Did you know that the first 5 years of your child’s life is one of the most crucial times for growth? These first 5 years are the foundation that shapes your child’s health & physical growth1. In fact, up to 60% of your child’s adult height happens before the age of 51 – that’s more than half their adult height!
Research also shows that a whopping 80% of a child’s growth is based on their nutritional intake during these first 5 years and only 20% is contributed from genetics2. This shows the important role of a complete and balanced nutrition.
So, to ensure that our children reach their optimal height, we’ve put together the top 5 foods that can help your child grow taller. Check it out!
EGGS
Eggs are a fantastic source for protein & arginine, 2 nutrients that aid in growth and development. It is also one of the richest sources of choline3 – an essential nutrient that aids brain development and you can have it in so many ways too! Cook up a yummy omelette or have them scrambled or hard-boiled, it’s a great breakfast food to have your kids start their day and ensure they get their source of protein.
SPINACH
There’s a reason why Popeye (The Sailorman) eats his spinach for strength and that’s because this leafy vegetable is high in vitamins and is also a good supply in calcium3. In children and adolescents, the calcium in leafy vegetables such as spinach, Chinese cabbage, kale and broccoli helps to support bone growth. You can add them to soups, porridge, stews, pasta and even smoothies!
YOGURT
Yogurt is nutrient-dense and a good source of protein, calcium, magnesium and vitamin B-124. It also contains ‘good bacteria’ or helpful germs that are called probiotics that improve digestion of food consumed4 .
APPLES
Apples are rich in vitamins A & C, iodine, phosphorous, iron & calcium that helps the development of muscle tissues, skin, organ, blood and bones in children5.
PEDIASURE®
If your child is behind in growth, a complete and balanced nutritional supplement like PediaSure can help improve their growth and development. Talk to your paediatrician if you have any concerns about growth or nutrition support.
PediaSure® is the #1 child nutrition supplement recommended by experts* that provides complete & balanced nutrition that helps your children to achieve their optimal growth. With over 20 clinical studies in the past 25 years, PediaSure® has consistently demonstrated to improve children’s height & weight as soon as 8 week6,7 and lesser sick days in 16 weeks6.
PediaSure® OptiHEIGHT’s improved formula now comes with Arginine, an amino acid that triggers the release of Growth Factors, together with Triple Protein Complex and 25 key nutrients to support LONGER bone growth8. It also has Natural Vitamin K2 to promote calcium transfer into bones, together with 25 key nutrients to support STRONG bone growth9.
References:
1. WHO Growth Standard, 2007
2. Jelenkovic, A. et al. Genetic and environmental influences on height from infancy to early adulthood: An individual-based
pooled analysis of 45 twin cohorts. Sci. Rep. 6, 28496; doi: 10. 1038/srep28496 (2016)
3. Martinez E. Calcium, essential for health. 2016. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27571860
4. Fernandez M, Marette A. Potential Health Benefits Combining Yogurt Based on Their Probiotic and Prebiotic Properties. 2017.
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5227968/
5. Moumita G. 7 Health Benefits of Apple for Kids. 2019 Available from: https://www.momjunction.com/articles/health-benefitsof-
apple-fruit-for-kids_0093159/#gref
6. Huynh DTT et al. J Hum Nutr Diet (2015), 28, 623-635. Longitudinal growth and health outcomes in nutritionally at-risk children who received long-term nutritional intervention.
7. Huynh DTT et al. 5th International Conference on Nutrition & Growth 2018. Oral nutritional supplementation improved linear
growth in Filipino children at nutritional risk.
8. Van Vught AJ et. al. Br J Nutr (2013), 109, 1031-1039. Dietary arginine and linear growth: the Copenhagen school children
intervention study.
9. Van Summeren MJ et al. Br J Nutr (2008), 100, 852-858. Vitamin K status is associated with childhood bone mineral content.
* Abbott Regional HCP Tracker for Growing Up Milk Category in Malaysia, conducted by IPSOS between January and March
2019
