While it is common knowledge that omega-3’s are important healthy fatty acids to include in children’s diets for overall health and brain development. Did you know that fat (yes, even saturated fat) and cholesterol are not something you need to be concerned about limiting in your child’s diet under the age of two years? Current dietary guidelines for Americans recommend fat to be unrestricted in the first two years of life. Eating healthy for most children doesn’t mean following adult goals for cutting back on total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, particularly for children younger than 2 years. - American Academy of Pediatrics Lipids are considered the most important energy source in the infant diet and are necessary for normal growth and physical activity. Human milk, in which most of the energy is present as fat, provides a relatively high cholesterol intake as well. Mother’s milk and infant formula supply 40–50% of their energy as fat. PMID: 2973471 Approximately 85% of fats in breast milk are saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids - the rest are polyunsaturated. Saturated fats are found in abundance in human breast milk. This is why most infant formulas are made with palm oil which is 50% saturated fat. Their role is to provide energy and immunity and to serve as building blocks, as well as assisting the hormonal system and the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Correct development of the nervous system, retina and other structures depend on an adequate supply of these fatty acids during intrauterine development and in the newborn and infant stages. Sources: PMID: 32312179, PMID: 19559168, PMID: 10539790, PMID: 34766894 Full blog post available on fat needs in young children ❤️
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