Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Top 6 Vitamins and Minerals Kids Get in Children’s Multivitamins

Running down the alphabetized list of essential vitamins and minerals that can be found in childrens multivitamins, these are the most important for keeping kids healthy and growing:

Vitamin A
This ubiquitous vitamin found in nearly all children’s multivitamins helps support growth and development. It’s also essential for tissue and bone repair, healthy skin, eyes, and the immune system. Vitamin A can be found in milk, cheese, eggs, and yellow to orange vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash.

Vitamin Bs
The B vitamin family includes B2, B3, B6, and B12. These vitamins help support metabolism, the circulatory and nervous systems, and energy production. Sources of vitamin B include lean meat, fish, nuts, eggs, dairy products, beans, and soybeans.

Vitamin C
A key ingredient of nearly every formula of childrens multivitamins on the market, vitamin C is a necessary vitamin for supporting the immune system, as well as in promoting healthy muscles, connective tissue, and skin. Sources include citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, and green cruciferous vegetables.

Calcium
Necessary to build healthy bones, calcium can be found in milk, cheese, yogurt, tofu, leafy green vegetables, and calcium-fortified juices.

Iron
This mineral helps to build healthy red blood cells, as well as muscles. Sources include red meat, turkey, spinach, beans, and prunes.

All of these nutrients are essential to a child’s healthy development and can be found in children’s multivitamins. A natural formula that contains the daily requirement of these vitamins and minerals can help ensure your child is obtaining the nutrition they need to support their growth.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Boost Your Child’s Immunity with a Children’s Chewable Vitamin

With flu season starting to kick in across the country and new concerns over enterovirus 68, boosting your child’s immune system with a children’s chewable multivitamin can only be beneficial.

The fact is that children are more susceptible than adults to viruses for two primary reasons. First, children are exposed to a greater number of viruses in facilities such as schools and daycare. They are also still building their developing immune systems.

The good news is that your child can increase resistance to viruses. Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and ensuring your child gets enough sleep are all important. Regular hand-washing and keeping hands away from the face can also help stop the spread of viruses.

A daily children’s chewable multivitamin can help kids ward off illness, too. This is especially the case for children who do not or cannot eat balanced diets or have other health challenges. Vitamins and minerals found in a balanced children’s supplement such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc can all help fight off symptoms of colds, flu, and other viruses including enterovirus 68.

Choosing a Children’s Supplement that Fights Infection
There is a dizzying array of children’s chewable multivitamin brands on the market. These can be found in grocery stores, pharmacies, warehouse discount chains, and health food specialty stores. What’s the best choice for your child?

The most effective formulas are those that offer the daily recommended requirements of vitamins and minerals along with enzymes, organic whole foods, and probiotics. These additional ingredients help to synergistically promote healthy immunity and nutrient absorption. Of course, a children’s chewable multivitamin needs to be palatable so that there isn’t a battle each day with your child.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Tackling Childhood Obesity with Kids Vitamin D supplements

It has long been known that vitamin D is important for bone health – particularly for growing children. However, new research is showing a link between vitamin D and healthy weight in children. In a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, vitamin D deficiency was found to be widespread in obese adolescents. This compelling evidence is prompting some healthcare professionals to recommend kids vitamin D supplements for children battling weight gain.

Dr. Ze’ev Harel, the author of the study, said, “It is possible that the association between obesity and low vitamin D status is indirect, arising from obese individuals having fewer outdoor activities than lean individuals, and therefore, less exposure to sun. Likewise, is it also possible that obese individuals do not consume enough foods that contain vitamin D?”

All individuals, regardless of their age, are at increased health risk with vitamin D deficiency. These health risks include higher rates of some types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and other diseases. Vitamin D, whether it is consumed in food or taken as children’s vitamin D supplements, is also beneficial in boosting the immune system.

Another theory linking vitamin D deficiency and obesity has to do with its role in the regulation of calcium. Calcium deficiency, which often goes hand-in-hand with vitamin D deficiency, increases the production of synthase, an enzyme that converts calories into fat. A calcium deficiency can increase synthase production by up to 500 percent. Vitamin D is also important in the regulation of blood sugar.

Children’s Vitamin D to Support Good Health
Kids vitamin D supplements are a quick and easy solution for ensuring your child is getting enough vitamin D to support good health. In a single chewable, a child can get enough supplemental vitamin D to support optimal health.

According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, more than 75% of Americans, including teenagers, are deficient in vitamin D. More than 25% are obese. With additional research, the role vitamin D plays in obesity and weight loss will determine whether or not kids vitamin D supplements will be recommended to all children to ward off the risks of being overweight.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Should You Choose Liquid Vitamins for Kids Instead of Chewables?

Do you struggle daily to give your child a multivitamin? When a daily supplement is needed, it can be a battle when children don’t like the taste or texture of a vitamin and mineral supplement. One solution that can take away the hassle is to switch to liquid vitamins for kids.

Liquid children’s multivitamins are often more palatable for kids who can’t swallow tablets and capsules and don’t like the taste or texture of chewables. A high quality brand, like Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Gold Liquid, is a great choice because it offers all of the nutritional benefits of a chewable in a flavorful liquid that is quick and easy to swallow. Children who have issues with other types of supplements are often delighted to make the switch to liquid vitamins for kids because of the flavor.

Additional Benefits to Liquid Children’s Multivitamins
Beyond liquid vitamins for kids being easier to administer, they are also better absorbed than many other types of children’s supplements. On average, they are absorbed about three to five times more effectively than vitamin pills. For children who require supplementation for specific health issues such as autism, food allergies, or diabetes, maximum absorption is critical.

Liquid children’s vitamins also offer comparable nutritional values in a single liquid formula. The most complete formulas will also contain additional nutritional boosts, beyond vitamins and minerals, such as lutein for eye health and prebiotics to promote a properly functioning digestive tract.

Not sure if liquid children’s multivitamins are right for your child? Contact your pediatrician and discuss your options. In many cases, making the switch to a liquid formula is a choice that benefits both kids and parents.