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7 Super Health Benefits of Coconut Milk for Toddlers
7 Super Health Benefits of Coconut Milk for Toddlers
Coconut milk is rich in nutrients, just like common milk. It mostly contains fats that are really essential for the body.
Babies or toddlers need lots of essential fats for the development of the brain, insulation and the skin too. Besides that, coconut milk also contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin E and C. All these nutrients are very beneficial for the toddler’s good health, development and boosting immunity as well.
There is something to be kept in mind, coconut milk is not the replacement of breast milk. Still, breast milk is the best supplement for toddlers or babies. Coconut milk has lots of benefits for your toddlers. Let’s see the 7 super benefits of coconut milk for toddlers.
- Boosting the Brain Development of the Toddlers
As stated before, coconut milk is rich in high fat content. The fats in coconut milk are not the harmful ones, instead they are the good kind. They are saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.
These fats are very essential for helping the development of your toddler’s brain. Giving your toddler a healthy and nutritious drink such as coconut milk will boost your toddler’s brain development.
- Strengthening the Immune System
Coconut milk is full of vitamins and minerals. They are really necessary for your toddler’s overall development. Two of which are potassium and sodium. They work together to maintain the blood pressure.
Then, vitamin C in coconut milk also helps repair and develop tissues and red blood cells and as a result your toddler’s immune system gets upgraded!
- Acting as an Antimicrobial
Coconut milk also acts as antimicrobial, which means it protects your toddler’s body from bacteria, viruses and germs. You can also give coconut milk as part of the milk as it contains lipids that are functioning to ward off the antibodies. As a result, your toddler is getting stronger and not easily getting sick.
- Killing Worms in the Intestines
If your toddler experiences worm, then you can consider giving coconut milk to de-worm them. Toddlers and kids are prone to get intestinal worm. One of the alternatives or solutions is by feeding them coconut milk. The antimicrobial lipids, capric acid and lauric acid are able to kill the worms and boost your toddler’s immune system as well.
- Improving Digestion
Coconut milk is also good for improving digestion. It is high in water content and bioactive compounds, so it will also alleviate constipation.
- Eliminating Nutritional Deficiency
Coconut milk is really full of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals are ideal for infants and toddlers who suffer from malnutrition.
Malnutrition in infants and toddlers is a very serious problem. So, for those parents whose toddlers experience nutritional deficiency can consider adding coconut milk to the toddlers’ meal.
- Acting as a Remedy for Cholera
Coconut milk is acting like coconut water. It is a good remedy for cholera. You can simply add a teaspoon of fresh lime juice to a glass of coconut milk and feed it to your toddlers to get them recovered from cholera.
Caution
Never ever consider replacing cow’s milk or breast milk with coconut milk as there are some reasons behind it. First, coconut milk doesn’t contain enough protein, which is also needed for the development of the toddlers.
A baby needs at least 11 grams of proteins every day while 100 grams of coconut milk only gives them 2 grams of protein. Besides, drinking coconut milk won’t fulfil the toddler’s calcium needs.
So, you just can consider giving coconut milk as an additional menu for your toddlers.