EVEN
year-old Marco was taken to the hospital last summer after
suf-fering a bone fracture while playing. After putting the
injured arm in a cast, his doctor advised him to drink milk
regularly.
The calcium supplied by milk not only helps
in healing injured bones. It also supports bone growth during
this crucial stage of development. Studies also show that
drinking milk leads to stronger, healthier bones later in life.
Below are reasons why children like Marco should drink their
milk.
Muscle growth. Milk is rich in high
quality protein which helps develop muscles. As children, the
young ones are in the midst of one of their major growth
spurts-all the more reason why they need milk to keep up.
Get energized. Milk is a good source of
biotin and B vitamins which are important for the body's energy
production.
Replenishment. Active kids need constant
hydration. Milk is a great way to re-hydrate as it is naturally
composed of water. The potassium found in milk helps regulate
the balance of fluids in the body.
Stop night blindness. Some children
develop night blindness. Kids may have difficulty seeing at
night due to vitamin A deficiency which could be a problem later
on as they become adults.
Look good. Vitamin A, B3 (niacin)
protein, potassium and biotin that are all found in milk give
kids healthy and nice-looking skin, nails, and hair.
Feel good. Children are vulnerable to
illness and disease. That's why their immune system needs all
the help it can get from the riboflavin, zinc, and vitamin A
found in milk.
Calcium absorption. Your body needs
certain nutrients to help absorb all the calcium. Vitamin D,
which milk has in abundance, takes care of that.
Say cheese-or milk. Milk also has casein,
a protein which keeps cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to
teeth. Combine it with good oral habits to keep smiles looking
nice and clean.
Brain power. Though milk only has a small
percentage of vitamin B1 (thiamine) per serving, it's still
helpful for a growing child's cognitive functions.
Healthy thyroid function. Thyroid
disorders can develop during childhood. To prevent it, proper
iodine supply is essential, this you can get from milk.
Against asthma. As a rich source of vitamin B12, milk
helps prevent asthma which can be quite common among children.