If you have kids in your home, you know just how fast they grow! One minute they’re tiny newborns, and the next, you are chasing them around your house as they learn to walk. We all want to do right by our kids, and by providing them with a healthy diet, you are doing just that.

A variety of nutrients is important for your children’s overall growth, but calcium is especially important for building strong bones.

Our AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah team explains the benefit of building strong bones in childhood below, so check it out.

What Should My Child Eat to Support Bone Growth?

Calcium is a critical mineral when it comes to bone health. It helps build and maintain bone mass that helps your bones become strong. This is important as your child grows because your child’s bones are remodeling and growing all the time.

Try to incorporate more calcium through dairy products, beans and leafy greens. You should also add more vitamin D when you can. Vitamin D is necessary in order for the body to absorb calcium, so these two go hand in hand! Fish like salmon and tuna naturally have vitamin D, and foods like cereals and orange juice can be fortified with it. You should also try to get your child out into the sunshine for a bit each day.

4 Ways to Support Bone Health

• Increase your child’s physical activity.
• Encourage sunlight exposure.
• Offer more foods rich in vitamin D and calcium.
• Avoid secondhand smoke exposure.

Why Is Exercise Helpful for Building Strong Bones?

Instilling a love of exercise in your children is beneficial in more ways than one. It not only sets them up for healthy habits throughout life, but it also helps build stronger muscles and bones. When you partake in weight-bearing exercises like running and jumping, gravity naturally puts pressure on your bones. This pressure helps your bones gradually build up in strength and density over time.

Try to give your kids at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. This can happen in the form of organized sports, but it can also just be free play outside or time spent exploring the world around them. Don’t be afraid to join in and jump around with them!

Foods to Consume to Support Stronger Bones

• Milk or other dairy products
• Green leafy vegetables
• Fish
• Nuts

Are you concerned about a possible broken bone? Stop by AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah today.