It was a sunny morning in Dr. Garima’s clinic. She was all set to go on Instagram live about an awareness class on the topic Women and Nutrition. Doctor was in a dilemma. “Are there still people in this developing country who don’t know anything about nutrition? Is this still a relevant topic?”
“Didi…Didi….” Shafna came running to Dr. Garima’s clinic.
“What happened Shafna?” asked a much-worried Garima to her house helper, passing her a glass of water.
“It’s…it’s what my daughter didi…. she got her first periods.” said Shafna, drinking all the water in a single gulp.
“She is just 7…That’s why I am crying my heart out…She is just a little girl…. How come she got her periods at this age?” asked Shafna wiping away her tears.
“Ah…there lies the point. Now you have a reason to cry …Let us look into the matter. Have a seat, Shafna.” said Dr. Garima pushing a chair towards Shafna. Shafna sat there not knowing what to do.
“Does your child have proper breast development and are her hairs on her private parts well developed?” Asked Garima while taking a pen and notepad.
“Yes didi…. I also used to wonder while I bathed her. We are poor didi… I haven’t studied much. I kept wondering. Finally, I just thought, after all she is a girl…It might happen like that. I was ashamed of telling it to my husband too. I used to make her dress in fully covered clothes even at home.” said Shafna tears falling from her cheek.
“It’s okay Shafna…don’t cry. What has happened has happened. I will educate you on this condition. Your daughter is going through precocious puberty or early menarche. In this, a child can develop her secondary sexual characters before the age of 8 years or get her first periods before the age of 10 years. This can be due to various factors including dietary factors, environmental factors or can even be hereditary. The main thing that you can concentrate on now is on her dietary patterns so that she grows up to be a healthy woman “.
“I got my periods at the age of 14 years. And we are a family who lives here since decades. The thing that strikes now is my daughter’s dietary patterns…Back then, we used to have healthy foods. But now, my daughter needs chicken thrice daily. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, chicken or mutton is a must. She likes all the fried food items, and junk foods. Since she doesn’t eat any Vegetables or fruits, we try to provide her with whatever she likes. “Said Shafna with a grief stricken face.
“There lies the issue Shafna….You yourself identified the problem. The solution also lies inside that. I will prescribe you some diets… After all, menstruation is not a thing to be afraid of. As soon as you go home, educate your child about menstruation. If you are unable to do so by yourself, bring her to me. Let me give you an awareness about some diets first “said Garima.
She started writing down the diets so that Shafna does not forget it on the way.
“In the Breakfast, include green gram. It can be in any way… You can grate coconut to the boiled green gram and add tadka finally. She can have it along with Roti. If your daughter has a sweet tooth, you can turn the green gram to a sweet dish by adding milk and jaggery. It is rich in protein which is essential for her overall growth at this age.
Green gram has a copious reserve of riboflavin, thiamine, riboflavin, folate and B complex vitamins that are valuable for women’s health. Speaking about her future, this helps in reducing the risk of neural tube defects, autism, stroke and heart disease in her baby. The thiamine also helps in the growth and development of her whole body appropriate to her age.
For Lunch,
You can give her boiled rice, dal, a small cup of curd, some boiled vegetables and small fishes…The rice that is generally seen as only a store house of carbohydrates is a reservoir of Vitamin B 12 and Iron too. This helps in the improvement of Haemoglobin and helps in fighting the prevailing anaemia of the society. All dals are one of the prime sources of protein for vegetarians heaped with the rich nutrient profile. Loaded with B vitamins it helps in controlling Premenstrual symptoms. You can also eat moong dal at night, as it is easily digestible. Hearing this in a single stretch might seem hard. But let us think of it in a different way. Make boiled salads using the tomato sauce made at home as toppings. Turn your rice and fish into homemade fish biryani by adding ghee as its topping. Ghee is essential for all women to improve her overall health and immunity. Small fish give them enough Calcium thus promoting their bone health too.
As an Evening Snack,
You can give her a sweet dish made of Fenugreek and sesame seeds and cooked in jaggery. They can help in regulation of female hormones thus maintaining a healthy menstrual cycle. Jaggery helps in fighting menstrual blood loss-related weakness in children with heavy menstrual bleeding. Numerous important elements, including salt and potassium, can be found in jaggery. Additionally, it possesses antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects that aid in relieving uterine cramps. You can also give her porridge made of arrowroot, jaggery and dry ginger which can help her clear her metabolism as a whole and also regulate her menstrual cycle which is usually disturbed in the initial days of puberty. Arrowroot specifically has 5 grams of protein per serving than other tubers which helps in the nourishment of the human cells. It also has folates which can help in the development of good quality Ovum. The usage of ginger in dietary form especially in the first three days of menstruation has clinical results in managing primary dysmenorrhoea or painful menstruation. She can also be given milk which is an essential part considering her growth phase and can also help in curing menstrual cramps.
Dinner time is also crucial. She can be given porridge made up of Sida cordifolia, milk and Fenugreek. You can even prepare it without milk. Try to give a garlic chutney along with it if you are not including milk. Allicin and ajoein contents present in the Garlic regulate hormones and help in the proper digestion of food. It also helps in dealing with the mood swings associated with the periods. You can also include fruits in her diet, which will help in nourishing her overall dietary content and water content in her body. It will prevent her from getting rid of the bloating and constipation, which are often the main complaints said by children with early menarche. Above all water boiled with Cumin seeds are also considered an essential part in the diet of women. It helps in the regulated flow of menstrual blood thus preventing any pain and discomfort during and before menstruation”
Heavy bleeding which stains her bed and clothes, need to change padstoofrequently, painful menstruation that affects her quality of life is often considered abnormal.
In Ayurveda, we have a wide range of medications like Jeerakarishta, Asokarishta, Sukumaram Kashayam, and even tablets and powders like Dhanwantaram tablet and Hinguvachadi choorna to tackle such conditions. If such symptoms develop, it is your duty as a mother to take her to me or any other doctors. “
“So Didi…it means my daughter will be a completely healthy woman, right? It means we can look for good marriage proposals starting today.” Said Shafna with a happy face.
“Attaining menstruation doesn’t mean that your child is ready to get married now or bear her own child now. It further requires time for her overall physical and mental development. It is such a shame that being in such a progressed world, you are thinking like this Shafna. It is her age to study and enjoy her life. You have no right to destroy that. If you continue to pester her in the name of marriage, I won’t think that you are like an elder sister to me. I will surely file a police complaint against you. Being a mother, it’s your duty to provide her with good food, a roof over her head and education so that she can stand on her two feet, not behind someone.” while saying this Garima could feel her temper rushing making her face red.
“Sorry Didi…I understood my mistake. I will ensure that I will be a good mother. My daughter keeps on saying that she is going to be a doctor just like you. From today it’s my dream too…”
After Shafna went, Dr. Garima gave a live session on the topic Women and Nutrition. This time she had no doubt if it was needed or not. However the world has progressed, she was sure that if her words could change at least one in this world, it is worth the effort.
