Kids And Vitamins

The best way to assure your child gets a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals is to emphasize variety. Offer foods each day from the different food groups and prepare meals with nutrients that complement each other.

Sounds great...but not all kids eat the way we would like. A picky eater might not get all the vitamins she needs. Many foods are deficient in minerals due to depleted soils. Processed and canned foods may not contain much nutritional value at all. Many kids don't eat a healthy diet all the time, and some kids rarely eat anything healthy. Imagine sitting in school all day when your brain and body is starving for good nutrition.

For these kids, a multivitamin isn't a cure-all, but it is a step in the right direction to ensure good health.

What are some important components to a child's nutritional supplementation program?

What To Supplement

One common deficiency in children is the omega three type of essential fatty acid (EFA). EFA's are essential for proper nervous system and brain function, which is very important during those long school days. This oil can be found in pumpkin seeds, cold oily ocean fish like tuna, and in flax oil. It can also be taken as a supplement if kids don't like the strong taste of oily fish.

Kids who snub fruits and vegetables may not get enough vitamin C, which is important for our immune system and for the connective tissue under our skin. It protects us from damaging free radicals and is crucial for brain function. The B complex vitamins have several functions, some of which are involved with carbohydrate metabolism. A child that has a high refined sugar and starch diet may deplete those vitamins. As previously mentioned, minerals are often depleted in our soils, and therefore much of our produce may be deficient as well. Minerals like calcium and magnesium are important for healthy bones, nerves, and muscles. Zinc is important for our immune system. Chromium adds carbohydrate metabolism. Other minerals serve several other different functions.

Due to these possible deficiencies, I would suggest a multi mineral/vitamin taken daily as well as essential fatty acids. Some kids with health or behavioral problems may need more complex supplementation, which should be determined by a health care professional who is qualified in nutritional analysis.

Conclusion

Make sure you purchase high quality supplements which can be in the form of capsules, tablets, liquids, or chewables. There are even brands that taste like gummy bears.

We love our kids and we want the best for them. Feed them healthy foods, ensure they get plenty of exercise and add a basic supplement program to keep them healthy and happy.