The health benefits of flax seeds have drawn a lot of attention, but are they good for kids too? Many parents are interested in learning if these small seeds can benefit their children in any way, particularly in terms of promoting brain health, digestion, and general nutrition.
The abundance of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and other vital nutrients found in flax seeds may make them an excellent addition to a child’s diet. But it’s crucial to understand how to introduce them correctly and what to avoid. Since every child reacts differently to new foods, it’s important to know which strategy works best.
This post will discuss the possible health advantages of flax seeds for kids, safe ways to include them in meals, and any safety measures that parents should take. Let’s examine what makes flax seeds such a promising superfood for developing children.
Benefit of Flax Seeds | Description |
Rich in Omega-3 | Flax seeds provide essential fatty acids that support brain development in children. |
Fiber for Digestion | Helps promote healthy digestion and prevent constipation in kids. |
Source of Antioxidants | Flax seeds contain lignans, which boost the immune system. |
Improves Skin Health | Omega-3s help maintain healthy, soft skin in children. |
- Useful and medicinal properties
- Harm and contraindications
- From what age to give?
- In what form to give?
- Tips
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Useful and medicinal properties
Flaxseed has therapeutic applications. Following the plant’s active flowering phase, seeds are produced in capsules. They have the greatest concentration of beneficial ingredients. These include many different vitamins, such as A, E, PP, and B vitamins. Flax seeds are rich in lignin, which is an essential fatty acid for human health, as well as fiber, glycosides, dietary fiber, and beneficial "correct" carbohydrates. The seeds are a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.
This plant material has amazing healing properties because of all these components. First of all, it is a gentle laxative that can alleviate constipation in kids, even the youngest ones—up to a year old—quite rapidly. An effective treatment for coughs is the use of flax seeds as an anti-inflammatory agent for illnesses of the upper respiratory tract.
Flax will help with stomach ailments and the removal of worms; it will also reduce inflammation in burns and wounds; it will help with diaper rash in infants and acne in teenagers going through puberty.
- Diabetes;
- Digestive disorders;
- Arthritis, joint inflammation;
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- Immunodeficiency, weakness after a long illness;
- Propensity to allergies, allergies in the active phase;
- Intestinal dysbacteriosis;
- Skin diseases.
Harm and contraindications
When used properly, flaxseed poses no risks. Additionally, allergies are rarely caused by it. The seeds absorb perfectly when taken orally. If a remedy of this kind is administered to someone for whom it is not meant, it may, nevertheless, have adverse effects. Children with hepatitis, intestinal blockage, or gallstone disease should not consume flax seeds. Those receiving hormone therapy or taking prescription antidepressants shouldn’t take this remedy.
From what age to give?
Children younger than one year old can be treated with flaxseed. Age-appropriate dosages must be followed: a decoction of the seed is administered half a teaspoon for children under three years old and 10-15 drops at a time to babies up to 12 months of age. Children 3 to 7 years old can have a whole teaspoon, and those older than 7 years old can have a tablespoon.
For a specific disease, a pediatrician can assist you in selecting a dose that is more precise.
It’s crucial to follow it and not go overboard in order to protect the child.
The Internet has a plethora of contradicting information about when it is acceptable to take flax. While some contend that children under the age of three shouldn’t be given flax seeds, others caution against using the product on youngsters younger than twelve. There are hardly any adverse reactions to this product observed in pediatric practice in children younger than a year old. Furthermore, the lack of centralized clinical studies on the effects of plant matter on children’s bodies explains the discrepancy in the data.
Because of this, doctors classify flax seeds as dietary supplements rather than as official drugs (biologically active additives).
Including flax seeds in a child’s diet can be beneficial as they offer essential nutrients such as antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber. To optimize their benefits and aid in digestion, it’s crucial to introduce them gradually and make sure they’re adequately prepared, such as by grinding them. To prevent potential allergies or digestive problems, always get advice from a pediatrician before introducing new foods to a child’s diet, especially for younger children.
In what form to give?
Ground flax seeds can be used to make a powder that can be added to food as a tasty and healthful seasoning. In general, flaxseed oil—which is also derived from seeds—is a special commodity. It can be used as an ingredient in salads and main dishes, as well as for baby massages. Diaper rash and contact dermatitis symptoms are promptly healed, and the sensitive skin of babies is softened and moisturized.
Making a decoction or infusion is the most widely used application for it.
We learned how to brew flax seeds from our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. This is done very easily, and the precise recipe depends on the intended outcome and the illness the child will be treated for.
- For cough. Grind two tablespoons of raw materials in a coffee grinder into powder, and brew a glass of boiling water. Insist under the lid for about 40 minutes. Give the child at least 6 times a day depending on the age dose. This remedy is especially effective for dry and unproductive cough.
- For constipation. A teaspoon of seeds is poured with a glass of boiled hot water and left to brew for half an hour. Then, for younger children, strain it and give the decoction to drink up to three times a day in an age-appropriate dose. And older children can be offered softened seeds to eat. This not only promotes bowel movement, but is also effective in getting rid of worms. However, you will have to fight parasites this way for quite a long time – at least 7-10 days.
- For allergies. A tablespoon of crushed seeds is brewed with a glass of boiling water, infused and applied to the affected areas of the skin with urticaria, allergic dermatitis. For allergies that are not accompanied by the appearance of skin rashes, a decoction of seeds can be drunk in an age-appropriate dose up to 4 times a day. The product can be mixed into juice, tea, fruit drink, water.
- For worms. A tablespoon of seeds is crushed and mixed with a glass of kefir. A child can drink such a drink before meals for half an hour, one quarter of a glass. In a week, you can forget about parasites.
- Dry linen compress. The seeds should be poured into a hot frying pan and heated while stirring. Then the hot seeds are poured into a linen bag and applied as a warming compress to the inflamed joints.
Tips
- Preparations prepared at home from flax seeds should not be stored in the refrigerator or outside it. It is best to prepare a fresh portion of the "medicine" before each use. The maximum storage time for the decoction in the refrigerator is no more than 5 hours.
- If the child is not allergic to sugar, honey and is allowed to eat sweets, you can make candies from flax seeds by mixing them with honey. You can add seeds to baked goods, soups and main courses. Systematic use will help raise the child"s immunity, this is especially useful during periods of seasonal growth of respiratory viral infections and flu.
- Flax seed jelly will help cope with intestinal diseases, including parasites. It can also be given in small prophylactic doses to boost immunity.
- In case of constipation, seeds can have both a laxative and astringent effect. For everything to “work” as it should, the child needs to combine taking flax-based drugs with plenty of fluids, then the fiber, which the plant seeds are rich in, will have the desired effect.
- You should not prescribe flax seeds to your child on your own. It is better to entrust this matter to a doctor, he will definitely give the necessary recommendations on the dosage and method of preparing raw materials if he comes to the conclusion that the child needs to take flax seeds.
With valuable nutrients like fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and important vitamins, flax seeds can be a healthy addition to a child’s diet. They can promote healthy digestion and general wellbeing when added in the proper amounts and forms.
To make flax seeds easier to digest, it’s imperative to grind them before consuming them. To ensure that flax seeds are a good fit for your child’s diet, it’s best to start with small portions for young children and always seek advice from a pediatrician.
Recall that a child’s growth can only be supported by a diet that is both varied and balanced. Even though flax seeds have many advantages, a well-rounded diet plan should include them as only one component. To give your child the best start in life, as always, prioritize eating fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other nutrient-rich foods.