At what age can you give cocoa to a child and how to enter it in the diet?

Cocoa drinks are not only a tasty delicacy, but also a real storehouse of various nutrients and energy, so necessary for a young growing organism. But it will bring benefit only if it is drunk in the right quantities and at the right age. Otherwise, it can harm the immature organism and lead to further health problems. Let's see when and in what doses you can start giving cocoa to a child to drink.

As in almost any food product, cocoa has both useful properties and not so much. Consider them in more detail and find out how to use cocoa correctly.

We begin with useful properties.

• Cocoa is rich in minerals and vitamins, and contains them exactly in the amount and ratio in which they need to get a child.
• It can cause the body to start producing endorphins, which directly affect mood, relieve stress and cause the brain to experience joy.
• Tones the body.
• A fruitful effect on the brain.
• It contains theobromine, which suppresses dry cough.
• Cocoa is a very high-calorie drink that can quickly eliminate hunger. It is especially useful for children, thin from birth.
• It improves skin condition.
• Cocoa is drunk during heavy physical exertion, as the drink helps to cope with them more effectively and restore the body after them.
• Helps remove harmful substances from the body.

With the pluses figured out, now move on to the minuses.

• If you start giving cocoa to a child too soon or too much, then there is a high risk of allergies in him.
• It is not recommended to drink cocoa at night. Its high energy value and ability to invigorate the body will not let you sleep all night.
• Too many can lead to various bowel problems, such as constipation.
• If you drink cocoa often, migraines may appear, and therefore it is not recommended for people who suffer from regular headaches.

It is worth noting, what all the pros and cons listed above are only natural cocoanon-natural ingredients can have an effect on both beneficial and negative properties. In addition, contrary to popular belief, cocoa and hot chocolate are completely different things.

It is extremely important to be able to choose cocoa. The main signs of natural cocoa: rich brown color, the absence of lumps and the characteristic smell of chocolate. One of the ways to check the naturalness is to rub the powder between the fingers: the natural product will remain on the finger, and the unnatural will simply crumble.

In order not to lose, and choose a good cocoa in the store, examine the composition written on the package. First of all, it should not be artificial flavors and any kind of additives. And also pay attention to the fat content of the drink, if it is below fifteen percent, then such cocoa drink can hardly be called natural.

One of the most popular cocoa producers is Nesquik, which is an indicator of improper cocoa. Such drinks contain a large amount of artificial ingredients and sugar.

As already mentioned, cocoa should in no case be given to small children, or drinking too much of it. Most often this leads to the appearance of various allergies to chocolate, lactose and other products.

Overdoing it is not worth it and having matured, excessive use of cocoa leads to problems with the stomach, migraines and other problems. All this is because cocoa contains many vitamins and various beneficial substances, and as you know, when the body is saturated, these substances begin to harm it.

Now that you have learned all the general rules for choosing and using cocoa, let's take a closer look at how and when to give it to your child for the first time.

It is believed that You can give a child cocoa from three years. At this age, the child's body has already formed the immune system, and the risk of allergies is reduced. But if the child is completely healthy, then you can try to enter it into the diet before, from 2 years. Giving cocoa even earlier is not worth it, because all those nutrients that are in it can harm the immature organism. This is especially true for children suffering from any body disorders or diseases.

But even after three years, cocoa cannot be added to the diet too sharply. It should be given gradually and at first confined to half a mug (150 milliliters) four times a week. Moreover, after the first time, do not give it to the child immediately, and for several days observe the reaction of the body - whether there are allergies, rashes or other problems. And also follow the behavior of your baby, sometimes after a drink, children begin to behave not in the best way due to the large influx of energy into the body. Giving a child a whole mug is not worth up to five or six years. And it is better to drink it in the morning, and even better at the very beginning, for breakfast.

Some people prefer to brew cocoa on water, but it is much more useful to make it with milk. For taste, you can also add a little sugar, but not too much, so as not to harm the body of the child. The best recipe for a three-year-old child is as follows:

• milk - 150 milliliters;
• cocoa - one teaspoon (if the cocoa is packaged, then the recommended volume for one bag will be indicated on the package);
• sugar - 1.5 tsp.

Initially, the milk is boiled. Then sugar and cocoa powder are poured into it and, stirring, kept on light fire for another five minutes. After that, pour the drink in a mug and hold it like that until it cools a little (five to ten minutes). Often, a film may appear on the surface of the cocoa, which can be removed before giving it to the child to drink. This recipe does not exactly harm the body of the child. If you wish, you can reduce the proportions indicated above, but it is not recommended to increase them.

Of course, it is impossible to say unequivocally at what age you need to start giving a cocoa child. Even such a well-known personality, like Dr. Komarovsky, confirmed this and said that it depends on personal predispositions and the health of the child. In certain cases, cocoa can be given to a one-year-old child, for example, for mass gaining. But before that, it is better to consult a doctor who will not only tell you whether your baby can drink cocoa, but also give recommendations on how often and in what portions to use it. Stick to them and do not forget that drinking cocoa at night is not recommended, and then everything will be fine with you.

In general, cocoa is no better than drinks such as compote or natural juice. They drink it mainly in order to slightly diversify the diet of the child or to cope with certain ailments, such as thinness, skin problems and others. The main thing is not to overdo it with the doses and control how much your child drinks. The health of your children is in your hands.

From what age can children drink cocoa? What is theobromine? What is caffeine and how does it affect the body of the child and the adult? Dr. Komarovsky will answer all these questions.