The quality of food is incredibly important for your child. Proper nutrition makes children strong, smart and healthy.

It's no secret that most of the food we see on the shelves of supermarkets is harmful to health. Canned fruits contain corn syrup. Breakfast cereals are overloaded with sugar. Milk is replete with chemicals...

Any mom knows about the importance of a well-balanced and nutritious diet for her kid. Nutrition provides our body with essential elements that are necessary for the proper functioning of the body and brain.

So why do so many of us eat unhealthy food? According to statistics, more than 30% children in Vietnam are overweight! Moreover, parents not only eat harmful food themselves, but also give toxic products to their children! It is highly important to realize that the food that we feed our children today will affect their physical and mental health tomorrow.

Nutritionists named five types of foods that should never be eaten by children.

So, here are 5 types of foods that your children should NEVER eat!

1. Processed meat

Of course, a hamburger or a hot dog, eaten from time to time, will not do much harm to the child.

It's about processed meat that we frequently eat like sausages, bacon, canned or dried meat. All these categories of meat have been classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

In other words, health professionals have discovered a clear link between processed meat and cancer.

Especially the consumption of such meat affects children. Their digestive system is not yet able to digest and eliminate harmful fats efficiently; also every sausage contains sodium nitrite and polycyclic aromatic carbohydrates which destroy the health of children and adults.

2. Aspartame

Many people consider that artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose and saccharin are a healthy alternative to sugar. But this is not true.

Scientific studies have associated aspartame with an increased risk of cancer, headache and obesity.

It's amazing, but aspartame is one of the ingredients in some medicines for children, however, the manufacturers do not mention it on the labels. Laboratory tests have discovered this substance in cough syrups and antibiotics. Of course there is no need to panic, but it's better to refuse using sweeteners in everyday life!

3. "Colored" products

Studies have shown that some foods (mainly cereals, sweets, desserts and sports drinks) contain food colors that are harmful to children. Synthetic colors can cause allergic reactions in children, accompanied by such symptoms  as hives, itching and swelling.

Many modern companies have already abandoned the use of artificial colors in their products. However, many products containing dyes are still sold on store shelves. For the safety of your children, do not feed them with brightly colored products.

4. Arsenic

What is arsenic? It is a highly toxic poison!

Suprisingly, this chemical can be constantly present in your children's food - especially if you often feed them with rice. Many baby food products contain this chemical. It is estimated that about 80% of babies eat rice porridge during their first year of life. From time to time you can use rice safely, but you should be careful when giving it to your child every day!

Inorganic arsenic (the most toxic form of this chemical element) is often present in ground water and soil. This is how its presence in many plant products is explained. Besides rice, inorganic arsenic is found in apple juice.

5. Sweet carbonated drinks

Sweet, carbonated drinks often contain a huge amount of sugar, devoid of nutrients and abounding in calories. According to medical studies, type 2 diabetes, obesity and mental disorders in children are most often associated with high sugar intake.

Recommendations of nutritionists

Here are some tips on children’s diet from nutritionists of American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Give your child several fruit and vegetables a day.
• Try to buy only fresh fruit and vegetables. Frozen or canned fruit and vegetables are not good enough for children.
• Provide the child with several healthy sources of protein. It can be, for example, fish or chicken.
• Be sure to include whole grain bread and cereals in your child's diet.
• Prefer low-fat dairy products.
• Make sure your child is drinking enough water. 5-8 year old children should drink 5 glasses of water a day;  9-12 year old kids  - 7 glasses, and from 13 years old - 8-10 glasses per day.
• Try to exclude fast food, chips, crisps and other junk food from child’s diet.
• Carefully study labels of products you buy for your kids, choose those that do not contain artificial colors and flavors and preservatives.

• Make a good example! Be sure to have healthy eating habits yourself, for your children to follow you.

In addition, you should give your children a health supplement PECTIN COMPLEX 2 times a year (autumn and spring) with courses lasting 1 month, to improve  digestive system functions, to strengthen the immune system, to replenish the body with vitamins and to eliminate harmful substances coming from unhealthy food, water and polluted air.

Adhere to proper nutrition and be healthy!