Why Should I Opt for Fortified Milk for My Child?

As compared to adults, the nutritional needs of young children are considerably different as they are still developing and growing. Everything children’s consume should be loaded with a wide range of important vitamins and minerals to help them grow.

While milk is one of the most nutrition-packed foods on the planet and is highly recommended for kids, the benefits of milk can be taken a step further with fortification. If you are a mother looking for an effective way for your child to get more nutrition on a daily basis, fortified milk can be a great solution.

But what is fortification? What are the benefits of fortified milk over regular milk? Let us have a look.

What is Fortified Milk?

How is fortified milk different from the whole milk delivered to your home probably on a daily basis? As the name suggests, fortified milk goes through a process known as fortification. In this process, the manufacturer adds micronutrients like minerals and vitamins to the milk.

The micronutrients that are added during fortification are not naturally present in the milk. So, in a way, fortification makes milk more powerful and healthy.

Benefits of Fortified Milk

1. Contains Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins for the human body, especially for kids. It helps in increasing the absorption of Calcium included in the milk to improve bone development and strength. Vitamin D also helps in promoting proper calcium balance in the skeletal system and blood.

Rickets, a common condition among young children, which is caused due to lack of Calcium and Vitamin D can be effectively prevented with fortified milk.

2. Added Vitamin A

As per an estimate by the World Health Organization, around 250 million pre-school children all over the world are afflicted with Vitamin A deficiency. In the human body, Vitamin A plays a crucial role in gene transcription and developing vision.

Fortified milk contains Vitamin A in healthy quantities to eliminate the chances of deficiency and help develop and maintain optimal vision health.

3. Improved Immunity

Vitamin A and Vitamin D also help in improving the overall immunity in children. When the immune system is strong, it can effectively fight against a host of disease-producing organisms such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.

As children are consistently exposed to all these pathogens, it is very important for them to have a strong immune system to avoid getting sick. Regular consumption of fortified milk is known to strengthen immunity to help kids develop strong natural defenses against common diseases.

4. Brain Development

While the role of Vitamin D was assumed to be limited to just maintaining bone integrity and calcium and bone metabolism, several recent studies have shed light on its role in brain development. Many studies now confirm that Vitamin D critically influences the serotonin, the happy chemical, levels in the brain and its overall functioning.

With regular consumption of fortified milk, you can help your child’s brain development and also protect him/her from a wide range of mental conditions that can develop at a later stage in life.