Garlic has many beneficial properties. It can reduce the risk of strokes, relieve inflammation, reduce swelling with arthritis, and can even partially eliminate pain. It turns out that this spicy vegetable is an essential ingredient in human life, which contains organic acids, trace elements, substances that can fight pathogenic microflora.
This is an antibiotic given to us by nature. It is also used as a natural bactericidal agent. Many are interested in knowing how old garlic can be given to a child. It is necessary to study all its pros and cons in order to answer this question.
The beneficial properties of garlic
This spicy vegetable is able to have a positive effect on the entire human body, increasing its tone. It activates the cells of our brain. One clove of garlic is enough to remove toxins such as cadmium, lead and mercury. Everyone knows it and as an excellent tool in the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections. There are people who constantly eat garlic without fear of its smell, which helps them to be healthy and active.
We list the main advantages of this amazing vegetable:
- In garlic, there is allicin, which destroys bacteria, viruses.
- Phytoncides in its composition counteract bacteria, pathogens of dysentery, staphylococci.
- It removes toxins and harmful substances from the human body.
- Reduces the risk of obesity.
- It does not increase insulin, normalizing its activity.
- Strengthens the walls of blood vessels, they become elastic.
- It activates the synthesis of methionine, which is important for the functioning of the liver and the development of cartilage.
- Increases appetite.
- Normalizes digestion.
- May calm the nervous system.
The benefit of this vegetable is obvious, so it seems that everyone needs it. And it makes no sense to ask the question of how old a child can give garlic. But do not rush, as he also has minuses.
Garlic Harm
Not everyone loves him. This vegetable provokes irritation of the gastric mucosa. Especially when it comes to the delicate body of the child. Therefore, one must carefully eat this vegetable for children and adults who have gastritis.
Garlic sometimes causes allergies. The child may be covered with a rash, everything will begin to itch. There is a risk of anaphylactic shock. It can even be dangerous to get garlic juice on the delicate skin.
Allergic reaction
Any spicy vegetable can cause such a nuisance, since it contains components that are heavy for the human body.
Signs of an allergy:
- red spots;
- itching
- swelling of the respiratory tract or other organs;
- low blood pressure;
- rapid breathing;
- anaphylactic shock.
In children with hypersensitivity, even the smell of garlic can cause a reaction. If you have an allergy, you must try to remove the pathogen from the body.
Other contraindications
You can not add garlic to food if a person:
- excess weight, as it can cause an increase in appetite;
- pregnancy - garlic can increase uterine activity, provoke premature birth;
- lactation, since garlic can change the taste of milk, make it bitter, and children do not like it;
- epilepsy - garlic can provoke an attack;
- fever, as this vegetable is able to raise it even more;
- individual intolerance.
But let's not talk about sad things, not so often there is hypersensitivity and allergies. Let's look at the main question, namely: at what age can garlic be given to a child? It is believed that up to six years it is better not to do this, even when cooked. But the pediatricians themselves say that one should not be afraid of everything in this regard. However, there are a number of reservations.
Age for feeding
It is important not only to know at what age you can give garlic to a child, but also in what form to do it:
- Fresh garlic is contraindicated in very small children.
- After heat treatment, you can give healthy babies who have no digestive problems. As early as eight months, it is allowed to enter soups or vegetable purees with garlic in the diet (no more than one clove).
- Fresh garlic is allowed to be given to children from the age of three, but also no more than a clove. There are kids who like to chew on a crust of bread grated by this wonderful vegetable. Moms sometimes add chopped garlic to salads and snacks, soups. Can a child be given garlic, the pediatrician will always tell. Consult with him not to take risks and know how to do it correctly.
- Children over ten years old are allowed to eat up to 5 cloves. It is important not to abuse, so as not to provoke heartburn or other problems of the stomach or intestines. Remember the sense of proportion, even if you really love garlic and respect its healing properties.
Before deciding when to give garlic to a child, it is good to study its composition in detail.
The chemical composition of garlic
- Water.
- Fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
- Alimentary fiber.
- Vitamins: E, B1-B3, B5, B6, B9, C, K.
- Biotin, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, potassium, selenium, fluorine, chromium, cobalt, iodine, allicin.
The calorie content of garlic is greater than that of onions.
Additional advantages
Garlic is not only tasty and healthy seasoning. It is useful to give children as a restorative and prophylactic agent. There is even speculation that garlic cures cancer. Medicines are made on its basis.
There is ajoen in garlic - in high concentrations it can thin the blood, lower cholesterol. During heat treatment, this vegetable loses many useful properties, so it is better to use it fresh.
So that the child can get used to this specific vegetable, add it more often. In small doses, garlic should be placed in an almost ready dish. Older children can eat mashed garlic in seasonings, fried foods, soups, sauces. In scanty doses, they do not notice it, and therefore get used to the special aroma of this spice.
When dried, garlic is also used. The answer to the question of how much garlic can be given to a child in its pure form is not clear. You can try after a year to add quite a bit to the soup, and from 3 years to accustom to larger portions. The main thing is to know that the child does not have intolerance to this vegetable.
Ways to accustom a child to garlic
Understanding when it is possible to give garlic to a child in soup, salad, sauce or other dishes is not enough. It is necessary that the taste of this vegetable does not repel. There are different ways to accustom a child to garlic. The most interesting of them:
- make beads from cloves;
- come up with an interesting bracelet;
- put garlic in a plastic container from Kinder Surprise, make holes in it, thread a thread and give the child to wear around his neck, for example, in a kindergarten, when the season of viruses and colds.
It is proved that inhaling the vapors of this vegetable has a positive effect on the human body, helps it to better resist harmful bacteria and viruses. Therefore, some people like to chop garlic and arrange in rooms on saucers.
Traditional medicine and garlic
There are different ways to treat a cold using this vegetable. They even make inhalations. Five cloves of garlic should be chopped, pour boiling water and hold in a teapot. Then inhale through the nose, and then exhale. The procedure is recommended to be carried out several times a day, so that there is a result.
The recipe for a cold is:
- Make carrot juice.
- Add the same amount of vegetable oil.
- Inject a couple drops of garlic juice.
- Then you need to dig in your nose 3 times a day.
Sometimes mothers argue about whether it is possible to give garlic to a child a year. All individually. Someone gives this vegetable to a healthy baby in 9 months. With allergies, stomach problems and other contraindications, of course, reasonable parents will not take risks. Even if a child can taste garlic so early, safety must be respected. It should be subjected to heat treatment, its amount should be small, for example half a clove or one small.
If the child is one year old, then it makes sense to slightly increase the serving. It is important to observe the reaction of the crumbs, start with a lower dose, gradually increasing it. If the baby feels great, still first add this spice to the dishes no more than 2 times a week. At the slightest sign of intolerance or allergy, immediately exclude it from your child’s diet.
Now you know about how many months you can give your child garlic, what this spicy vegetable has pros and cons. Especially many appreciate this vegetable for its ability to resist parasites.
Fighting Worms
Kids love to play in sandboxes, pull everything in their mouths. Regular use of garlic in the diet protects our babies from parasites.
Here is a recipe for killing parasites. 300 g of garlic juice and 500 g of honey are mixed, boiled in a sealed container in a slightly boiling water bath for about 35-45 minutes, the foam is removed and mixed periodically. Store such a garlic-honey mixture in a cool and dark place, placing it in a tightly closed container. Take this folk medicine for 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day.
Another recipe: eat garlic juice on an empty stomach 3 times a day, first a small dose, then increase it. In the first days - 5-10 drops, then five days - twenty drops. That is, every 5 days add ten drops of juice until you reach two teaspoons. Then you need to increase the dosage again. At first, it is quite difficult to swallow the juice of garlic, a burning sensation may occur, and sometimes a headache. But time passes, and the body gets used to it. If there are no contraindications, then children should be accustomed to this useful vegetable.
It is clear that each parent as a result himself experimentally understands when it is possible to give garlic to a child in soup, salad or in other dishes. Do not insist and force your child to eat this vegetable when the baby categorically does not accept it. Yes, this spice can improve appetite, normalize digestion, and calm the intestines. Helps strengthen immunity, can even increase the body's resistance to infections. But it is important to remember: garlic for children whose age is still very young should be given with caution.