'Fat intake' has always been a controversial topic all around the globe. In fact fat is also known as a 'criminal' in the nutrition world. Adults are always conscious about their own fat intake and as parents, they are more worried about how much fat and which kind of fat their little ones' should be getting. Among all types of fat, ghee is the healthiest one. That is why, here is a shout out to all the parents that small amount of ghee is necessary and beneficial for your infant. It is very well known that for the first six months of age babies should be exclusively breastfed. Once complementary feed or weaning is initiated, little amount of ghee can be introduced in the diet.
What is 'ghee'?
Ghee, also known as clarified butter is widely used in India since ages. But today, Indian parents do not feed their kids ghee. Among all the types of fat available in the market, ghee is considered to be one of the healthiest fat. However, parents should not confuse 'pure cow's ghee' with dalda or vanaspati.
Ghee is a healthy source of fat and a dense source of energy which is required for growth and development during infancy. By the age of one year, a baby triples his or her birth weight. Therefore, adding energy dense foods such as ghee to the meal becomes important and necessary for optimal growth.
As the growth rate is high during infancy, more calories are required by the baby's body. 1 gram of ghee provides 9 calories. Therefore, adding ghee to the meals is an easy and healthy way to make the meals calorie dense and to keep the baby active.
Even after initiating complementary feeds, your baby's digestive system is still sensitive, therefore, easy to digest foods should be given to your little one. Among all, ghee is one of the simplified fat foods which doesn't put stress on the baby's gut.
The first 1 year of age is very important for baby's brain development. A combination of happy environment and nutritious foods are required for healthy brain development. 60% of brain is made up of fat. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a type of healthy fat which is essential for brain growth and development in infants. Research has shown that home-made ghee is a rich source of DHA. Therefore, adding ghee to your baby's diet can boost the brain development process.
DHA present in ghee, doesn't just boost brain growth but it also improves eyesight.
In addition to this, ghee is a rich source of antioxidants. Therefore, adding ghee to your baby's food is a great way to prevent the onset of infections and diseases.
Ghee also helps in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Therefore, your baby can easily absorb vitamin A, D, E and K if ghee is added to the meals. The absorption of these vitamins further promote healthy growth and development and also boost your little ones' immune system.
How much ghee does your baby need?
The amount of ghee that should be added to the meals depend on your baby's age and weight.
If your little one is underweight, he or she may require a little more amount of ghee but if your little one is overweight you may have to cut down.
Start with 1 teaspoon of ghee per day once complementary feeds are initiated.
Gradually increase it to 3-4 teaspoons per day by 1 year of age.
Bottom-line: Ghee is a healthy and amazing source of fat with multiple health benefits. Adding it to your baby's diet in limited amount is very beneficial for his or her overall health. It is very well known that 'anything in excess is not good', the same goes for ghee. If you overload your little ones' meal with ghee you may lose on some health benefits. Last but not the least, do not confuse cow's ghee with vanaspati. Vanaspati is the most harmful type of fat which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, altered lipid profile and so on.
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Note:Homemade ghee is far healthier than ghee available in the market.
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