Understanding The Benefit of Proteins WHAT ARE PROTEINS?

What Proteins Do in Your Child's Body

Proteins serve as structural building blocks, enzymes, hormones, transport molecules, and immunoproteins — performing a wide variety of essential functions throughout the body. They are required to build, repair, and maintain body tissues, and can also serve as an energy source when other macronutrients are insufficient.

For growing children, protein is the primary driver of muscle development, cell regeneration, and steady physical growth.

How Much Protein Does Your Child Need Daily

Protein needs change as your child grows:

• Children aged 1 to 3 years need approximately 12g of protein per day.
• Children aged 4 to 6 years need approximately 16g of protein per day.

They should come from a variety of quality sources spread across meals, rather than a single large serving at one meal. Milk forms a significant portion of a young child's diet, so the protein quality in their milk matters more than many parents realise.

The Risk of Too Much Protein

It's a common cultural habit to associate more food with showing affection — but excess protein contributes to calorie count in the same way excess fat or carbohydrate does, and can drive unhealthy weight gain.

Studies show that an early protein intake during childhood can have a significant effect on weight gain, with those showing higher weight gain also tending to have more body fat^(1,2). An overweight child is more prone to health problems like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes later in life.

This is described through the concept of "programming" — the idea that dietary intake, including the amount and type of protein consumed during childhood, may have long-lasting effects on adult health⁽³⁾, which is why balance matters as much as sufficiency.

Achieving the Right Balance Through Diet

The goal is to provide the right protein in the right amount — enough to support growth, but not so much that it drives excess weight gain. Varying sources helps: combine lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and fortified milk across the day rather than relying on one food group.

Conditioning good eating habits early — appropriate portion sizes, limited processed foods, and regular physical activity — all support healthy protein utilisation over the long term.

Combining Optimised Protein With Immunity Support

NANKID OPTIPRO is formulated with optimised protein, providing the appropriate quality and quantity of protein needed for your child's growth, without excess. It also contains DHA and ARA for brain development, and has no added sucrose.

Beyond growth, strong immunity is an equally important foundation, since it enables children to learn and develop healthily. NANKID OPTIPRO is formulated with Immunity Guardians* — 2'-FL Oligosaccharide and Probiotic B. lactis — which work together to defend the body against harmful bacteria while promoting the growth of good bacteria, helping to reduce your child's risk of infections.

NANKID OPTIPRO contains the highest levels of 2'-FL Oligosaccharide^ and 100 million Probiotic B. lactis+ among comparable formulated milks.

*Immunity Guardians refers to 2'-FL Oligosaccharide & Probiotic B. lactis to support immune foundation
^Compared to Key Formulated Milk Powder for Children aged 1-3 years per 100g of milk powder (as of March 2024)
+Refers to 100 million Probiotic B. lactis per 100g of milk powder

References
1. Günther AL, et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 86(6):1765-72.
2. Ohlund I, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2010; 64(2):138-45.
3. Pietrobelli A, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14(12):1491.