As your baby grows, many new parents are confused about when to salt their baby. Salt, as a condiment, occupies an indispensable place in the daily diet. However, for babies, consuming salt too early or too much can have adverse effects on their health. So, how old is a baby to eat salt? And compared with not putting salt, what do we need to be more wary of "** salt"?
First, let's talk about when your baby can eat salt. In general, in the first few months of life, your baby's main nutrition** is breast milk or formula, which already contains enough sodium to require additional salt. As babies start eating complementary foods, their sodium needs will increase, but they still don't need to add extra salt. The World Health Organization recommends that babies under 1 year of age should consume no more than 700 mg of sodium per day, which is equivalent to about 18 g salt. Therefore, for babies up to 1 year old, the natural salt in the food is sufficient, and no additional salt is needed.
However, we should pay more attention to the intake of "**salt" than whether or not to add salt. The so-called "**salt" refers to those foods that are high in salt but are not easily detected. These foods can be ubiquitous in our daily diet, and if left unchecked, it can easily lead to your baby consuming too much salt.
Here are some common "salt" foods that parents need to be especially vigilant about when feeding their babies:
Processed foods: Many processed foods such as cookies, chips, canned foods, etc., are high in salt. These foods are usually delicious and appealing to your baby, but consuming too much salt over time can increase your baby's risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure.
Condiments: In addition to the salt itself, many condiments such as soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, chicken essence, etc. also contain high salt content. Parents should use as few of these condiments as possible when cooking, or choose a low-salt alternative.
Fast food and takeaway: Fast food and takeaway foods are often high in salt and are not easily noticed. Try to avoid these foods for your baby, especially when eating out.
Snacks: Many snacks such as seaweed, nuts, dried fruits, etc., also contain a certain amount of salt. Although these foods can be used as a healthy snack for your baby, parents need to control their intake and avoid their baby's excessive salt intake.
In conclusion, for babies, consuming salt too early or too much can have adverse effects on their health. Parents should try to avoid adding extra salt when feeding their babies, and be wary of those "**salt" intakes. Choosing fresh and healthy foods and matching nutrition reasonably can ensure the healthy growth of your baby.
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