Can children eat citrus fruits: an expert dispels myths about tangerines and oranges. Exclusive

The citrus season has begun, and young parents are bound to have a question: is it worth introducing their child to tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, etc. Most of them are afraid to offer their child these fruits. Some even consider them to be allergens, but they are not.

The myths about the dangers of citrus fruits for children were dispelled exclusively for OBOZREVATEL by Viktoriia Stelmakh, founder of the largest Ukrainian-language Facebook group on complementary foods, an expert on baby food.

"According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies can start eating solid foods at around 6 months of age, and there is no exact science behind the order in which new foods are introduced. Just as there is no prohibition or categorical recommendation against offering citrus fruits to children. You should think about our children and children from other countries around the world. What most people call "exotic" is not. These are the same fruits and the same children," she says.

According to the expert, according to all international recommendations and studies, there is nothing dangerous in offering citrus fruits to children from 6 months of age.

"The myths about citrus being an allergen started a long time ago, back when any rash was called diathesis. But for your information, there is no such diagnosis in modern medicine. Now every rash has its name and cause. And they are all different. Therefore, if someone tells you that your child has diathesis, that citrus fruits should not be eaten until the age of 1, 3, or 5, or even worse, if they say that the child has an allergic reaction that manifests itself in the form of a rash, and the mother (for example) should not eat them while breastfeeding, I advise you to see an evidence-based dermatologist as soon as possible," Stelmakh said.

At the same time, some people believe that they should avoid citrus fruits because the acidity is inflammatory.

"However, this is not the case. Citrus fruits have an anti-inflammatory effect and are also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. There is only one caveat here, grapefruit juice can interact with some medications that doctors use to treat arthritis. People undergoing treatment should consult a doctor before including it in their diet," the expert explained.