The benefits of sago as mpasi for the baby's first food

When the baby has entered the age of 6 months, the mother can get ready to introduce complementary foods (complementary foods). Well, it is not uncommon for mothers to worry about determining the type of first food for the baby. This is because babies have an imperfect digestive system, so mothers must be smart in finding food ingredients that are easy to digest, nutritious and easy to swallow for babies every day. One of the healthiest foods that can be chosen is sago as complementary foods for babies.

Benefits of sago as complementary foods for your baby

Sago is starch taken from the trunk of the sago tree. At first glance, sago does have something in common with tapioca from its appearance, taste and texture. Even so, sago and tapioca are clearly different.

dr. Priya Bharma, a Chief Nutritionist at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi, said that sago is a source of protein, vitamin K, metal nutrients such as calcium and iron which are necessary for a baby to grow. These nutrients play an important role in muscle growth, nutrition, and healing, while the rest are responsible for maintaining bone health and flexibility. That is why choosing sago as complementary foods for your baby can be the best choice.

Here are some of the benefits of sago for babies that you should know.

1. Smooth digestion

Babies really need to get food that is easy to swallow and digest. Well, one of the benefits of using sago as complementary foods is its ability to cure digestive disorders such as constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence that generally occur when babies enter their first year of age.

2. Being a source of calcium

Sago contains calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin K which babies really need for healthy bone growth and development. Apart from that, sago can also be useful for providing calcium to toddlers who have stopped breastfeeding or those who don't like drinking milk.

3. Contains good carbohydrates

Sago is a good source of carbohydrates. The reason is, sago contains a lot of starch which is packed with the right carbohydrates so that it will help your little one be more energized throughout the day. So don't be surprised if this carbohydrate content also allows sago to become a staple food in several regions of the world.

4. Helps gain weight

If your little one has a weight problem, which is too thin compared to other babies his age, providing sago as solid food can be a solution. The reason is, sago is high in healthy carbohydrates so that it can help your baby gain weight quickly. Apart from its very affordable price, sago is also quite easy to cook. That's why sago is better than most of the supplements available in the market.

5. Keeping the baby's body temperature to stay cool

According to “The New Oxford Book of Food Plants,” traditional Indian medicine uses sago mixed with rice to help cool the body. Therefore, sago can function as an herbal medicine to treat diseases caused by too high a heat in the body such as fever.

Things that must be considered when providing complementary foods for babies

Before starting to give solids, make sure if your baby needs to be able to sit up (with assistance), lift his head, and mash food. He must also have a reflex that allows him to vomit anything but liquid. This is useful to anticipate so that the baby does not choke while eating.

To introduce food to your baby, start with one type of food. Wait at least 4 days before introducing other types of food. The existence of a grace period makes the baby more familiar with and can accept the new food. Allergic reactions usually appear a few days after this type of food is consumed. If certain types of allergic reactions occur, you will know exactly what caused them.

Also, don't add honey to sweeten your little one's solid food, unless your little one is more than one year old. Giving honey to babies less than one year old can cause infant botulism. If you want to add nuts or fruit, make sure you grind them until they are completely smooth.