Choose the right vitamin for your children.

The human body is complicated and needs a broad range of vitamins and nutrients.

These nutrients are essential in daily health and living.  Our bodies also require different minerals that are present in every cell.  Due to our fast paced world, we all have a hard time getting the vitamins we need and so do our children.

According to the USDA half of youngsters don’t get enough calcium, two-thirds are low on E and zinc, and one-third don’t have enough iron. Kids low on calcium and D may have weak bones that are more prone to break. Children with even mild anemia from low iron levels can have learning and behavior problems. And, since children are often picky eaters and exposed to extra germs, all while growing, they greatly benefit from vitamins and minerals.

What to look for in children’s vitamins

The next best thing to getting your nutrients from good food, is to get a food-based vitamin. These vitamins are recognizable to the human body on a molecular level, unlike synthetic (manmade) vitamins. This means that vitamins from a health food store are up to 70% more bioavailable than the vitamins you see advertised on t.v., or at chain stores. Supplements from a chain store may be less expensive, but you get what you pay for. For example, a calcium supplement from a chain store may be less expensive but what you may not realize is that it has not been molecularly distilled to remove mercury, while the one from the health food store has. It’s worth a few more dollars.

What to avoid in a vitamin

Read the ingredient list. You’ll be surprised how many vitamins have some form of sugar as one of the first ingredients. Avoid synthetic ingredients – they are difficult to digest and not as safe as supplements made from whole foods. Lastly, avoid the gummy. Not to be a downer, but we are doing our children a disservice to teach them that things like food and vitamins should be entertaining. They are also bad for teeth.

What kinds of supplements to get for your child

A good rule of thumb for both kids and adults is:

• multivitamin/multi-mineral
• essential fatty acids (EFAs)
• calcium/magnesium/vitamin D supplement
• probiotics
• antioxidants

All as needed, depending on diet and state of health.

Other considerations

How healthy is your family’s diet? For example, if your family eats fish three times a week, you don’t need the EFA supplement. Do you allow your child to drink carbonated beverages? If so, they most likely need all of the supplements listed above, daily. (Natural News)

Well there you have it, very easy and simple the way it should be.   Remember before changing your diet or adding anything new, talk to your doctor.

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