A recent nationwide survey titled #ImmunityMatters conducted by Mead Johnson Nutrition’s Enfagrow A+ Malaysia revealed parenting insights on their beliefs and changes in their nutritional choices and priorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey revealed that in addition to the parental concerns around their child’s health in light of the COVID-19 situation, over 60% of parents expressed concerns in getting the right nutrition during this time to remain healthy and more than 52% of parents believe that their child’s nutrition could be improved.
Amongst the insights revealed were that 94% of parents believe that nutrition plays an important role in a child’s health especially in strengthening their immunity.
A high percentage of parents or 82% of parents believe that a child’s immune health can be nurtured and built over time, which correlates with the elevated level (95%) of parents being familiar with immunity-boosting foods.
Amongst these numbers, more than 42% made conscious decisions to change their family’s food choices, and family shopping lists have shifted to show parental priority in choosing immunity-building foods and nutrients (84%) to keep the children and family’s natural defenses up and healthy.
“Now, more than ever, it is important to have strong immune health. Instinctively parents gravitate towards better nutrition to build immunity and protect their children from seasonal illness and health problems”, said Dr Tan Choon Kiat, Medical Director of Mead Johnson Nutrition.
Parents rated milk (54%) as one of the top five (5) food choices in building stronger immunity among vegetables (88%), fruits (80%), meat (55%) and grains (43%).
From the survey, over 81% parents cited the importance of milk in their child’s overall nutrition and 63% of parents give their child milk at least three times a day.
One of the best defenses for the body is to build and strengthen your child’s immune system from within by providing the right nutrition.
Over 70 to 80% of immune cells are 2 found in our gut. Diet with the right nutrients can help modulate immune function, reduce the risk of infection and amplify the inflammatory responses when attacked by pathogen or viruses.1
The process of building a child’s immunity begins with these key ingredients that have been scientifically demonstrated to activate and modulate the immune system and reduce the risk of infections:
1. Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) is a nutrient rich component naturally present in our brain and studies have shown that MFGM play dual roles in supporting mental development and immune defense in the gut. Consumption of MFGM enriched milk by children above one (1) year old was found to have a protective effect against gastrointestinal infections, producing a significant decrease in days of fever symptoms and leading to improved behavioral regulation (EQ).2
2. Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic (DHA) is found in our brain and fatty fish such as salmon. DHA helps modulates the function of the immune cell response to bacteria and viruses. Working together, DHA modulates a balanced and effective immune response to fight infections.3
3. Prebiotic dietary fibers such as PDX-GOS promotes good digestive health as it encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. It has modulating properties to the immune system, demonstrating protection against infections.4
4. Research has shown that children that consume fortified milk containing DHA, PDX-GOS, Yeast Beta-Glucan was associated with fewer episodes and shorter duration of acute respiratory illnesses as well as less antibiotic use.5
According to the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents 2013, children are encouraged to consume two (2) to three (3) servings of milk or dairy products a day. Milk is one of the most important contributions in a child’s diet as it is a nutrient-dense food that provides energy, high-quality protein, and micronutrients such as calcium magnesium, selenium, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and pantothenic acid.6
Milk supplemented with ingredients such as MFGM, DHA, PDX- GOS, and Yeast Beta Glucan works in synergy to help protect against infection.
Beyond nutritional habits, parents have also made changes in other aspects of their daily life. Unsurprisingly, parents cited that social interaction and outdoor activities are the least important at this time for their child. However, it is found that more than 50% of the parents are prioritising physical and mental growth as well as family time with their children.
The #ImmunityMatters study comprised of more than 500 parents with children above one (1) year old, across Malaysia. It is part of Enfagrow A+ Malaysia’s ongoing educational series to encourage proper nutrition and healthy eating habits in a child’s early years.
Find out more on topics around general wellness concerns for children aged one (1) year onwards with Enfagrow A+ Malaysia and or invited personnels / speakers at Mead Johnson Malaysia Youtube Page.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice, nor for medical diagnosis or treatment. At all times, please ensure you seek the advice of your healthcare professional when you require medical advice and do so immediately in cases where there is an emergency.
