Although maintaining a healthy metabolism for a child is rarely discussed, it is crucial to give it some thought early because it affects how a child’s brain and body grow. For the most part, the metabolism operates efficiently without any conscious effort. Yet occasionally, metabolic processes go awry, leading to severe malfunctions. Young people may have trouble focusing on their schoolwork, which could negatively impact their academic achievement. To keep kids feeling energetic, it’s crucial to keep their metabolisms ticking along at a healthy rate. Moreover, slow metabolism is another risk factor for the onset of some diseases.
In the formative years, it’s crucial that your child has a healthy appetite and metabolism. To boost the metabolism of your kid, you can consider certain practices, habits, and routines, including a nutritious diet for children. Keep reading to discover the tips and tricks from our experts at the Pediatric Endocrine and Metabolic Center of Florida and effectively improve your child’s metabolism.
Risks of Slow Metabolism in Children
A slower metabolism usually causes an imbalance in enzymes or hormones. Toxic compounds can accumulate in the body if its ability to digest chemicals is impaired or prevented. Abnormal bodily function and severe symptoms may result from this buildup. In the end, these problems can cause things like:
- Chronic hypertension
- Obesity
- Hyperglycemia
- Poor lipid profile
- Stubborn abdominal fat
- Numerous metabolic diseases
Although these illnesses aren’t typically seen in younger patients, children and teenagers aren’t immune to developing them. In reality, a growing number of kids are being diagnosed with and affected by these severe illnesses at ever-younger ages. Estimates suggest that roughly 10% of adolescents suffer from metabolic syndrome. Also, 5% of tested third graders were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, and almost half of the tested group had two risk factors. Some simple lifestyle changes can go a long way toward preventing these health problems and giving your youngster a metabolic boost.
8 Ways to Improve Metabolism of Your Kids
- Breakfast Is a Must
Your child’s metabolism will benefit immensely from a well-balanced breakfast. Check to see that the morning meals aren’t overly heavy or fattening, as this could cause stomach discomfort otherwise.
Getting your kid in the habit of eating breakfast is essential for their overall growth and development.
- Introduce Water Before Meals
Consuming healthy fluids, such as water, stimulates digestion and, in turn, boosts your child’s metabolism. You should give your kid a full glass of water before all meals, including breakfast and lunch. It aids digestion by keeping their little body well hydrated at all times.
Improved digestion leads to an increase in appetite, and an increase in appetite guarantees a healthy rate of physical development.
- Choose Healthy Snacks for Kids
There are many healthy snacks for kids that you can make, and be sure your child will still enjoy them. All it takes is a bit of effort and browsing through online recipes. However, if you’re looking for a foolproof way to boost metabolism, you simply can’t go wrong with peanuts and yogurt.
A handful of peanuts is an excellent way to get kids to eat better. They aid in healthy weight gain and have excellent protein-building capacity, all of which will benefit your kid’s metabolism.
Yogurt, which naturally contains enzymes for digestion, is an excellent addition to a healthy diet for children. Many parents report that giving their kids digestive enzymes has improved their appetites and helped eliminate stomach bugs. In addition, yogurt is a good source of calcium, which generally benefits the child’s development.
- Encourage Mindful Eating
It’s crucial that today’s kids learn how to make good food choices to improve their metabolism. Instead of seeing food as a comfort mechanism, they should view it as fuel. This knowledge can help individuals make healthier decisions when it comes to eating. Empty-calorie meals, like sodas and sugary desserts, have no positive effect on the body and can drastically reduce energy levels, so it’s important to teach your kids to avoid them.
A healthy diet for children features more fiber and good fats like those found in olive oil and nuts, as well as more nutritious carbs and whole grains.
- Physical Activity for a Child Is Vital
When kids are active, their metabolisms thrive. Watch out that your kid doesn’t spend too much time staring at the screen. This can result in a loss of appetite and stomach gases. However, children with increased activity levels and a greater metabolic rate may also experience increased hunger.
Moreover, regular physical activity for a child means better coordination, growth, and overall health. Therefore, enrolling your kid in sports or a fitness center is always a good idea.
- Shedding the Extra Pounds
Children who are overweight are at increased risk for “adult” health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Your child’s metabolism and insulin sensitivity can both benefit from your assistance in reducing their body fat and maintaining a healthy weight. This is essential to decrease the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and boost the kid’s metabolism.
Appropriate physical activity for a child with healthy snacks and a diet, in general, can definitely go a long way.
- No Room for Stress During Meals
Avoid arguments at mealtime. Or, at the very least, try to avoid any stressful conflicts at the table. Intense debates, confrontations, and disputes can be quite taxing for your child, which becomes particularly detrimental while eating.
Because of the overwhelming need to escape the situation, their appetite can instantly diminish. In addition, your child’s metabolism may slow down because of the increased tension and irritation. Although it may not be possible in some cases, try to keep the mood light and relaxed during mealtime.
- Kids Need Enough Sleep
Older children require only 8 hours of sleep per night, whereas smaller youngsters require closer to 10 hours. Because the body restores its natural equilibrium and metabolism while sleeping, it’s crucial that kids get plenty of it.
The quality of one’s sleep profoundly affects not only physical and mental health but also appetite and body composition. During sleep, the body can mend broken tissues and heal from damage.
Make a Positive Change
If your family seems to be heading in the wrong direction regarding their diet and exercise habits, modeling healthy behavior can help your kids get back on track. Sit together as a family and plot out your next steps so that you may all move in a more positive and beneficial direction.
Of course, if you feel something’s wrong with your child’s health, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at the Pediatric Endocrine and Metabolic Center of Florida. Our medical staff is committed to children’s health and always gives the parents accurate information about their child’s condition. The safety and happiness of the children are our top priority, and we take every measure to ensure that parents have absolute confidence in us.