Two nutrients, known to have the
strongest relation to school performance,
are iron and zinc. Iron is an integral part
of haemoglobin which is the oxygen
carrying molecule in the blood. Deficiency
of iron is called anaemia. Symptoms of
iron deficiency include fatigue or tiredness,
lethargy, slowed growth and development,
poor appetite, abnormally rapid breathing,
behavioral problems or disciplinary issues
and susceptibility to frequent infections.
All these individually and collectively
can lead to increased absenteeism and
thereby decreased academic performance.
Iron deficiency also directly affects
the ability of undertaking physical
activity, which in turn can further affect
performance in school.
Zinc is mainly needed for the body’s
immune system to work properly. In
addition, it is involved in cell growth,
academic performance. Children
with deficiencies of micro-nutrients
like vitamin A, B6, B12, folic acid,
iron, zinc and calcium, have shown
to score lower grades and result in
higher absenteeism.
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Volume 4 | Issue 1 | January-March 2019
wound healing and for the sense of taste
and smell. Symptoms of zinc deficiency
are depression and psychological
disorders, impaired immunity, impaired
growth, diarrhoea, delayed sexual
maturation, alopecia or abnormal hair
growth, impaired appetite, altered
cognitive functions and altered sense
of smell and taste. Zinc deficiency also
leads to poorer performance in school.
This can be due to the fact that children
with zinc deficiency are more prone
to catching infection and falling sick,
thereby missing classes, their ability
to memorize is affected, there are
psychological disorders that can affect
learning, etc.
So, how can parents ensure that
they give their children the best
advantage for improving academic
performance?
Some
of
the
suggestions are as follows:
Give them a nutritious breakfast.
Always have healthy snacks
stocked in your pantries, so
that kids eat the right foods
throughout the day.
Don’t be fooled by "Low Fat" labels.
Such products are usually loaded
with sugar.Similarly, “natural"
does not always mean whole grain
or unrefined ingredients. Educate
yourself about reading the labels
and identifying what they mean.
Encourage your children to be
physically active, it will not only
help them improve their academic
performance, but also help in
building their overall personality.
A good healthy balanced diet
will ensure that your children do
not suffer from any nutritional
deficiencies.
Kanupriya Khanna, a Sr. Consultant
Nutritionist & Dietitian specializing
in pediatrics, is a private practitioner
at Greater Kailash, New Delhi. For
over 15 years, she has been working
with mothers and children to create
more wholesome food habits with
least restrictions and disruptions. She
pioneers the science of healthy eating,
using fresh ingredients and foods
that are easily available and can be
integrated easily into daily lives.