Do we really need to give our children vitamin supplements? About one-third of American children do indeed take a daily multivitamin. We all know that children at times can be very picky eaters. They also go through their formative years eating processed and junk foods which have little or no nutritional value. Children may eliminate entire food groups such as fruits and vegetables. They may also be lactose intolerant or simply not get enough sunlight causing them to be vitamin D deficient. A recent study found that over 70% of American children under the age of 21 were vitamin D deficient. There is concern that this will affect their bone health later in life. If your child has a predisposed condition this may deplete them of essential vitamins and nutrients that they need. If your children fall into one of these categories it is probably a good idea to speak to your primary care provider as to weather they think vitamin supplementation is needed. On the other hand if your child is eating a well balanced diet and getting enough fruits and vegetables it is probably not necessary.
If after weighing all these factors you do decide that supplementation is in order, what should you be looking for? Children’s bodies do not require the same amount of vitamins and nutrients that an adult does. Therefore you should always buy a vitamin that is formulated especially for children. There have been studies done that conclude that to much iron can be harmful to smaller growing bodies. Also with this in mind it is important to strictly follow the recommended dosages on the bottle. This fact also pertains to adults when they are taking supplements. Even if you feel that your child is responsible enough to do so never let them administer their own vitamins. This should always be done under the supervision of an adult. For obvious reasons many manufacturers make their product so that they taste good to children. You need to make sure that they know that this is not candy.
So what should you look for when reading an ingredient list on a bottle of vitamins? We have tried to outline some of the more important ingredients below.
1. Vitamin A – Children with poor diets or malabsorption can be deficient. This is usually obtained from milk or infant formula.
2. itamin C – This prevents colds and upper respiratory infections.
3. Iron – Used in the production of blood and promotes development of muscles.
4. Calcium – the most abundant mineral in our bodies. Essential for the contraction of muscles and the secretion of hormones and enzymes.
5. Vitamin K – Infants that are exclusively breast feed or those who did not receive a vitamin K shot can be deficient. This is needed for proper clotting of blood.
6. Fluoride – Tap water is an excellent source. Children that only drink bottled water can be deficient.
7. Zinc – This is a mineral that becomes important during adolescence as it promotes sexual maturity.
We need to be aware of our children’s nutritional requirements during different stages of their lives. Making sure that your children are receiving the proper vitamins and minerals can at times be confusing. It is always best to speak to your health care provider about supplementation if you have concerns.
John Bradstreet is an experienced Biochemist with extensive knowledge in nutritional supplementation. He is committed to a healthy lifestyle through natural means. To learn more about the benefits of we have included additional links at the bottom of the page to help educate you on the subject. Or you can subscribe to our where you will find information on topics concerning natural supplementationArticle Source:
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