It's Never Too Early To Introduce The Benefits of Fiber In Child’s Diet (NAPSA)—American adults have become attuned to the importance of fiber in their daily diets, but many 4 i ’ | are not as aware that fiber provides important health benefits to chil- dren as well. These advantages range from supporting normal bowel function to decreasing a child’s risk of developing certain disorders later in life. Children can begin reaping these benefits as soon as they are weanedto solid food. Many children in the United States are not getting adequate fiber in their diets. Surveys have shown that consumption of fat and added sugars greatly exceed recommended levels while fruits, vegetables and grains are below the recommendations. Establishing fiber in children’s diets as have been safely consumed by thousands of babies and toddlersin Asia, Europe and Latin America for years. In America, toddlers already safely consume and enjoy the benefits of FOSin their normal diet. early as possible may help to set a Oligosaccharides (OS), a closerelative of FOS, are found in human milk and are believed to provide nutritional and immunological fiber foods in their daily diets. breast-fed infants. During the wean- lifetime pattern of including high Babies can obtain fiber through FOS (fructooligosaccharides), a naturally occurring carbohydrate commonly found in many fruits and vegetables. A recent conference for pediatric health and nutrition professionals held at Stanford University and sponsored by the Nestl Nutrition Institute of the Nutrition Division of Nestl USA, Inc. discussed the effects of FOS, which is similar to soluble fiber and offers many of the same health benefits. “Anyone on a mixed diet can benefit from having the right amount and type of fiber in their diet, including babies,” said Dr. Jose Saavedra, medical and scientific director for the Nestl Nutrition Division and associate profes- sor of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at Johns Hopkins University. “It’s important to gradually transition infants to fibers which they can tolerate. FOSis a unique soluble fiber that helps support a healthy digestive system, which is important as a baby adaptsto solid foods.” Weaningfoods fortified with FOS advantages as a “soluble fiber” to ing period, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends introducing single-ingredient foods, one at a time, at four to six months of age depending on the developmental readiness of the child. The toddler’s diet should includefruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and other forms of whole grain prod- ucts—many of which contain a nat- urally occurring form of FOS. Now babies have an additional source of soluble fiber made to be just right for their developing digestive systems. Nestl USA recently fortified its Nestl Carnation Baby Cereals with Formula, by adding FOS, Baby-Gentle” Fiber (FOS). This is the first baby cereal with FOS designed to help ease babies’ transition to solid foods and to incorporate the bene- fits of fiber into their diets. Other FOS-fortified foods could be introduced in the future such as ready-to-eat cereals, yogurt, pud- ding, and a variety of other foods. For more information about infant nutrition, call 800-259-8238 or visit www.verybestbaby.com.
