While a diet based on the Food Guide Pyramid is the best way to get vitamins and minerals, there are situations when kids liquid vitamins are the best option for ensuing your child is getting sufficient nutrients. Picky eaters, vegetarians, and some children with some health conditions may need the benefits of kids liquid vitamins.
Vitamin D
According to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies and infants who are exclusively breastfed or who are drinking less than 1 liter of baby formula per day should receive 400 IU of vitamin D each day. Older children who aren’t drinking 32 ounces of vitamin D fortified milk may also need extra vitamin D.
Iron
Infants and babies who are breastfed are the most at risk of being iron-deficient. Adolescent girls who have begun having their periods are also at risk of anemia. A brand like Animal Parade Gold Liquid can provide extra iron in an easy to administer formula. Most brands of kids liquid multivitamins will contain around 5mgs of iron which is 50% of the daily requirement for children under the age of four and 28% in older children.
Other Benefits of Kids Liquid Vitamins
A well-formulated brand of kids liquid vitamins will contain sufficient amounts of all essential vitamins and minerals along with prebiotics to promote healthy digestion and bioflavonoids for absorption and activity. Lutein, which offers eye and skin protection, is also a beneficial nutrient found in some brands. If sugar consumption is an issue for your child, you will want to choose a formula that uses xylitol and natural flavoring.
With the right kids liquid vitamins, you can feel confident that your child is getting the nutrition required to support healthy growth and development. By carefully reading labels and reviews and discussing your child’s nutritional needs with your pediatrician, you’ll have the information you need to determine the right brand for you and your child.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Kids Vitamin D Supplements: What Parents Need to Know
When it comes to nutrition, children frequently fall short on consuming enough vitamin D. This is especially true for kids that don’t drink milk. However, the impact of vitamin D on kids’ health is substantial. Because of this, kids vitamin D supplements are increasingly being prescribed by pediatricians.
Why Is Vitamin D So Important?
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps the body balance calcium and phosphorus. Without sufficient levels of vitamin D, there is not enough calcium deposited into the bones to keep them healthy and strong. A deficiency of vitamin D can cause a variety of problems including bone diseases such as rickets, osteoporosis, and osteomalacia (a softening of the bones). Low vitamin D is also linked to other conditions including diabetes, ADHD, autism, heart disease, and depression.
Studies have shown that up to 60% of children in the United States have insufficient vitamin D levels. Currently, the recommended amount of vitamin D is 400IU for babies under one year of age. For older children, this amount increases to 600 IU.
Sources of Vitamin D
Vitamin D fortified milk is the most common source of vitamin D. Salmon, tuna, and eggs also have measurable amounts of the vitamin. The body naturally produces vitamin D, as well, when the skin is exposed to the sun. Most experts believe that exposure 15 minutes, two to three times a week is beneficial in vitamin D production.
What Are the Best Kids Vitamin D Supplements?
Vitamin D3 is the most common type of the vitamin found in drops and chewables. Drops are the best option for infants, babies, and toddlers. For older children, a chewable supplement like Animal Parade Vitamin D3 is a convenient option that is both hypo-allergenic and vegetarian. Animal Parade has 500IU of vitamin D per chewable which is 125% of the daily value for children. When combined with a healthy diet and occasional sun exposure, kids vitamin D supplements can be a great solution for ensuring your child has sufficient vitamin D to support their long-term bone health and growing.
Why Is Vitamin D So Important?
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps the body balance calcium and phosphorus. Without sufficient levels of vitamin D, there is not enough calcium deposited into the bones to keep them healthy and strong. A deficiency of vitamin D can cause a variety of problems including bone diseases such as rickets, osteoporosis, and osteomalacia (a softening of the bones). Low vitamin D is also linked to other conditions including diabetes, ADHD, autism, heart disease, and depression.
Studies have shown that up to 60% of children in the United States have insufficient vitamin D levels. Currently, the recommended amount of vitamin D is 400IU for babies under one year of age. For older children, this amount increases to 600 IU.
Sources of Vitamin D
Vitamin D fortified milk is the most common source of vitamin D. Salmon, tuna, and eggs also have measurable amounts of the vitamin. The body naturally produces vitamin D, as well, when the skin is exposed to the sun. Most experts believe that exposure 15 minutes, two to three times a week is beneficial in vitamin D production.
What Are the Best Kids Vitamin D Supplements?
Vitamin D3 is the most common type of the vitamin found in drops and chewables. Drops are the best option for infants, babies, and toddlers. For older children, a chewable supplement like Animal Parade Vitamin D3 is a convenient option that is both hypo-allergenic and vegetarian. Animal Parade has 500IU of vitamin D per chewable which is 125% of the daily value for children. When combined with a healthy diet and occasional sun exposure, kids vitamin D supplements can be a great solution for ensuring your child has sufficient vitamin D to support their long-term bone health and growing.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
How to Choose the Best Kids Vitamins
Children need a broad range of both essential and nonessential nutrients to support their long-term health and growing. Essential nutrients are those that the body cannot produce itself and have to be consumed in the diet. Children also need a variety of minerals to support every cell in the body. While it’s wonderful when a child can get ample vitamins and minerals in their daily diet, many cannot and require more. The best kids vitamins provide the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals needed to bridge this nutritional gap.
What to Look for in the Best Kids Vitamins
Vitamins that offer food-based vitamins that are recognizable to the human body on a molecular level are always the best option. The best kids vitamins will not consist of synthetic vitamins that offer little in nutritional value for children.
The most balanced formulas of children’s vitamins will also include:
Other Things to Consider
Before you start giving your children vitamins, closely evaluate their diet. Children who eat fish more than twice a week may not need a supplement of essential fatty acids (EFAs). Those who are vegetarians or picky eaters may need extra supplementation. Certain health conditions may warrant specific types of nutrients. It’s always a good idea to talk with your child’s pediatrician before giving any type of supplementation.
While even the best kids multivitamins will not make up for a poor diet, they can go a long way towards helping to support balanced nutrition. By focusing on healthy habits, a balanced diet, and vitamin supplementation, you can give them valuable tools for building good health now and for many years to come.
What to Look for in the Best Kids Vitamins
Vitamins that offer food-based vitamins that are recognizable to the human body on a molecular level are always the best option. The best kids vitamins will not consist of synthetic vitamins that offer little in nutritional value for children.
The most balanced formulas of children’s vitamins will also include:
- All essential and non-essential vitamins and minerals
- Calcium/magnesium/vitamin D
- Probiotics for intestinal, oral, and dental health
- Antioxidants
- Lutein for eye and skin protection
- Vitamin K2 for immune, blood, and bone health
Other Things to Consider
Before you start giving your children vitamins, closely evaluate their diet. Children who eat fish more than twice a week may not need a supplement of essential fatty acids (EFAs). Those who are vegetarians or picky eaters may need extra supplementation. Certain health conditions may warrant specific types of nutrients. It’s always a good idea to talk with your child’s pediatrician before giving any type of supplementation.
While even the best kids multivitamins will not make up for a poor diet, they can go a long way towards helping to support balanced nutrition. By focusing on healthy habits, a balanced diet, and vitamin supplementation, you can give them valuable tools for building good health now and for many years to come.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
The Best Children’s Multivitamins for Special Needs Children
When you have a child with Down’s syndrome, ADD, ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, CHARGE syndrome, or other condition, nutrition is very important to maintaining good health and managing symptoms. Keeping consistent levels of key nutrients such as vitamin E, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B6 becomes even more vital than with children who do not have these conditions. Because obtaining adequate nutrition can be particularly difficult for many special needs children, multivitamins for children are often recommended by healthcare professionals.
Choosing the Best Children’s Multivitamins
Many special needs children have nutritional deficiencies due to their conditions. For example, many children with autism are found to not have sufficient levels of B6 and magnesium which can affect the function of the brain. Nearly 30% of children with cerebral palsy have abnormalities of calcium metabolism that can cause low bone density.
The best children’s multivitamins will provide sufficient levels of these nutrients along with all of the daily requirements that every child needs. Sugar and artificial colors can also be of great concern for many special needs children. Both can negatively affect learning, attention span, and cause additional hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional instability. Thus, choosing a formula of multivitamins for children that is free from sugar, artificial colors, and artificial flavors is necessary.
For every child and every condition, there are specific nutritional needs. This is why it is so important to talk about the nutrition of your special needs child with your healthcare provider. In some cases, providing ample nutrition can be accomplished with a healthy, balanced diet. However, many will need the addition of multivitamins for children to ensure they are getting the right amount of nutrition to support their unique dietary needs.
Choosing the Best Children’s Multivitamins
Many special needs children have nutritional deficiencies due to their conditions. For example, many children with autism are found to not have sufficient levels of B6 and magnesium which can affect the function of the brain. Nearly 30% of children with cerebral palsy have abnormalities of calcium metabolism that can cause low bone density.
The best children’s multivitamins will provide sufficient levels of these nutrients along with all of the daily requirements that every child needs. Sugar and artificial colors can also be of great concern for many special needs children. Both can negatively affect learning, attention span, and cause additional hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional instability. Thus, choosing a formula of multivitamins for children that is free from sugar, artificial colors, and artificial flavors is necessary.
For every child and every condition, there are specific nutritional needs. This is why it is so important to talk about the nutrition of your special needs child with your healthcare provider. In some cases, providing ample nutrition can be accomplished with a healthy, balanced diet. However, many will need the addition of multivitamins for children to ensure they are getting the right amount of nutrition to support their unique dietary needs.
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