Why You Should Choose Kids Multivitamins with Probiotics

If you’ve experienced intestinal issues, it’s likely that your physician recommended incorporating more probiotics into your diet. The same microorganisms found in probiotics that are beneficial for adults can also help support intestinal health in children. One of the simplest ways to provide probiotics to them is to choose a formula of kids multivitamins with added probiotics.

Many parents are under the assumption that the only way to add probiotics to a child’s diet is to give them yogurt or yogurt drinks with live cultures. While some yogurts do offer a good source of probiotics, they are not the only option. In fact, some kids vitamins, such as Animal Parade from Nature’s Plus, provide a complete range of intestinal probiotics, as well as probiotics to support oral health, too!

The Benefits of Probiotics
It can seem counterintuitive that bacteria is beneficial, especially since we take antibiotics to kill bacteria. Yet, not all bacteria is harmful. In fact, some can be very helpful. This is where probiotics enter the picture. Probiotics are live microorganisms, including bacteria that help prevent and treat certain diseases and conditions. Maintaining the right balance of bacteria is necessary in both children and adults. An imbalance of bacteria in the intestinal tract is linked to ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and possibly even diabetes.

Yogurt is perhaps the most well-known source of probiotics. However, not all are created equal. In fact, many brands, especially those that are targeted to children, contain little or no probiotics at all. Many of these products also contain high amounts of added sugar, as well as fat. The National Yogurt Association has established standards for probiotics. Only those that have 100 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture are considered to display the Live and Active Cultures seal on their packaging.

Other dietary sources of probiotics include the fermented dairy product kefir, sauerkraut, dark chocolate, microalgae, miso soup, pickles, tempeh and kimchi. While these all offer the benefits of probiotics, many kids do not particularly care for these foods.

Kids Vitamins: An Alternative to Yogurt 
If your child loves yogurt, by all means give him or her yogurt to obtain beneficial levels of probiotics. However, there is another option for gaining the positive benefits of probiotics. With kids multivitamins that contain probiotics, you can help support your child’s intestinal health while also ensuring they meet their daily requirements of vitamins and minerals.

Using Kids Vitamins to Ward off Winter Viruses

It’s that time of year when colds and flu are everywhere. Classrooms are tremendous breeding grounds for winter viruses, including influenza. While it’s easy enough to get kids in the habit of washing their hands and not touching their faces, the reality is they will be exposed to viruses no matter how well they try and avoid it. Proactive strategies such as taking daily kids vitamins may help minimize the risk this winter and beyond.

Flu Vaccine
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting an annual flu vaccine is the most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Yes, there’s more than one! Flu vaccine can reduce illness, missed school and doctors’ visits. Children six months or older should get the vaccine.

Plenty of Rest
The immune system is weakened by a lack of sleep. Especially during the winter months, kids need to get ample shut-eye to keep their immune system strong to fight off viruses.

Daily Kids Multivitamin
Of course, eating a balanced diet is beneficial. Yet for many kids, getting enough daily nutritional requirements is difficult. Kids vitamins can bridge that gap by ensuring that sufficient vitamins and minerals are being consumed on a daily basis.

Preventive Strategies
The best way to avoid getting sick is to stay away from sick people, although that’s not a reality for kids in school. So, other options include regular hand-washing, covering the nose and mouth during coughs or sneezes and disinfecting surfaces such as desks, keyboards, phones and chairs.

What to Look for in Kids Vitamins
Vitamin C and vitamin D3 are both extremely important for immune system health. A well-balanced formula of kids vitamins will also include all essential vitamins and minerals, along with probiotics, enzymes and bioflavonoids. Because kids are often fussy about vitamins, choosing a product that has a palatable flavor is very important. One option that kids love is Animal Parade Gold Children’s Chewable Multivitamin in cherry flavor.

Storing Strategies for Kids’ Multi Vitamins

Making it a habit to give your children kids’ multi vitamins can help support their growth and long-term health. Yet, how effective and safe the vitamins are has a lot to do with where you store them. The following guidelines can help you increase the lifespan of kids vitamins and enable you to keep them safely stored.

1. Do not store kids’ multi vitamins in the bathroom or kitchen
The vast majority of us store vitamins in either the bathroom or the kitchen, but these locations are not the best locations because of the variances in heat and the additional moisture that is common to these areas. Cool, dry places in your home that are convenient to your daily routine are a much better choice.

2. Keep vitamins out of the refrigerator
Condensation can build on vitamins that are stored in the refrigerator causing them to lose potency.

3. Keep vitamins in their original containers
Confusion over administering vitamins is more likely to happen if they are kept in unmarked containers or old prescription bottles. To ensure you know what you’re giving to your children, always keep kids’ multi vitamins in their original containers.

4. Always check to make sure the child’s safety cap is secure
Vitamins can look like candy. Some even taste nearly as good as candy, too! Don’t take chances by making it possible for your child to open a bottle of vitamins. Take the extra few seconds to ensure the bottle’s cap is securely locked.

5. Keep kids’ multi vitamins out of reach of children
Perhaps, the most important strategy when it comes to the safe storage of kids vitamins is to keep them out of the reach of children. This means in a cabinet or shelf far above where they can reach. Ideally the cabinet should have a lock on it to prevent adventurous children from climbing to new heights to get their hands on their vitamins.

Adding Kids Vitamins to a Balanced Diet

If you’re like many parents, you’ve probably wondered if you should add kids vitamins to your child’s daily routine. The addition of a supplement can be a smart decision, particularly if you have a picky eater or a child who has been diagnosed with failure to thrive. Making sure that children get enough vitamins and minerals is important to their long-term well-being, and a kids supplement can definitely help.

Of course, foods are the best sources of nutrients. And, regular meals and healthy snacks can certainly provide the bulk of what any healthy, growing school age child should require. However, many children don’t eat well and fall short of the recommended daily vitamin and mineral intake. This problem is particularly true for picky eaters, slow growers, and for children from families that are struggling financially and unable to provide nutritious meals.

Kids Vitamins Can Help
In a 2009 study conducted at UC Davis, nearly 25 percent of adolescents were found to be deficient in vitamin D. Deficiency of this important mineral can lead to a host of conditions including rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Because there has been a recent rise in rickets in children in the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new vitamin D requirements for infants, children, and adolescents. The recommendation has been raised from 200 IU to 400 IU per day. While sun does help the body make its own vitamin D, most children still require supplementation to reach the daily recommended amount.

Iron deficiency is another common problem in children. In fact, a whopping 60 percent of children age five years or younger were deemed to be deficient in the same UC Davis study. For girls, this percentage remains high throughout childhood. Because iron is so important for the production of blood cells, a deficiency can be serious. Iron deficiency, also called anemia, can cause a variety of symptoms including weakness, fatigue, and cognition difficulties. For toddlers, iron deficiency can even lead to permanent impaired mental and psycho-motor development.

Interestingly, there has also been an increase in malnourished children who are also overweight or even obese. This is caused by the consumption of high-caloric food that is low in nutritional value. Thus, it isn’t safe to think that a child is receiving enough nutrients by simply looking at them. A close evaluation of their diet is necessary to determine the need for kids supplements.

Quick tips for Introducing Kids Vitamins
Rounding out a child’s diet with kids supplements is a way to supplement the vitamins and minerals that are not being consumed in food. To do this, it’s always a good idea to choose one that a child actually enjoys and to make it an everyday habit.

However, don’t rely solely on kids vitamins. Children definitely need a healthy, balanced diet that includes digestible proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber to provide all of the nutrients required to support their growth and development. And, this needs to go hand-in-hand with regular exercise and ample rest to ensure their health during their growing years.

At Natures Plus, we offer a full range of kids supplements – from sugar-free, liquid vitamins for infants and toddlers to a variety of chewable multi-vitamins, nutritional shakes, and other supplements for older children.

Kids Vitamins Containing Vitamin D May Be Beneficial for Overweight and Obese Children

In a study published in Pediatrics, research has shown that overweight and obese children and teens are at higher risk of having low vitamin D levels than those with healthy weights. Because this vitamin is vital for bone growth during both childhood and adolescence, many pediatricians are now recommending testing for overweight and obese children to screen for vitamin D deficiency and recommending kids vitamins as a preventative health strategy.

The study looked at more than 12,000 children and teens ranging in age from six to 18. Approximately 21 percent of the health weight study participants were deficient in vitamin D. This percent jumped to 29 percent in overweight children, 35 percent in obese children, and nearly 50 percent in those who were classified as severely obese.

Vitamin D deficiency rates were also noted to be higher in Latinos and African-Americans. In severely obese African-American children, the percentage was a whopping 87 percent. With such high numbers in overweight and obese children, specialty weight management clinics are now routinely checking vitamin D levels.

The Benefits of Kids Multi-vitamins
While the vitamin D found in kids multi-vitamins can help support bone development, it is also beneficial in helping to stave off certain chronic conditions that have been linked to vitamin D deficiency including high blood pressure, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Drinking vitamin D-fortified milk can also help provide ample amounts of the vitamin. However, for children who are battling weight issues, the extra calories may not fit into a calorie-restricted diet. 

Parents who are concerned about vitamin D deficiency in their children should talk to their pediatrician about taking supplements such as kids multi-vitamins.

Combating Measles with Kids Multivitamins

Measles has been in the news lately because of a fast-spreading outbreak that has led to dozens of children being diagnosed in multiple states. While immunization is the best defense, it isn’t foolproof. For children who are not or cannot be vaccinated, there are increased risks. Preventative measures, such as getting sufficient vitamin A found in kids multivitamins, may help prevent transmission and serious complications.

In numerous studies, vitamin A was shown to lower the incidence of deaths due to measles in hospitalized children under the age of two years. This includes helping to prevent pneumonia and other complications. With up to 10 percent of children in some communities not vaccinated, the need for preventative strategies is necessary. Kids multivitamins that offer the daily requirement of vitamin A may be able to increase immunity to help fight the measles virus.

Nearly all medical experts will agree that the best strategy for preventing measles is to immunize children with the MMR vaccine with the first dose being given at the age of 12 to 15 months. A second dose is typically administered at four to six years of age.

For babies and children who can’t get the vaccine, such as those with cancer or certain conditions affecting their immunity, preventative measures are the best strategy. A daily dose of kids multivitamins may be a smart option worth discussing with your pediatrician. Along with providing the daily requirement of vitamin A, a balanced formula of kids vitamins can provide all daily essential and non-essential vitamins along with minerals and probiotics which help support a healthy immune system.

With an increasing number of children not vaccinated for measles, the chance of an outbreak is greater than it has been in generations. Even children who are vaccinated can benefit from taking daily kids multivitamins to boost immunity against the measles virus and others that can cause a variety of complications.

Supporting Children’s Heart Health with Kids Vitamins

While we typically think of heart health as something that adults need to focus on starting in middle-age, it’s actually important in childhood, too. And, with an increasing number of children now being diagnosed with metabolic conditions such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels, it’s never too soon to incorporate a healthy diet. Many dieticians and nutritionists believe that kids vitamins can be an important part of this diet – particularly for those children who have special dietary needs or who are finicky eaters.

For kids vitamins can be obtain through a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats. The most ideal foods that support healthy cardiovascular health are low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt, and added sugar.

Total fat intake for children ages 4 to 18 should be no more than 35 percent with the majority of the fats coming from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.

Every meal of the day should contain at least one fruit or vegetable. Children’s recommended fruit intake should be approximately one to two cups per day. Vegetable intake should amount to two to three cups per day.

While grain/high fiber breads and cereal are much more heart-healthy than refined grain products. Total grain intake should be approximately seven ounces each day. As well, fat-free and low-fat dairy foods are also important. Children need approximately two to three cups of milk each day. This can be substituted with a combination of other dairy products like yogurt and cheese.

According to the American Heart Association, the estimated calories needed by children range from 900 per day for a one year old all the way to 2,200 calories for a 14-18 year old boy.

What about Kids Vitamins?
For many children, getting sufficient nutrients on a daily basis can be a struggle. Food preferences, allergies, and other dietary issues can make it particularly challenging. In many cases, adding a kids vitamin supplement to a balanced diet can help bridge the nutritional gap to support heart health. If you have a child who isn’t obtaining enough nutrients in their daily diet, it’s worth discussing this with their pediatrician. And, kids multivitamins will probably be suggested to augment what they’re currently getting in their diet.

Kids Vitamins – What’s Safe and What Isn’t

From infants through adolescence and beyond, children need a complex range of vitamins and minerals to support their growth and development. While a healthy diet is an absolute must for all children, kids vitamins can serve as a good supplement during these important years.

Parents can often be overwhelmed with the number of choices for kids vitamins on the shelves of grocery, drug, and health food stores. Many of the labels tout confusing promises such as “supports optimal brain function” and “provides a full day supply of vegetables.”  So when it comes to dietary supplements for kids, it’s important to know what is needed, what’s not, and what is simply too much.

One of the most essential nutrients for growing children is iron. It is found in many kids vitamins, and many doctors also encourage parents to introduce plenty of iron-fortified foods into their children’s diet. Babies are tested for anemia at nine to 12 months, and close monitoring in some children is necessary.

Iron deficiencies can be prevented through supplementation. However, it is important to choose a formula that doesn’t exceed more than 100% of the daily requirement for iron. Natural vitamins for kids, such as Animal Parade from Nature’s Plus, provides a smaller percentage of iron so that it can be safely combined with a diet that contains iron-fortified foods. An overdose of iron can be very serious, so it’s important to consult with your child’s doctor to determine the right amount of supplementation that is needed.

Besides iron, vitamin D is another nutrient that is often lacking in kids. Particularly in northern latitudes where these is limited amounts of sun exposure, vitamin D deficiencies are very common. Children that don’t have enough vitamin D to support tooth and bone formation are at risk of developing rickets, as well as osteoporosis later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants, children, and adolescents get 400 units of vitamin D each day. This can be accomplished by providing your child kids vitamins.

Animal Parade Sugar Free Multi Chewables contain 100% of the daily value for highly bioavailable vitamin D3 along with vitamins A, C, E B12, B6 and other B vitamins. And, because they are sweetened with tooth-friendly xylitol, they have decay-preventative properties. These kid-friendly chewables also contain a bounty of healthful foods including spirulina, broccoli, carrot, brown rice, and spinach and other immune-supporting phytonutrients to provide a complete kids vitamins formula that can support your child’s health as they grow.