Final answer:
Children's diets often lack sufficient amounts of calcium, iron, and iodine, which are critical for bone health, oxygen transport in the blood, and thyroid function, respectively. Inadequate intake of these minerals can lead to significant health issues like osteoporosis and anemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Commonly Inadequate Minerals in Children's Diets
Children's diets may lack certain essential minerals, notably calcium, iron, and iodine. Calcium is crucial for developing strong bones and teeth in children, being stored in the skeleton and necessary for bone hardening. Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in red blood cells. Iodine deficiency is especially pertinent in certain geographic regions and is crucial for proper thyroid function. To avoid issues related to undernutrition, such as cognitive and physical development problems, it is important that children receive adequate amounts of these minerals through a balanced diet including milk, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains.
Ignoring sufficient mineral intake can lead to severe health issues. For example, a lack of calcium and vitamin D can potentially lead to osteoporosis later in life, a condition characterized by porous and brittle bones. Moreover, iron deficiency in children can result in anemia, leading to long-term developmental challenges.