What Are the Best Vitamins for Kids with ADHD?

One of the most talked about childhood conditions is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This makes sense since the number of children being diagnosed with the condition is growing rapidly. In fact, nearly one in five high school age boys in the United States and over ten percent of all school age children have received a diagnosis of ADHD, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While there are a variety of prescription medications to treat the condition, many parents are choosing to try more natural treatment options such as incorporating vitamins for kids into their diet.

There is growing evidence that vitamins for kids can reduce symptoms of ADHD. The following are some of the primary nutrients that have been studied by researchers and have shown promise in helping children battling symptoms of this challenging condition.

Zinc
This important mineral has a calming effect on the body, and it helps support a healthy immune system. Holistic doctors who evaluate children for ADHD often look at kids’ nailbeds to determine if they are deficient in zinc. Many picky eaters are deficient, and this is why it’s a good idea to supplement with one of the best vitamins for kids.

Magnesium
This is another important mineral which has the ability to relax nerves and relieve tension. A deficiency in magnesium can cause depression and headaches which are both common in children with ADHD. Most formulas of vitamins for kids supply the daily requirement for magnesium.

B6
The B vitamins are vital for brain health. Interestingly, many children diagnosed with ADHD are deficient in these essential nutrients.

B12
B12 is a vitamin that has been shown to increase the ability to concentrate and focus. Many parents who give their children with ADHD B12 vitamins for kids find that it helps with speech and mood/behavior. This is because the vitamin helps to regulate brain neurotransmitters. B6 and B12 are both found in multi-vitamin formulas for kids.

Probiotics
Some health experts suggest that ADHD is partially caused by a yeast overgrowth in the body. Thus, probiotics can be used to fight off yeast. At the very least, probiotics are helpful for intestinal and dental health. Some multi-vitamin formulas such as Animal Parade Gold Multi Children’s Chewable from Nature’s Plus includes probiotics which makes giving probiotics to a child convenient and easy.

Using Diet and the Best Vitamins for Kids to Combat Childhood Obesity

Could the best vitamins for kids help solve the obesity crisis in the United States? Childhood obesity has become a problem of nearly epidemic proportions throughout the country. In fact, one out of three children is considered to be overweight or obese and the obesity rate has more than tripled in the last 50 years.

Two primary factors have contributed more to the obesity crisis than any others. First, children today are getting less exercise and playtime than previous generations. With the rise of video games, hand-held mobile devices, PCs, and cable TV, kids are spending more time in front of screens and far less time outside playing
The second factor is nutrition. With busy schedules, parents are less likely to be feeding their children home-cooked meals and are more often heading through the drive-thru line after work. With processed, high-fat, high-sodium food on the menu most nights, weight gain is nearly inevitable, particularly when it’s coupled with low amounts of physical activity.

A healthy diet and a regular exercise regime are essential for every child’s good health. This means meals rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, and low-fat dairy. Highly processed, fried, or sugary foods should be avoided.

Of course, offering healthy meals and getting kids to eat them are two different things. Picky eaters can often be lacking in essential vitamins and nutrients. This is when it makes sense to supplement with one of the best vitamins for kids on the market. Children’s vitamins that contain a balanced formula of vitamins and minerals can actually help reduce fat and jump start weight loss while also filling in the nutritional gaps.

A study from 2010 showed that children’s vitamins combined with a healthy, well-balanced diet can stimulate a rise in basal metabolic rate (the rate at which the body burns calories when at rest). As well, specific vitamins within supplements have weight-loss effects. For example, a lack of vitamin D, which may be the most common deficiency in the United States, can contribute to weight gain. Thus, taking a multivitamin with vitamin D can be beneficial. As well, B vitamins and calcium can also help support healthy weight loss.

Of course, the best vitamins for kids are those that have natural flavor and aren't sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. You will also want to choose a formula that is hypo-allergenic, gluten-free, or vegetarian if you have a child who is on a restricted diet due to health issues.

By combining a good diet and children’s vitamins, you can help promote a healthy lifestyle that will help prevent weight gain now and into the future.

What Nutrients Can Be Found in the Best Vitamins for Kids?

Good nutrition for any kid starts with a healthy diet. But, when supplementation is needed, you want to make sure that you’re choosing the best vitamins for kids. Not all vitamins are created equal – especially when it comes to natural vitamins for kids. However, the right formula can help ensure that you child is getting the nutrients they need to thrive.

A healthy diet is obviously the foundation for overall health in every child. Kids should be getting the bulk of their vitamins and minerals from the following:

• Milk and dairy products including yogurt and cheese
• A wide variety of fresh vegetable and fruits
• Lean protein from chicken, meat, beans, legumes, and eggs
• Whole grains such as oatmeal and brown rice

Certainly, it can be a challenge to get kids to eat all of these foods day in and day out. And, as busy parents, we don’t always have the time to prepare home-cooked meals. This is when it makes sense to incorporate natural vitamins for kids into their daily routine. Kids who can definitely benefit from a multivitamin include:

• Finicky eaters and those who are eating lots of fast food or processed food
• Kids with chronic medical conditions including asthma and digestive problems
• Kids who are very active in sports
• Kids on a vegetarian diet
• Kids who drink lots of carbonated sodas which tend to deplete vitamins and minerals from the body

When searching for the best vitamins for kids, you should look for some key ingredients that are particularly important to growing children:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin Bs (B2, B3, B6, and B12)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Calcium
• Iron

While vitamins are healthy, your children can get too much of a good thing! The best vitamins for kids will not contain mega-doses. Too much of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) can be dangerous. As well, iron in too large of a quantity can be risky.

Animal Parade® GOLD Multi Children's Chewable is a unique formula that contains exactly what your child needs. These natural vitamins for kids contain all essential vitamins and minerals, along with 20 certified organic whole foods for synergistic health promoting activity, and many more health-supporting nutrients all in fun, animal-shaped chewables that your kids will love!  Animal Parade Gold also contains probiotics for intestinal health, lutein for eye and skin protection and is sweetened with xylitol to help reduce the risk of tooth decay.

When you want to ensure that your child is getting the nutrients they need during these very important growing years, it’s essential to choose the best vitamins for kids. With Animal Parade Gold, you can feel confident that you’re giving them a highly effective supplemented formulated just for their unique needs.

How to Choose the Best Vitamins for Kids

If you’re a parent trying to determine the best vitamins for kids, it can be confusing. Of course, you can simply grab the colorful bottle of chewables off of the grocery store shelf, but do you know if you’re really choosing the best children’s vitamins?

Nutritionists and doctors alike agree that kids must first eat well-balanced meals. Even the best vitamins for kids are no supplement to foods with high nutritional value.  With that being said, many children are picky eaters, and others have specific nutritional challenges that require a vitamin supplement. Thus, there are some specifics to consider when choosing  vitamins for your children.

What to Avoid

Artificial Sweeteners
Unfortunately, many of the most recognizable brands of children’s vitamins are loaded with aspartame or high fructose corn syrup as sweeteners. Instead of giving your children a dose of sugar along with their vitamins, the best vitamins for kids will contain less than one gram of sweetener per vitamin.

Ferrous Sulfate
Many children consider vitamins to be like candy, and there can be a risk of overdose. Because many children’s vitamins contain ferrous sulfate, which can be very dangerous in large quantities, it’s wise to stay away from vitamins containing this form of iron. Carbonyl iron is considered to be a safer alternative.

Other ingredients to avoid include:
• Hydrogenated vegetable oil
• Artificial dyes (Blue No. 2, Red No. 40, and Yellow No. 6)
• Preservatives such as butylated hydroxytoluene

What to Look for in Kids Vitamins
The best vitamins for kids will consist of a formula that is well-rounded, hypo-allergenic, gluten-free, and vegetarian. Yes, they should also taste great, too!

Animal Parade® GOLD Multi Children's Chewables are amongst the best children’s vitamins because of their unique formula:
• Vitamin D3 and K2 to support a healthy immune system, bone growth, and blood production.
• A complete range of essential vitamins and minerals
• Intestinal and dental probiotics
• Lutein for eye and skin production
• Live enzymes and bioflavonoids

How Many Vitamins Do Your Kids Need?
This is a common question, and it definitely depends on your child’s diet. However, almost all do not require large amounts of vitamins and minerals. Rather a healthy balanced formula makes for the best children’s vitamins.

A Few Tips about Kids Vitamins
Finally, there are some important tips to remember when it comes to kids vitamins.
• First, make sure to keep vitamins out of the reach of children, so that they don’t treat them like candy.
• Consider giving a vitamin at the end of a meal. Some children’s vitamins are fat-soluble and are best absorbed with food.
• Ask you pediatrician about any potential drug reactions with vitamins or minerals.
• The best children’s vitamins are available in a variety of forms. So, experiment with supplement types to find one that your child likes the best.

Well-rounded nutrition is essential to your child’s growth and development. Choosing the best vitamins for kids can help support a balanced diet and provide essential nutrients that are lacking. By taking time to choose the best children’s vitamins, you’ll help promote your child’s good health now and into the future.

Back to School with Kids Multi Vitamins

Back to school is almost here, and after the long summer months, it’s time to get kids ready for the year ahead. Besides school supplies and new clothes and shoes, it’s the right time to be thinking about their nutrition. Sure, it starts with healthy meals. But, with kids on the go, it’s not always easy to get them to eat all the daily nutrients they need. This is when kids multi vitamins can help!

Providing kids with healthy, well-balanced meals is the most important way to keep them properly nourished. This means plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meat. Kids multi vitamins can be help supplement a well-rounded diet by ensuring that all nutritional recommendations are being met.

Vitamin D is one vitamin that is often lacking in children. Commonly referred to as the “sunshine” vitamin because it is produced from sun exposure, many kids do not have adequate levels of it when they are kept out of the sun or covered in sunscreen. Vitamin D is essential for building healthy bones. A deficiency can lead to rickets which is a softening of the bones, as well as negative effects on the heart and the immune system. The best vitamins for kids will have the daily requirement of vitamin D3.

Other important nutrients that can help kids throughout the school year include:

• Vitamin K2 – supports immune, blood, and bone health
• Lutein – eye and skin protection
• Probiotics – for intestinal health

Of course, the best vitamins for kids will have a complete range of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and organic whole foods.

Another important feature to consider when shopping for kids multi vitamins is their sweetener. Many of the grocery store brands sweeten multi vitamins with corn syrup or aspartame. These are not idea for anyone – particularly kids! Instead, it’s a good idea to choose a formula that is sweetened with xylitol that is natural and doesn’t promote tooth decay.

Finally, it’s important to incorporate the habit of taking vitamins into your kids’ daily routine. By having a set time when they take their vitamin, it will be easier to establish a healthy habit that can help them get the nutrition they need to have a successful school year.