Introduction:
Focusing on a diverse pattern of dietary intake is important for children rather than just focusing on individual or single nutrient groups. The term dietary diversity refers to the variety of foods that can be eaten within a specific period of time that can prevent food allergies that are common in children.
Why Is Nutrient Intake Essential to the Child?
Research suggests that the more diverse a diet fed to an infant in the first year of life, the fewer the chances of being allergic to particular foods. This concept has now gained momentum amongst nutrition experts across the globe. Solid foods introduced within the first year of life are beneficial and considered a measure of increased dietary diversity. The hypothesis that is being researched and has already gained sufficient evidence over the last decade is that when the infant consumes a diverse range of foods, the sensitivity to food allergens would reduce in the first year of life.
Till six months of infancy, breastfeeding is recommended and is the main source of nutrition and sustenance for the child. However, after the six months to one-year period, other than breastfeeding or formula, there needs to be an increase in the intake of important nutrients. Food during this period helps to establish a healthy gut microbiome structure and enhance synergistic bodily functions. Research mainly sheds light on the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, fibers, and prebiotics, as these are important to prevent sensitization to allergens. However further information and research need to be done on the dosing and on the individual requirements.
What Does the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommend?
Additional to diet diversity, certain diet indices are mainly considered to be a fundamental measure of overall diet quality. Diet indices are used in the field of nutrition as the most simple assessment tool for calculating and supplementing the dietary needs of the individual or child. Over the last 2 decades, the recommendations regarding the introduction of solid foods in early life have changed considerably. While In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) first proposed that complementary feeding can be commenced after the first six months of age and further introduction of food allergens can be done before one year. This was held for those infants who are particularly at high risk for allergy development, such as those having a familial history of certain allergic diseases. The AAP has suggested the earlier the introduction is done of certain foods the better it is.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
Omega-3 long-chain or polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are one of the most essential nutrients that need to be part of diet diversity. These are found in foods like fatty fish, fish oil, and nuts as well. Mostly evidence from studies demonstrates that omega-3 fatty acids are capable of lowering the pro-inflammatory cytokine (inflammation-causing proteins) levels in the body. Their function additionally is to antagonize IgE responses and mast cell degranulation as well. Research shows that a major imbalance in the intake of omega-6 fatty acid foods versus that of omega-3 fatty acid foods especially in western diets has been considered a leading cause for a possible increase in allergic diseases or sensitization to allergens.
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Non Digestible Fibers and Probiotics:
Probiotics are mainly a substrate food that can be selectively utilized by some host microorganisms in our body that can strengthen the gut microbiome. These foods naturally confer upon us various health benefits. They are present in foods that are artificially produced as galactooligosaccharides (GOS) or in fructooligosaccharides (FOS). In the large intestine, these probiotics can undergo fermentation by the local bacteria. The bacteria henceforth modulate the composition of our intestinal microbiome. Healthy microbiota is capable of producing beneficial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids that have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Human milk is the greatest probiotic that contains more than 400 different oligosaccharides with potent probiotic action. This is the reason, probiotics are added to infant formulas so that in trying to mimic the effect of breastmilk, the infant can have an advantage of a healthy microbiome.
How Can Diet Diversity Prevent Disease and Allergy?
Food intake is a complex interaction that plays a major role in determining our well-being and health. It can also prevent the initiation of potential disease patterns in the body. The role of diet diversity in the phase of pregnancy has not been studied. However, the importance of diet diversity to the infant plays a major role in shaping their nutrition and health. Listed below are some ways to prevent disease and allergy:
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Though more information and research are required about nutrient dosing, a definite link between diet diversity and reduced food allergy shows that this is important to the child's well-being and immunity.
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Promising results from nutrition research show children with reduced odds of food allergies have a reduction in childhood wheezing or in developing asthma issues. Consuming a diverse range of foods in the first year of life may increase the intake of nutrients and positively affect the gut microbiome composition.
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Intake of omega-3 fatty acids and fibers and probiotics may be particularly important.
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It is always crucial to discuss with the pediatrician or a nutritionist to see what type of foods suit best for the child and how the parents can incorporate full-fledged nutrition in their diet by diversification of foods.
Conclusion:
Diet diversity is responsible especially within the first year of life as it affects the gut microbiome positively. This occurs by providing a more diverse food schedule and by increased intake of fiber and essential nutrients that establish a healthy gut in the child making them less prone to allergies. Parents should be motivated to provide their children with as many tastes and flavors as possible before they turn one year.
