When babies start eating complementary foods, it is normal as a mom to be confused about which protein to choose and how to prepare it into foods the baby will enjoy. Actually, many animal protein options are suitable for your baby's growth and development, one of which is shrimp.
Of course, the benefits of shrimp for complementary feeding are scientifically proven. This type of seafood is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium.
Many menu options with shrimp are available to choose from, like shrimp and carrot porridge, homemade shrimp meatballs, soft shrimp rice, or even shrimp dishes cooked in the form of dragon leg (kaki naga udang).
Before serving the selected menu for your baby, it is essential to understand the benefits of shrimp for solid foods, which will be explained in this article. Let's read until the end!
Benefits of Shrimp for MPASI
Shrimp is considered a superior protein because it contains several nutrients that are higher than those in other animal proteins. Furthermore, shrimp's texture is also relatively easier to digest for babies whose taste buds are not yet fully developed.
To prepare various complementary foods using shrimp and provide the drinks, you need to have quality mineral water at home, such as AQUA Gallon.
That is because babies aged 6 months and older are allowed to drink water, but no more than 118 ml daily.
You can give AQUA using a spoon or a sippy cup after your baby has finished eating. AQUA can help clean your baby's mouth and keep them well hydrated.
AQUA is the right mineral water for your baby because it is 100% SAFE from physical contamination and pathogens, as well as 100% SAFE from chemical contamination, making it 100% SAFE for consumption.
AQUA water also provides a cooling sensation when drunk, even when not chilled. This proves that AQUA is 100% pure, selected mountain water containing natural minerals without any added substances. So, AQUA is 100% SAFE for your baby.
Now, if you already have AQUA Gallons at home, it is the best time to read the explanation of the benefits of shrimp for MPASI below.
1. Supports the Immune System
Shrimp can support your baby's immunity because they contain zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.
One of zinc's roles is to activate white blood cells called T-lymphocytes. These cells then play a crucial role in strengthening your baby's immune system, thereby preventing them from easily contracting diseases.
Omega-3 fatty acids also help regulate the immune response, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk of autoimmune disorders.
2. Supports Heart Health
A critical key to maintaining heart health is reducing the consumption of foods high in saturated fat. Shrimp is an animal protein that is low in saturated fat, making it an excellent choice for your baby.
Shrimp's benefits for heart health come not only from its low saturated fat content but also from its high selenium content. Selenium is a mineral that acts as an antioxidant, protecting heart cells from damage caused by free radicals.
3. Supports Muscle and Body Tissue Growth
Shrimp contains a wide variety of nutrients, with protein being its highest concentration.
100 grams of shrimp contains 21 grams of protein, which is relatively high. This protein is a crucial component in the development of your baby's muscle tissue and overall body growth.
4. Supports Bone and Tooth Development
We mentioned earlier that shrimp is rich in calcium and phosphorus. 100 grams of shrimp contains 136 mg of calcium and 170 mg of phosphorus.
These two minerals play a crucial role in supporting your baby's bone and tooth growth. By providing shrimp-based complementary foods, you are helping your baby's bones and teeth grow healthier and stronger.
5. Supports Nervous System and Brain Development
Another benefit of shrimp as a complementary food is that it helps support the nervous system and brain development. This benefit comes from the omega-3 fatty acids they contain, particularly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
It is worth noting that DHA makes up approximately 40% of the total fat in the brain and 60% of the fat in the retina. Therefore, DHA has significant benefits for your baby's brain development. EPA, on the other hand, acts as an anti-inflammatory and maintains neurotransmitter balance (a substance that transmits nerve signals).
Therefore, consuming shrimp as part of a complementary feeding will help your baby develop good concentration, memory, and stress response, as well as better protect nerve tissue from damage.
6. Increases Baby's Appetite
In addition to supporting the immune system, the zinc content in shrimp also plays a role in increasing your baby's appetite.
Furthermore, shrimp also contains the amino acid glutamate and nucleotides, which impart a natural savory (umami) flavor to food.
Interestingly, the protein in shrimp breaks down into bioactive peptides during digestion. These peptides have the potential to stimulate the digestive system to produce the hunger hormone (ghrelin).
Tips for Introducing Shrimp to Babies
Despite its numerous benefits for your baby's growth and development, shrimp is a high-risk allergen, meaning it has a high potential to cause allergies. Therefore, there are several things you should consider before introducing shrimp as a complementary food, including:
- Shrimp should be provided for the babies at a minimum age of 9 months: At this age, your baby's immune system is more developed, reducing the risk of allergies. Furthermore, their digestive system is mature enough to digest the complex proteins found in seafood.
- Use fresh shrimp: To reduce the risk of unwanted side effects, choose shrimp that are fresh, free from a fishy odor, undamaged, and firm in texture.
- Ensure proper preparation: Before preparing the shrimp, ensure the inside is free of dirt or bacteria. Don't forget to remove the head, shell, and tail, and cook until thoroughly cooked.
- Introduce small amounts at first: Start by introducing mashed shrimp with a ½ teaspoon portion. Wait 2–3 days to see if any signs of an allergy appear, which typically include a red rash, facial swelling, vomiting, or coughing.
- Combine with other nutrients: The goal is to achieve a more complete and balanced nutritional mix. For example, you can combine shrimp with brown rice, which contains carbohydrates, and broccoli, which is high in vitamin C.
That concludes the explanation of the benefits of shrimp for complementary feeding, along with the tips you need to consider to avoid unwanted risks.
If the initial introduction of shrimp doesn't cause any allergic reactions or similar, you can continue by adjusting the texture as your baby grows older.
As mentioned previously, always keep an AQUA Gallon at home as a complementary feeding supplement. Its large capacity, at 19 liters, makes it sufficient to meet the daily drinking water needs of your baby and the entire family.
Why AQUA DULU? Because not all water is AQUA. AQUA is naturally filtered through layers of mineral-rich rocks and processed without human contact. It undergoes 400 quality testing stages before being sent through the distribution network.
The cleanliness of the AQUA Gallon is also proven, as it is always sanitized up to 20 times using high-pressure water before being refilled.
AQUA is an authentic Indonesian product with halal certification, complying with the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) and Indonesian National Standards (SNI). AQUA is 100% pure, 100% Indonesian, and 100% halal. So, don't hesitate to choose AQUA as a source of hydration for your family and babies.
