Can Kids Take Protein Powder?
A parent or guardian may wonder how to add protein to their child’s daily diet. Usually, kids get enough protein from a well-balanced diet. If kids cannot have a proper diet due to food intolerance or chronic illness, having protein powder for kids is quite helpful.
However, having too much protein may have adverse effects. In this article, we’ll share everything about supplementing your child’s diet with protein.
How Much Protein Does Your Child Require?
Adults, according to Harvard Health Publishing, require approximately 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight. But many people may get enough protein from their regular diet. This makes it unnecessary to add extra protein powder to their diet. The same is true for children.
Here is a proper breakdown of the protein requirements of children as per their age:
Benefits of Including Protein Powder in Kids’ Diets
In case your child is not able to get the proper amount of protein from food sources, adding protein powder to their diet is quite helpful.
Your child may require extra protein if they are:
- Fussy/picky eater
- Underweight
- On a vegetarian or vegan diet
- Suffering from any metabolic condition
However, you need to consult a pediatrician before adding any protein powder to kids’ everyday diet.
Protein Deficiency Symptoms in Children
Several symptoms indicate protein deficiency in children:
- Lower immunity
- Stunted or delayed growth rate
- Excessive hunger may lead to more weight gain
If your child is showing any signs of the given symptoms, you need to consult a pediatrician urgently.
Tips to Prevent Protein Deficiencies in Kids
First of all, you need to get familiar with the daily dose of protein for your kid’s age group and then know the symptoms of protein deficiency mentioned above. After that, take the given steps:
- Consult a doctor
- Add more protein-rich foods to their diet
Picking a Protein Powder
You always need to consult a doctor before adding a protein powder to your child’s diet. However, you need to keep in mind that the protein needs of all children are not the same. It means you always have to check the amount of protein that a specific supplement claims before giving it to your kid.
Meanwhile, you should think about the sugar content of the protein powder, as well as the artificial sweeteners in the supplement.
To avoid excessive protein intake in your child’s body, stick to the recommended daily dose. Always give the recommended dose of protein powder to your child to avoid developing any health risks due to excessive protein intake.
Conclusion
Whenever it comes to fulfilling your child’s protein needs, you have to speak to your pediatrician. You need to try many alternatives before adding any extra protein supplement to your child’s diet.
The bottom line is that you can buy protein powders or protein drinks for kids at any time. But the question is whether it is necessary. If it’s not important, it’s better to avoid it.
Also, Read this: Is Protein Powder Safe for Diabetics?
