Most children begin to be able to swallow tablets at around 10 years of age. Prior to that, a fear of choking prevents many from swallowing them. There are also children who have difficulty chewing tablets because they don’t like the taste. These issues can be particularly challenging for parents who are trying to provide a daily multi vitamin for their child. One alternative is liquid vitamins for kids.
It’s never a good idea to force a child to swallow a tablet. This can lead to both choking and a long-term fear of taking medications. Of course, there are tried and true strategies for helping kids learn the art of pill swallowing. These include practicing swallowing candy such as Tic-Tacs and M&Ms. Using a pill cup designed to teach kids to swallow pills can also help.
If you are dealing with a daily struggle to get your child to swallow or chew a vitamin, it might be time to consider children’s liquid vitamins. Products, such as Animal Parade Gold Liquid Multi from Nature’s Plus, can make vitamin time much easier. Flavored specifically for children and containing a full range of vitamins and minerals, liquid vitamins for kids can provide the same nutritional supplementation as vitamin tablets and gummies.
Swallowing pills is a skill that children need to learn at some point. However, making it a battle of wills each day with vitamins is not beneficial for anyone. Choosing liquid vitamins for kids can bridge the nutritional simply and easily until they are willing and able to swallow tablets.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Can Adults Take Children’s Nutritional Supplements?
Millions of adults take a daily baby aspirin to lower the risk of heart attack. And, countless men and women also pop one or two of their children’s nutritional supplements as a kind of “insurance policy” to fill in the gaps of a less than balanced diet. Does this sound familiar? Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and risks of taking kids multi vitamins as an adult.
Nutritional needs of adults and children are naturally different. While a child may only need around 4 mgs of iron each day, an adult male needs 6 mgs. These variances span both vitamins and minerals. There are also some health circumstances that warrant increased amounts of certain nutrients. For example, pregnant women require additional folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.
In other words, kids multi vitamins are unlikely to contain enough vitamins and minerals to meet the needs of most adult men and women. With that said, supplements formulated for kids do offer some amount of nutrition regardless of your age. If you are in the habit of taking children’s nutritional supplements at the same time as your kids, make sure you choose a natural formula with a balanced list of vitamins and minerals. Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Gold Children’s Chewable is a good choice because it offers a full range of nutrients in a delicious, sugar-free formula. Both you and your kids will love the taste!
Most dieticians will tell you that vitamins are not always necessary if you eat a balanced diet that includes fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein. If getting in daily allowances of vitamins and minerals isn’t possible through diet, supplementation is a good idea. This should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
In almost all cases, taking children’s nutritional supplements is safe. However, it’s important to keep in mind that they will almost certainly not provide all of your nutritional needs. An adult supplement may be a better choice.
Nutritional needs of adults and children are naturally different. While a child may only need around 4 mgs of iron each day, an adult male needs 6 mgs. These variances span both vitamins and minerals. There are also some health circumstances that warrant increased amounts of certain nutrients. For example, pregnant women require additional folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.
In other words, kids multi vitamins are unlikely to contain enough vitamins and minerals to meet the needs of most adult men and women. With that said, supplements formulated for kids do offer some amount of nutrition regardless of your age. If you are in the habit of taking children’s nutritional supplements at the same time as your kids, make sure you choose a natural formula with a balanced list of vitamins and minerals. Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Gold Children’s Chewable is a good choice because it offers a full range of nutrients in a delicious, sugar-free formula. Both you and your kids will love the taste!
Most dieticians will tell you that vitamins are not always necessary if you eat a balanced diet that includes fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein. If getting in daily allowances of vitamins and minerals isn’t possible through diet, supplementation is a good idea. This should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
In almost all cases, taking children’s nutritional supplements is safe. However, it’s important to keep in mind that they will almost certainly not provide all of your nutritional needs. An adult supplement may be a better choice.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Warding Off Asthma with Children’s Multivitamins. Does It Work?
Vitamin D made big headlines a couple of years back when a comprehensive study linked its deficiency to a host of conditions including asthma. Published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, the study concluded that a vitamin D deficiency could lead to increased airway reactivity, lower lung functions, and poor asthma control. Vitamin D found in most children’s multivitamins can ensure that a child is receiving the correct daily requirement.
By supplementing vitamin D, the body can block inflammation causing proteins in the lung while increasing production of interleukin-10 which has anti-inflammatory effects.
A deficiency of the vitamin has become increasingly common in children over the last several decades as sunscreen has become more widely used. Because it is naturally produced in the body when it is exposed to sunlight, sunscreen and staying out of the sun can lead to a deficiency. The vitamin is also added to milk. Thus, children who do not drink milk are particularly susceptible to deficiency. This is when a children’s multi vitamin can be particularly beneficial.
New studies are being conducted currently to determine if a vitamin D deficiency also leads to a worsening of existing asthma symptoms. Health experts know that asthma does get worse in the winter when there is typically less sun exposure. Thus, researchers are trying to assess if vitamin D supplementation is a viable treatment option for children with asthma.
In the meantime, parents with children who have asthma may want to consider children’s multivitamins as a way of minimizing any chance of a deficiency. The vitamin offers a variety of health benefits along with potentially minimizing symptoms of asthma.
How Much Vitamin D Is Optimal?
A balanced children’s multi vitamin will contain approximately 500 IU of vitamin D which is 125% of the daily requirement. Of course, it’s important to speak with your pediatrician to determine the exact amount required for your child.
By supplementing vitamin D, the body can block inflammation causing proteins in the lung while increasing production of interleukin-10 which has anti-inflammatory effects.
A deficiency of the vitamin has become increasingly common in children over the last several decades as sunscreen has become more widely used. Because it is naturally produced in the body when it is exposed to sunlight, sunscreen and staying out of the sun can lead to a deficiency. The vitamin is also added to milk. Thus, children who do not drink milk are particularly susceptible to deficiency. This is when a children’s multi vitamin can be particularly beneficial.
New studies are being conducted currently to determine if a vitamin D deficiency also leads to a worsening of existing asthma symptoms. Health experts know that asthma does get worse in the winter when there is typically less sun exposure. Thus, researchers are trying to assess if vitamin D supplementation is a viable treatment option for children with asthma.
In the meantime, parents with children who have asthma may want to consider children’s multivitamins as a way of minimizing any chance of a deficiency. The vitamin offers a variety of health benefits along with potentially minimizing symptoms of asthma.
How Much Vitamin D Is Optimal?
A balanced children’s multi vitamin will contain approximately 500 IU of vitamin D which is 125% of the daily requirement. Of course, it’s important to speak with your pediatrician to determine the exact amount required for your child.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Autism and Vitamin D Deficiency – Could a Children’s Vitamin D Supplement Help?
In a study conducted at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI), vitamin D was shown to play a role in three brain hormones that affect social behavior. Autism, which is characterized by abnormal social behavior, has been linked to low serotonin and vitamin D levels. This research is shedding new light on the benefits of children’s vitamin D supplements.
In the study, researchers discovered that vitamin D activates a gene that helps to produce serotonin in the brain. This hormone plays a big part in social behavior. This lack of activation of the gene helps to explain many of the not understood facts about autism including:
Of course, it’s important to discuss the addition of any new therapy, including kids vitamin D, with your pediatrician. Monitoring of vitamin D levels should be monitored closely, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the vitamin should be an important part of prenatal care such as folic acid.
In the study, researchers discovered that vitamin D activates a gene that helps to produce serotonin in the brain. This hormone plays a big part in social behavior. This lack of activation of the gene helps to explain many of the not understood facts about autism including:
- Autistic children have low levels of serotonin in the brain.
- Males are more likely to be autistic. Estrogen helps to boost brain levels of serotonin.
Of course, it’s important to discuss the addition of any new therapy, including kids vitamin D, with your pediatrician. Monitoring of vitamin D levels should be monitored closely, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the vitamin should be an important part of prenatal care such as folic acid.
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