At what age can a cucumber be given to a child and what are the limitations?

All parents are well aware of how fruit and vegetables are beneficial for children. At the same time, not everyone has a clear idea of ​​the age from which it is recommended to introduce these products into the diet. Ignorance of the features of their use can provoke a whole set of various problems.

Despite the fact that cucumbers are 95% water, they can have a beneficial effect on health. One of the indisputable advantages is a low calorie level, which allows it to be used for a wide variety of diets. Also thanks to this, it becomes possible to use a vegetable in order to cleanse the body of various toxins, as well as quench thirst.

The use of cucumbers is also useful due to the low content of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The introduction of this vegetable in the diet due to the content of unique fibers allows for a short period of time to normalize the work of the intestine. The composition of cucumbers includes vitamins of group B, E. PP, iodine, as well as ascorbic acid. Due to the significant amount of potassium, which is part of the vegetable, the full function of the kidneys and the heart is ensured.

It is not recommended to use cucumbers out of season, that is, greenhouse, and especially imported. There is a high probability that they were treated with chemicals in order to ensure their safety, which could trigger severe poisoning and allergic reactions.

To eat vegetables is not recommended for those who have problems with the full functioning of the stomach, in particular, there is an increased level of acidity. If we are talking about eating cucumbers in a season, and they were grown independently, it is necessary to peel and trim the tips of the fruit. According to experts, it is in these places that the greatest amount of harmful substances accumulates.

Another contraindication is individual intolerance. When it comes to feeding a baby with this vegetable for the first time, you need to offer him a small piece of cucumber and wait for several hours. In the absence of negative manifestations in the future, you can use the product without any concerns.

Many mummies aspire to transfer the child to the so-called adult food as quickly as possible. That is why they are trying for the minimum possible period to diversify the child's diet with fruits and vegetables. In their opinion, they are completely safe and, moreover, useful, which means that there should be no restrictions. In fact, complementary foods will be useful only if you know a number of features.

• Many mothers can boast that their child has been eating cucumbers since the age of 8 or 9 months, which is quite a risky business. In no case should a cucumber act as a vegetable, which is one of the first to be introduced into the food.

• Despite the fact that cucumber has a huge number of useful qualities, it is recommended to use it as a complementary food only after the child reaches the age of one. You can risk and experiment with food before, but you need to be ready for the appearance of colic. It is necessary to make a reservation that we are talking only about fresh cucumbers.
• As for salted and marinated products, vinegar and salt are used for its preparation, such food is generally undesirable for children to eat. It is important to note the absence of the necessary amount of useful substances in such cucumbers.Therefore, pediatricians and nutritionists recommend introducing various pickles into the diet of the child after he has reached at least three years of age.

Cucumber, like any food product, may not be tolerated by the body of a child. Despite the fact that many nutritionists constantly focus on the hypoallergenic nature of the vegetable, although rare, negative manifestations may still occur. There is a high risk of negative consequences if even before this baby had an individual intolerance towards a particular product.

Observations of experts suggest that recently, just a cucumber very often acts as a factor that can cause complex allergic reactions. Usually negative consequences cause:

• vegetables that have managed to absorb harmful substances from the soil;
• leaves and plant stems;
• pollen (especially important if the cucumber was not rinsed properly under warm running water).

The main manifestation of allergy in such a case is the appearance of a rash around the mouth (many parents think that this is a symptom of a certain childhood infectious disease). Additional features may include:

• development of stomatitis;
• sore throat and sore throat;
• discomfort in the tongue and gum area;
• nausea (vomiting may occur in more rare cases);
• active tearing;
• eye redness and eyelid swelling.

If there is at least half of the listed manifestations, it is necessary to immediately seek qualified medical assistance, as there is a significant risk to the health and life of the child. In order to eliminate negative reactions, it is necessary to initially talk with their parents, as well as with the parents of the father (mother) of the child, in order to determine whether the children in the family had similar manifestations. Such reactions are extremely rare in adults, but are common among children under five years of age.

Very rarely, this type of allergy is manifested by rashes (with the exception of vegetables actively fertilized with pesticides). Most often we are talking about discomfort in the abdomen, which sometimes increases (most importantly, that there is no temperature, as this may indicate more serious problems). If a similar situation is observed, it is worth postponing such acquaintance to a later date.

Not the last role is played by the correct choice of vegetable, which will be introduced into the child’s diet. The most useful are soil varieties. For a baby, it is worth choosing dense cucumbers, characterized by a rich color (and it should be uniform, which indicates growing without the use of additional chemicals), as well as a matte skin. In no case should not give the child cucumbers, having the following flaws:

• cracks;
• spots;
• bruising;
• too soft.

In addition to the fact that the process of storing vegetables has been disturbed, there is a significant likelihood that dirt or substances from the environment that are favorable for the reproduction of microorganisms are introduced into the fetus. Often just such products become the main cause of the fermentation process in the intestine and, as a result, cause a feeling of discomfort. In large and over-ripe fruits, the concentration of various substances is much higher than in normal ones. This means that the risk of an allergic reaction also increases rapidly.

Special attention should be paid to the manifestation of food allergies when eating salted and pickled cucumbers. The most common symptoms include:

• frequent loose (sometimes watery) stools;
• swelling;
• excessive thirst, accompanied by drying out mucous membranes;
• rash (especially on arms and legs).

Such manifestations also act as a signal for seeking qualified medical assistance.

Young parents should keep in mind that the effectiveness and safety of complementary foods, for example, for a 10-month-old baby, directly depend on how it is organized.

In no case do not need to simultaneously introduce into the diet two new products, since in case of negative manifestations it will be difficult to determine the root cause. It is believed that the new product will be well learned only if the child is given it at the same time with the already familiar food. For example, an apple can be offered along with a cucumber, since the former helps food digest more efficiently.

Thus, the organization of complementary foods for a child, in particular, the introduction of new products into the diet is quite a complex and responsible undertaking. To ensure its effectiveness and safety, it is necessary to take a more responsible approach to taking into account the individual characteristics of the child’s body and the choice of products to be used.

You will learn more about the beneficial properties of cucumber from the following video.