NUTRITION AND RELATED DISORDERS IN CHILDHOOD AGE: A GLIMPSE IN AYURVEDA

*Dr. Priyanka Triwedi

ABSTRACT

Childhood is the formative period which lays the foundation of adult life, so a healthy childhood is mandatory for expecting a healthy adulthood. Thus the wellbeing of these children, on the threshold of physical and mental maturity is vital for development of nation and this can be done by supplying the needful nutritional requirement of the childhood age. In fetal life, the baby receives nutrition through placenta of mother and after birth continues to receive all the nutrients from mother‟s breast milk which is the ideal & the most natural food for an infant. Classical texts of Ayurveda, advises the intake of Stanya from the day of birth continued until the age of two years. After 6 months of age introduction of fruit and fruit juices recommended as phalaprashana samskara. As children develop, they require the same foods as adults i.e. whole grains, a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, calcium for growing bones, healthy proteins, healthy fats are needed to support the growing body of a child. In our Ayurveda texts nutritional disorders of childhood age are explained as named Karshya, Phakka Roga, Balshosha, Parigarbhika by different Acaryas.

Keywords: Stanya, Phalaprashana samskara, Karshya, Phakka Roga, Balshosha, Parigarbhika.