep your kid healthy and prevent chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer.

Additionally, children are likely to develop a sweet tooth and seek foods like chocolate, candies, and sugary beverages. So, those who want to indulge in desserts, fruits offer a healthy option.

Also check, 8 Healthy recipes for picky eaters using fruits and veggies

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

Fruits include no cholesterol, little fat, and few calories. So, they do not compromise your child’s health.
Fruits contain a lot of fibre, which helps your child’s intestinal system stay healthy.
Fruits are great sources of vitamins and minerals. Fruits are a great way to increase your child’s intake of potassium. Bananas, oranges, melons, cantaloupe, and other fruits can be added to your child’s diet.

Also check, 6 healthy fibre rich recipes for kids

FRUITS HEALTH BENEFITS

There are numerous benefits of fruits for health. Some of them include:

Cleansing:

Some fruits, including avocados, blueberries, apples, etc., are particularly good at eliminating toxins from the body and purifying it.

Also check, Apple and banana benefits for kids

Energy:

Natural sugars such as fructose and glucose can be found in fruits. Both of these sugars are concentrated energy sources and can be used as a healthy alternative to processed foods with a high sugar content, such as sweets, colas, and cakes. As a result, obesity can be prevented in children in the long run.

Also check, Preventing obesity: Natural ways to reduce weight

Aids digestion:

Dietary fibre is abundant in whole fruits (with peel). The fruit’s insoluble fibre aids in giving the diet more substance. Additionally, it promotes easy digestive movement. As a result, regular bowel movements are promoted, which prevent constipation.

Also check, Quick fix for weak digestion

Keep gut healthy:

Dietary fibre that can be fermented, such as pectin, inulin, resistant starch, and lignin, are present in whole fruits. The ideal prebiotic support provided by these fermentable fibre helps to improve gut flora and in turn, keeps the gut healthy.

Also check, Role of prebiotic foods for health

Boosts immunity:

Gut microbiota is improved when fruits are regularly consumed in the appropriate proportions. By keeping the immune system strong, a healthy gut flora enhances overall health. Additionally, fruits supply necessary vitamins, minerals, and bioactive chemicals that are also important for sustaining immunity.

Also check, What are probiotic foods for gut health?

Bone health and growth:

Fruit aids in acquiring potassium. Fruits are a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may also support bone health.

Also check, Vitamin D, Calcium and kids: Are they building strong bones?

Overall health:

Except for vitamin B12, whole fruits are a good source of almost all vitamins. They are also abundant in bioactive substances such as phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids as well as minerals. These nutrients contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that improve overall health.

LIST OF BENEFITS of FRUITS FOR KIDS

TYPE OF FRUIT	FRUITS LIST	BENEFITS
Yellow and orange fruits	Orange, grapefruit, banana,mango, peaches, pineapple, Persimmons,Papaya, starfruit, Nectarines	Rich in beta carotene and good for the eyes of child
Red fruits	Tomato, apple, cranberry, strawberries, watermelon, plums	Sources of powerful antioxidants and vitamins. Good for heart health
Green coloured fruits	Green apple, guava, kiwi, pear, grapes, melon, lime, custard	Rich in calcium. Supports bone health and growth.
Seasonal fruits	Jackfruits, mango, lychee, cherry, pineapple, strawberry.	High in nutritional value because they are fresher and consumed closer to the harvesting period

Also check, Hormones happy fruits list for teens and kids

HOW TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO EAT FRUITS?

Make the produce easily accessible. Keep clean apples, bananas, and other fruit readily available. Everything you give your child should be presented elegantly because appearance is crucial.
Prepare more desserts with fruits in them. In your three meals, try to incorporate some fruits . Increase the amount of fruits you use in meals by being more creative.
Let your child choose his favourite fruits when you take him to fruit shops. Give the whole fruit instead of the fruit juice. Rather than unhealthy snacks, give your child fruit. Create a little fruit garden because children will enjoy eating what they have grown.
Put a variety of hues on your child’s plate to make eating fruits enjoyable. Take your kids along while you prepare different meals.
Whenever your child tries to consume a new fruit , praise him for his efforts so that they tend to eat more.

DAILY FRUIT CHART FOR KIDS

Age/Gender	Serving size (in cups)
2-3 years	1
4-8 years	1.5
9-13 years	1.5
14-18 year boys	2
14-18 year girls	1.5

Fruit chart for kids

Check Healthy Recipes with Fruits for kids

PRODUCTS:

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

If your child is a picky eater or does not take enough nutrition for the day, you can give Daily Nutrition Chocolate Spread | Made with clinically proven ‘5 Ayurvedic Herbs and 7 Nuts’ | ORDER | 0% preservative | 0% Palm oil |

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Tips for Eye Care in Kids

July 14, 2022December 5, 2022 | vandana

The Eye is the lamp of the body, so if the eye is healthy your whole body will be full of light. Eye is the busiest organ as it starts working from the moment you wake up till the moment you close your eyes. Any information that your brain receives is initially processed through your vision. With a sharp drop in physical movement (outdoor activities), and increased screen time due to online classes and pleasure viewing, leads to many health-related concerns especially affecting eyesight. It is the responsibility of parents to take measures for their eye care. Read on to know simple tips and foods helping in children’s eye care.

Also check, Beta carotene for eye care

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Simple tips for eye care in children

1. Give rest to eyes:

Every 30 to 40 minutes, your child should take a break from writing, reading, or playing video games on a computer or smartphone. Children’s daily screen time should be decreased and the distance between the gadget/screen and the eye should be more.

Also check, Difficulties in learning, reading and writing-7 Foods that can help

2. Sun protection:

It is important to protect your child’s eye from UV radiation from sunlight. You can invest in good sun protection glasses or hats or umbrellas for the eye care of children.

Also check, Tips for skincare- How to apply sunscreen?

3. Avoid giving harsh and pokey toys:

If the children are playing with sharp or hard objects, they may accidentally hit the eye with the toy. Hence make sure that your child is playing with the safe toys and objects.

4. Don’t use any eye makeup for your kid:

Market-available eye cosmetic products like kajal and eyeshadow frequently include a lot of chemicals in them. Therefore, avoid any cosmetics for your child’s eye.

5. Balanced and nutritious diet:

For good vision of the children, their diet should include iron rich green leafy vegetables and beta carotene containing foods such as yellow and orange fruits and vegetables (papaya, pumpkin, mango, carrot etc).

Also check, 6 Best recipes for foods rich in iron

6. Stop your child from repeatedly rubbing their eyes:

When children experience eye irritation, they frequently wipe their eyes to soothe them. If there is any foreign substance in the eye, pressing it against the eyeball or using unclean hands to rub it will be dangerous. Teach your child to avoid doing this and to properly clean their hands and to use water to clean the eye.

7. Healthy eye care habits:

Taking proper and adequate sleep in the night, proper lighting in the reading room, keeping a distance of 30-40cm between kid’s eye and books and about 50cm from electronic gadgets are some of the healthy eye care habits to be followed.

Also check, 5 Foods that help your child in sleeping well

8. Engaging in more outdoor activities:

Researchers have found that involving more in outdoor activities such as swimming and cycling can reduce the risk of myopia (a common eyesight issue where objects close to you can be seen clearly, while those farther away appear hazy).

9. Eye protection:

While engaging in activities such as sports or handling the chemicals, make sure that they use eye protection glasses.

10. Exercise:

Doing regular exercises has been demonstrated to lower the risk of acquiring diabetes, a condition that can cause blindness, as well as a number of eye conditions.

FOODS FOR EYE CARE FOR CHILDREN

7 Essential nutrients for eye care in kids- Check here

9 proven foods for eye health- Check here

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India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs

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Beta Carotene For Eye Care

Kids and teens Eye Health Veggies and Dal powder Eye care - Iyurved

March 5, 2022December 21, 2022 | Kairavi

If the answer is NO then don’t count upon consumptions of pills and syrups to reduce this risk. Rather than giving medicated supplements to kids, it is always preferable to stock up on foods for eye health and incorporate them into their diet. The best sources of these vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are from whole foods. This is because they may contain a combination of nutrients that provide these benefits. But again, does Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A really help in boosting eye health?

The answer to this is YES! Read on to learn more about how much of these nutrients is actually needed. But first, Basics!

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REASONS OF WEAK EYESIGHT:

Genetics: Kids with a family history of poor eyesight are at higher risk of weaker eyesight than those who don’t have any family history of eye issues.
Lack of nutrients: Eating habits should be taken care of from an early age, as eating low nutrient food can lead to many health issues and weak eyesight is one of them.
Screen time: Limitless screen time is adversely affecting the overall health including the eyes of kids especially those under the age of 3 years, as their development is happening rapidly.
Sunlight: Just like UV rays affect our skin, it too affects our eyes. Photo keratitis is a type of sunburn on the surface of the eye.
Lack of sleep: If there has been continuous lack of sleep it may cause eye fatigue and strain. Your eyes also get continuous lubrication when you get enough sleep. (How to improve your child’s sleep cycle?)
Rubbing eyes: Rubbing your eyes can break the fragile vessels around the eyes. It may give you a moment of relief but the after effects are really bad.

WHAT IS BETA CAROTENE?

Beta carotene is a red-orange pigment found in colorful vegetables and fruits. It is the primary source of vitamin A in the human diet. Beta carotene is the precursor of vitamin A i.e., the formation of vitamin A starts for this. Orange-coloured fruits and vegetables like carrots, mangoes, apricots, and sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene which helps your eyes to adjust them in darkness and improves night vision. (9 proven foods for eye health in kids)

HOW MUCH BETA CAROTENE DO YOU NEED?

Vitamin A RDAs are expressed as retinol activity equivalents (RAE). One milligrams of RAE is equivalent to 12 milligrams of dietary beta-carotene and 2 milligrams of supplemental beta-carotene. (7 Essential Nutrients for Eye Health in kids)

Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
0–6 months*	400 mcg RAE	400 mcg RAE
7–12 months*	500 mcg RAE	500 mcg RAE
1–3 years	300 mcg RAE	300 mcg RAE
4–8 years	400 mcg RAE	400 mcg RAE
9–13 years	600 mcg RAE	600 mcg RAE
14–18 years	900 mcg RAE	700 mcg RAE	750 mcg RAE	1,200 mcg RAE
19–50 years	900 mcg RAE	700 mcg RAE	770 mcg RAE	1,300 mcg RAE
51+ years	900 mcg RAE	700 mcg RAE

The data is taken from NIH studies – Read here

WHY DO KIDS NEED BETA CAROTENE?

Children of growing age require a relatively high intake of vitamin A, roughly half of what adults require. The second reason for this Infections. Yes, infections raise the metabolic rate, which raises the body’s usage of vitamin A and limits it for their eye care. Breastmilk is sufficient for vitamin A up to the age of six months, but after that, additional meals high in beta carotene should be supplemented. A vitamin A-rich diet for a young kid should include at least 2–3 servings of vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables per day, as well as a little amount of fat to promote absorption. According to studies, foods high in beta carotene contribute significantly to the daily supply of vitamin A.

ABSORPTION OF BETA CAROTENE:

The absorption of Β- carotene from the food sources varies from 5% to 65% in human beings. It depends on various factors though. The absorption and conversion of beta carotene takes place in the presence of bile acids. The gut health (stable number of good bacteria) also plays a major role to absorb these carotenoids nd thus, eye care!

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SHOW THE EFFECTS?

The rate at which beta carotene begins to have an effect is determined by a few factors. These factors include the source, absorption, your level of deficiency, how you eat your food, food processing, and other health conditions. It is critical to note that food supplements are not a magic pill that will instantly improve your eye health.

It takes time to build up a sufficient level of vitamins and minerals through daily and consistent consumption. A few studies and research shows that it takes around six to eight weeks to see noticeable changes.

HOW TO TAKE BETA CAROTENE AND OTHER ANTIOXIDANT IN CORRECT AMOUNT?

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs

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PARENT REVIEWS:

Some parents have been kind enough to share their journey with us. Let’s hear them to closely understand the benefits of Ayurvedic spreads by Iyurved.

Growth And Development of Premature Infants: What to Expect?

December 25, 2021December 22, 2022 | Shilpi

Premature infants/babies or Preemie means that the baby is born more than three weeks before the baby’s estimated due date (EDD). This means that the premature infants are born anytime before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy.

Premature babies, especially those born very early, often have medical problems. The earlier your baby is born, the higher the risk of complications.

Depending on how early a baby is born, he or she may be:

Late preterm, born between 34 and 36 completed weeks of pregnancy
Moderately preterm, born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy
Very preterm, born at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy
Extremely preterm, born at or before 25 weeks of pregnancy

Most premature births occur in the late preterm stage.

Causes for premature delivery:

Although there is no specific cause for premature birth, but it might happen due to one or more of the following reasons:

Having a history of premature delivery
Twin, triplet or multiple pregnancy
Less gap between two pregnancies, usually less than 6 months of gap
Issues with uterus, cervix or placenta
Infection of amniotic fluid or lower genital tract
Conceiving through In Vitro Fertilization
Smoking cigarettes or using illicit drugs
Chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure
Multiple miscarriages or abortions
Stressful life events such as death in family, divorce or domestic violence
Being underweight or overweight before pregnancy ( How to reduce weight?)
Physical injury or mental trauma

Growth and Development of Premature Infants:

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), development is not a race, and babies develop at their own pace. Even premature infants will gradually reach their developmental milestones and will be on track with full term babies by age 3 or so. But a premature baby’s initial growth and development is slightly different from a full term baby. Therefore, parents of preemies will need to adjust their baby’s age to get a true picture of where their baby should be in his/her developmental stage.

How to calculate your baby’s adjusted/correct age?

Identify the number of weeks your baby was born earlier than the Estimated Due Date(EDD)
Subtract this number from your baby’s actual age in weeks (number of weeks since the date of birth).
This is your baby’s adjusted age (also called corrected age).

For example: Suppose your baby’s EDD was 8th December but she arrived on 10th November(4 weeks earlier), then her corrected age on 10th June will be 28 weeks-4 weeks=24 weeks.

Factors that affect the growth and development of Premature Babies:

1.How early they were born?

The earlier the baby is born, the more likely he or she is to face health issues which can impact their growth and development. Extremely preterm babies are more prone to serious complications as compared to late preterm babies who tend to catch up to full-term babies sooner.

2. Weight at the time of Birth:

Another important factor that affects the growth and development of premature infants is their birth weight. Lower birth weight of a baby means that the baby is at risk of facing health complications.

3.Hospital stay time:

Extremely preterm babies usually spend some weeks in the hospital. If your baby spent a long time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and needed a lot of special care, they are likely to need extra time to develop.

4. Other medical conditions:

Preemies are more likely to have medical issues like heart, lung infections or intestinal conditions at the time of birth since they have missed out on a lot of crucial development in the final months of pregnancy. This slows down their development and hence premature babies have developmental delays as compared to full term babies.

How to monitor growth and development of premature infants?

Weight, height and head circumference are the key parameters to track the growth and development of babies(Tips to increase height?). But for premature babies, their weight, height and head circumference vary depending on the gestational week of their birth and their overall health at birth. The following are some key points to remember:

Premature infants have to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where they start gaining weight within a few days after birth.
Healthy premature infants are likely to show improvement first in the head circumference, followed by weight and then height.
How much weight a premature baby will gain per day depends on how early he/she was born. For example, a baby with a gestational age of 24 weeks (born after the 24th week of pregnancy) may attain five grams per day while those born at 33 weeks or later can put on as much as 30 grams per day.
The desirable weight gain in babies who are born with a birth weight of more than two kilograms is 20-30 grams per day.
The height of preterm babies increases by about 1.1 centimeters every week until the completion of the ideal gestational age, which is about 40 weeks.

Complications associated with Preterm Birth:

While not all premature babies experience complications, being born too early can cause short-term and long-term health issues. Generally, the earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk of complications. Birth weight plays an important role too.

Short-term complications

In the first few weeks, the complications of premature birth may include:

1.Difficulty in breathing:

A premature baby may have trouble breathing due to an immature respiratory system. If the baby’s lungs lack surfactant (a substance that allows the lungs to expand),he or she may develop respiratory distress syndrome because the lungs cannot expand and contract normally. They may also develop a lung disorder known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In addition, some preterm babies may experience prolonged pauses in their breathing, known as apnea.

2.Heart problems:

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and low blood pressure (hypotension) are the most common heart problems that premature babies face. PDA is a persistent opening between the aorta and pulmonary artery. Usually this heart defect closes on its own, but if left untreated, it can lead to a heart murmur, heart failure as well as other complications.

3.Brain hemorrhage:

The earlier a baby is born, the greater is the risk of bleeding in the brain, known as an intraventricular hemorrhage. Most hemorrhages are mild and generally resolve with little short-term impact. But some babies may have larger brain bleeding that may cause permanent brain injury.

4.Low body temperature:

Since premature babies don’t have the stored body fat of a full-term infant, they can’t generate enough heat to maintain a normal body temperature. This might result in an abnormally low core body temperature also known as hypothermia. Hypothermia may cause breathing difficulties and low blood sugar levels. Moreover, a premature infant may use up all of the energy gained from feedings just to stay warm. This is the reason why premature infants require additional heat from a warmer or an incubator until they are able to maintain body temperature without assistance.

5.Immature Gastrointestinal system:

Premature infants are prone to have immature gastrointestinal systems, which might result in complications like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This potentially serious condition, in which the cells lining the bowel wall are injured, can occur in premature babies once they start feeding. However, premature babies who receive only breast milk have a much lower risk of developing NEC. (Which foods help to increase breast milk supply?)

6.Anemia and Newborn Jaundice:

Premature babies are at higher risk of anemia (low count of red blood cells) and newborn jaundice. Newborn jaundice is a yellow discoloration in a baby’s skin and eyes that occurs because the baby’s blood contains excess bilirubin(yellow-colored substance) from the liver or red blood cells. (How Iron rich foods help in Anemia?)

7.Poor Metabolism:

Premature babies often have problems with their metabolism. Some premature babies may develop an abnormally low level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This happens because premature infants typically have smaller stores of stored glucose than full-term babies. They also have difficulty converting their stored glucose into more-usable, active forms of glucose.

8.Low Immunity:

An underdeveloped immune system is quite common in premature babies which can lead to a higher risk of infection. Infection in a premature baby can quickly spread to the bloodstream, causing sepsis. (Foods that help to boost immunity?)

Long-term complications

In the long term, premature birth may lead to the following complications:

1.Cerebral palsy:

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that can be caused by infection, inadequate blood flow or injury to a newborn’s developing brain either early during pregnancy or while the baby is still young and immature.

2.Impaired learning:

Premature babies are more likely to lag behind their full-term counterparts on various developmental milestones. This is the reason why a premature child is more likely to have learning disabilities. ( How some foods can help with learning difficulties?)

3.Impaired Vision:

Premature infants may develop retinopathy of prematurity, a disease that occurs when blood vessels swell and overgrow in the light-sensitive layer of nerves at the back of the eye (retina). Sometimes the abnormal retinal vessels gradually scar the retina, pulling it out of position. When the retina is pulled away from the back of the eye, it’s called retinal detachment, a condition that, if undetected, can impair vision and cause blindness. (Foods that help with eye health?)

4.Hearing loss:

Premature babies are at a higher risk of hearing loss. As a routine, all babies have their hearing checked before going home from the hospital.

5.Dental problems:

Premature infants who have been critically ill are at increased risk of developing dental problems, such as delayed tooth eruption, tooth discoloration and improperly aligned teeth.

6.Chronic health issues:

Premature babies are more likely to have chronic health issues, some of which may require hospital care. Infections, asthma and feeding problems are more common amongst them. (Tips to avoid frequent infections in kids?)

How to prevent Premature Deliveries?

Although the exact cause of preterm birth is not known, some preventive measures can be taken to help women, especially those who are at a higher risk of preterm deliveries.

Progesterone supplements: Progesterone supplements may help to reduce the risk of preterm birth in woman who have a history of premature deliveries, short cervix or both issues.
Cervical cerclage: Women with short cervix or a history of cervical shortening might need this procedure during pregnancy. In this procedure, cervix is stitched closed with strong sutures to provide extra support to the uterus.

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