Giving Kids Children’s Multi-Vitamins to Promote Eye Health

Vision problems affect approximately one in every 20 preschoolers and more than 25 percent of all school-age children. Ensuring your child can see properly is pivotal to their ability to learn and succeed. This includes regular eye care and understanding the vitamins and other nutrients that are essential to supporting eye health. In many cases, the addition of children’s multi-vitamins can help provide the vitamins and minerals necessary for supporting healthy vision.

Vitamin A
This essential vitamin helps convert light into nerve signals in the retina. Vitamin A deficiency is the most common cause of eye diseases and childhood blindness. Often, the first signal that there is a vitamin A deficiency is an inability to see in the dark. Carrots, fortified milk, dark green vegetables all contain ample amounts of vitamin A. As well, nearly all formulas of multi-vitamins for children also contain the daily requirement of the vitamin.

Vitamin C and E
Both of these vitamins are beneficial to supporting eye heath. Vitamin C helps to reduce eye pressure which can prevent the early onset of glaucoma. This vitamin can be consumed in citrus, berries, broccoli and peppers. Vitamin E helps the body absorb beta-carotene and other essential nutrients that are necessary for healthy vision. Obtaining sufficient amounts of these vitamins requires a healthy, balanced diet, and in some cases, the addition of children’s multi-vitamins.

Lutein
As opposed to vitamins, lutein is a carotenoid which can help prevent and improve visual disorders and support healthy eyesight. The benefit of this nutrient is that it helps absorb light in the region of the visible spectrum to protect the macula of the eye from damage by oxidative stress. Lutein is commonly found in dark leafy green vegetables and egg yolks. Both spinach and kale have high amounts of the nutrient. Of course, kids are not always excited about eating large amounts of healthy vegetables. For them, the addition of children’s multi-vitamins can make sense, especially for those who have a family history of macular degeneration.

Choosing the Right Children’s Multi-Vitamins for Vision
There are many children’s multi-vitamins on the market, and some even tout specific vision-boosting nutrients. However, it’s important to carefully look at the daily requirements of vitamin A, C and E to determine their efficacy. As well, you’ll want one that offers the additional benefits of lutein. Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Gold Multi-Children’s Chewable offers all of these nutrients, along with the benefits of enzymes, probiotics, organic whole foods, natural cherry flavor and more. When it comes to your child’s eyes, it’s wise to choose the best nutritional formula you can!

Battling the Discomfort of Eczema with Children’s Multi-vitamins

Eczema is a common childhood skin condition that is particularly worse in the cold, winter months. Challenging for parents and uncomfortable for children, eczema has long been a problem with few effective treatments. However, new research is showing that a vitamin found in children’s multi-vitamins may be the answer to stopping the pain and itching associated with eczema.

In a study of more than 100 children, ranging in age from 2 to 17, vitamin D was shown to improve symptoms of eczema. Results from the study showed a 29 percent improvement in eczema symptoms in children who received vitamin D supplements.

Interestingly, vitamin D is a vitamin that is produced in the body when the skin is exposed to sunshine. This may explain why eczema tends to worsen during the dark, winter months. It is common for both children and adults typically to have lower vitamin D levels in the winter. Many have vitamin D deficiencies.

This study has indicated the need for more research to evaluate if vitamin D could be beneficial for adults and children who have chronic, year-long eczema. Findings also concluded that children with eczema symptoms could benefit from a children’s multi-vitamin that contains vitamin D. Parents should discuss this option with their pediatrician.

Along with potentially helping combat the symptoms of eczema, vitamin D is also essential for supporting bone health. This fat-soluble vitamin specifically works to help the body absorb calcium to support strong bones.

Multi-vitamins for children that contain vitamin D also provide other essential vitamins and minerals necessary to support good health. A balanced, natural formula, such as Animal Parade Gold, also contains Lutein for eye and skin protection, live enzymes, probiotics, and bioflavonoids to support absorption, and vitamin K2 for immunity and blood and bone health.

Of course, not all children’s multi-vitamins are created equal. Unfortunately, some contain ingredients that can be harmful to children with allergies or food sensitivities. This is why it’s essential to choose a product that specifically is hypo-allergenic, gluten-free, and free from artificial flavors and color.

Taking Children’s Multi-Vitamins with Food vs. without Food

How your child takes multi-vitamins can make a substantial difference in absorption of nutrients. As well, timing can greatly impact how your child feels after taking any type of nutritional supplement. If you’ve wondered about how to administer children’s multi-vitamins, keep reading!

Nearly all formulas of multi-vitamins for children contain both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins, like A, D, E and K, need to be taken with food to be absorbed. In contrast, water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B complex vitamins don’t need to be taken with meals. Because multi-vitamins contain both types of vitamins, they can be taken with meals. However, it’s not a good idea to take them with dairy products as they can block absorption.

Reducing Side Effects from Children’s Multi-Vitamins
Many children will complain of “tummy pain” or nausea after taking children’s multi-vitamins. Just like adults, these supplements can upset children’s stomachs. To reduce uncomfortable symptoms, the best strategy is to take supplements with or immediately after a meal. It’s also important to remember not to give doses higher than what is recommended, as too much of certain vitamins can cause a variety of toxicity symptoms. As well, certain medications, including antibiotics, can also interact with multi-vitamins for children. This is why it’s very important to tell your pediatrician about any supplement that you’re giving your child.

Get into a Routine
Helping children get into the habit of taking vitamins is not always easy. One of the best ways to encourage them to take their daily supplement is to administer them at the same time each day. For example, routinely giving your child their supplement with breakfast can make it much easier to remember, and it becomes part of the regular morning routine.

Taken at the right time, children’s multi-vitamins offer substantial health benefits for many kids. Talk to your pediatrician to learn more about the specific supplement needs of your child.