Which is the strongest muscle in the body?
Yaaay! for all those who answered masseter. The strongest muscle based on its weight is the masseter.
What is the masseter?
The masseter is a muscle that runs across the upper and lower jaws and when it contracts, it brings the teeth together in a cutting or grinding motion. The jaws move through a joint, called the temporo-mandibular joint.
Exercise strengthens muscles, joints and bones!
We have all seen body builders bulk up their body through a lot of exercise. Forget body-builders, for most of us, the arm circumference of our dominant hand, is greater than that of the non-dominant one.
So why not get your child to exercise the strongest muscle in the body?
How can I get my child to exercise his/her masseters?
Extremely easy! You don’t need weights, you don’t need fancy machines. Just get her to chew on raw fruits and vegetables! Repeated activities that the muscle normally performs against resistance, is what will strengthen it. The raw foods offer resistance to chewing, quite unlike the soft, processed foods that modern society has got so accustomed to.
Please suggest some raw fruits and veggies that I can give my child?
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Bell Peppers
- Apples
- Pears
- Guavas
- Cucumber
- Radish
- Nuts and dried fruit
At what age can I start giving raw fruits and veggies to my kid?
There is always a choking hazard if pieces or raw fruits or veggies are given to children < 5 years of age. Even after that up to the age of 7 years, do give raw fruits and vegetables under supervision.
What are the benefits of chewing and having a strong masseter?
- Well developed jaw bones
- Properly aligned, straight and healthy teeth.
- The fruits and vegetables that you give have indirect benefits too!
- Prevent obesity – and all its attendant complications
- Prevent constipation – because of the high fiber content of raw fruits and vegetables
- Prevent vitamins and mineral deficiencies – because they are rich in both vitamins and minerals.
Do post your comments and own suggestions for raw food eating in the comments section below.
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Related reading: How to choose a teether for your baby