Micronutrients & recovery
Consumption of animal-source foods (ASF) by children aged 6-23 months in low- and middle-income countries significantly reduces stunting and improves cognitive development compared to plant-based or starch-heavy diets.
If you live in a region where stunting is common and diets rely heavily on starches, introducing small amounts of animal-source foods (like eggs, milk, or fish) to young children is one of the most effective ways to prevent stunting and support brain development. This is not about overconsumption, but about filling critical nutrient gaps that plant-based diets often miss.
Animal-source foods are the best available sources of high-quality nutrient-rich food for children aged 6–23 months... increasing ASF consumption is likely to be more effective at reducing stunting than single nutrient supplementation... A recent randomized controlled trial in Ecuador found that providing one egg a day to children 6–9 months old for a year reduced stunting and underweight... by 47 and 74%, respectively
Why this rating
Cites multiple RCTs and meta-analyses, though notes one conflicting study in Malawi.
Source
Animal source foods: Sustainability problem or malnutrition and sustainability solution? Perspective matters
A.T. Adesogan et al. · Global Food Security · 2019
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