الفهرس 
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Abstract
Although breast milk or infant formula meets most nutritional needs until 1year of age, at some point in time, exclusive breastfeeding no longer meets a growing infant’s nutrient needs and complementary foods must be added. These additional foods are not intended to replace or interfere with breastfeeding.
Infants who started early weaning using the recommended nutritional program from pediatric department in Faculty of medicine, Menofia University had better weight gain, length & head circumference. Also infants had better hemoglobin concentration and serum Zinc level with fewer incidences of diseases such as infections or allergy.
complementary foods rich in antioxidants, prebiotic and probiotic are powerful disease fighters, they play a key role in improving overall health.
Antioxidants Are substances or nutrients in our foods, that can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals which can cause cell damage.
Antioxidants act as ”free radical scavengers” and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Health problems such as heart disease macular degeneration, cancer are all contributed by oxidative damage.
Antioxidants have many types as vitamins, minerals, enzymes … etc they present in natural sources and in the body, but, in the body antioxidants decline with ages.
The most commonly known antioxidants are:-
1-Vitamin A and Carotenoids Food sources: - carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe peaches.
Food sources:- citrus fruits like oranges and lime etc, broccoli strawberries, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables.
3-vitamin E.
Food sources:- nuts & seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil liver oil.
4-Selenium.
Food sources:- fish & shellfish, red meats, egg. chicken and garlic.
5-Flavonoids:
Food sources:- dark chocolate, blue berries, green tea, coffee.
Probiotics Are defined as live microorganisms which when administrated in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host, lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria are the most common types of microbes used as probiotics.
Prebiotics Are non- digested food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/ or the activity of probiotics.
Probiotics and prebiotics have demonstrated efficacy in preventing and treating various medical conditions, particularly those involving the gastro intestinal tract.
They have the following benefits:-
1-Prevention or treatment of infections along the digestive tract as infectious diarrhea.
2-Prevention of allergic diseases.
3-Prevention of constipation by improving the bowel movement.
4-Prevention or treatment of weight gain.