ABCs of Multi-vitamins for Kids?

Grocery and drugstore shelves have many choices when it comes to multi-vitamins for kids. From tablets and gummies to liquid drops in every color of the rainbow, it can be confusing to figure out which vitamin is the best choice for your child.

For many children, simply eating a well balanced diet is sufficient. However, for those who are underweight, have chronic illness, or have more active lifestyles, multi-vitamins for kids that contain a balanced formula of vitamins and minerals may be necessary to support healthy growth.

The following guidelines can help you ensure that your kids are getting the nutrients they need.

When to Introduce Multi-vitamins for Kids

Before introducing any type of supplement into your child’s normal routine, it’s a good idea to first talk to their pediatrician or dietician. They can help you determine if there is anything lacking in their diet, and what vitamins and minerals will be beneficial.

Check Formulas

Individuals of any age can consume too many vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins such as E, D, K, and A are particularly risky in large doses because the body stores the excess, and these can cause dangerous levels of toxicity to form. When evaluating labels of multi-vitamins for kids, make sure to carefully read the nutritional information to ensure there vitamins and minerals aren’t exceeding daily recommendations.

What about Natural Vitamins?

Artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives are all readily found in most big brand kids’ vitamins. If you are taking the time to ensure your child’s good nutrition by giving them multi-vitamins for kids, doesn’t it make sense to ensure that they are safe and natural? Yes, they may cost slightly more than those found in the grocery stores, but they will be free of unsafe ingredients which can be harmful to children. Animal Parade natural vitamins from Nature’s Plus is one brand that has combined a complete vitamin and formula with natural health foods including spirulina, carrot, broccoli, whole brown rice, and spinach.

Vitamin Safety

Many multi-vitamins for kids look like candy to children. So, it’s very important to keep them stored as you would prescription medications. Overdoses can be extremely dangerous, so an ounce of prevention can go a long way. As well, make sure that safety caps are placed on bottles and that you follow the recommended dosages as stated on the label.

Stay Focused on Healthy Eating

It’s always better for your children to obtain essential vitamins and minerals from the foods they eat. Currently, over half of children are not getting the recommended intake for calcium, and nearly a third are not obtaining enough vitamin E, zinc, or iron in their diet. So, striving to meet dietary requirements through food is a must each and every day. Good eating habits are acquired over time and can stick with a child for a lifetime. Don’t rely on just supplements for nutrition. A healthy diet is a must!

Should You Choose Natural Vitamins for Children?

Infants, toddlers, preschoolers, older children, and even teenagers all require a broad range of nutrients to sustain good health. While most children are able to consume the vast majority of these nutrients in a normal healthy diet, many require supplementation. This is when natural vitamins for children can be particularly helpful.

To bridge the nutritional gap, you definitely want the best vitamins for children. Because over half of the children in the United States don’t get enough calcium, vitamin E, vitamin D, zinc, or iron, these are important nutrients to look for with any kids’ multi-vitamin.

The nutrients in formulas claiming to be natural vitamins for children should include food-based vitamins. Unlike synthetic vitamins that the body cannot recognize on a molecular level, food-based vitamins are better for your children because the nutrients can be better absorbed. In fact, they can be up to 70% better absorbed! Inexpensive supplements purchased at chain stores typically have synthetic vitamins. In the case of vitamins, you get what you pay for! So, it’s important to carefully shop for natural vitamins for children and to read the labels!

Many of the cheaper chain store brand vitamins are also loaded with high fructose corn syrup or even aspartame. You’ll be amazed when you start researching labels at your local grocery store. The majority of children’s vitamins will have either corn syrup or aspartame as their top ingredient. Not good! The best vitamins for children will use tooth-friendly xylitol as a natural sweetener.

Animal Parade from Nature’s Plus is a well-respected line of natural vitamins for children. Their formulas contain whole foods and green super-food extracts and concentrates to enable efficient vitamin and mineral absorption. Their supplements also include bio-flavonoids and botanical extracts along with naturally derived essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids.

Types of Supplements for Children
• Multivitamin
• Essential fatty acids (EFAs)
• Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D supplement
• Probiotics
• Antioxidants

The type of supplements you may need for your child will vary depending on their particular situation.  You will want to consider your family’s diet. Is it healthy and balanced? A diet lacking in fish, fresh vegetables, fruit, and whole grains might warrant the necessity of all of these supplements.

Obviously their overall health needs to be taken into account. Certain health conditions require certain levels of supplementation. Children who are very active in sports might also need extra nutrients. In many cases, it’s a good idea to have a variety of supplements on hand and to use them as needed.

Remember, not even the best vitamins for children can make up for a poor diet. However, when a supplement is required, it’s always a good idea to choose natural vitamins for children that deliver safe and effective nutritional supplementation.

Natural Children’s Vitamins and Immunity

With over 90 cases of measles reported in the United States in just the first three months of 2014, this most recent outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease has shed new light what happens when parents do not vaccinate their children. The MMR vaccine, which is used to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella, has long been the source of debate over its safety. However, children who are not vaccinated are at risk of acquiring otherwise preventable diseases.

Regardless of what side of the vaccine debate you fall on, supporting your child’s natural ability to fight off infections is vital to their long-term health. This includes providing healthy, balanced meals that supply ample amounts of vitamins and minerals to support a properly-functioning immune system.  For those who have dietary restrictions, food allergies, aversions or any number of nutritional issues, obtaining sufficient vitamins and minerals each day from food is not always possible. In these cases, it makes sense to supplement with natural children’s vitamins.

Let’s take a look at some of the primary ways you can boost your child’s immune system:

Fruits and Veggies
Fresh fruits and vegetables are, without a doubt, the best source of vitamins and minerals. And, these nutrients are fundamental to a child’s health. Some of the best sources are berries, melons, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples, carrots, and leafy greens.

Natural Children’s Vitamins
To bridge any nutritional gap, getting in the habit of offering natural vitamins for children is a good idea. Look for a brand that is naturally sweetened with Xylitol and contains a full range of the vitamins and minerals that are needed each day.

Sleep
Young bodies need lots of downtime for re-energizing and repair. Make sure your child is getting the right amount of sleep for their age.

Exercise
Daily play and exercise is an excellent way to promote a healthy immune system. Whether it’s organized sports or running around in the backyard, every activity helps.

Fluids
Children are prone to getting dehydrated. And, this can lead to a drop in the body’s natural immune function. Make sure your child get plenty of water, along with recommended amounts of milk and fruit juice in their daily diet.

From natural children’s vitamins to drinking plenty of H2O, there is a lot you can do to stave off the germs and viruses that your child is exposed to each and every day. Of course, you should talk to your pediatrician about vaccines and other ways to prevent infection to keep him or her as healthy as possible throughout these important years.

Natural Children's Vitamins for Better Eyesight

While we think of poor eyesight as a problem that afflicts adults in middle age, the reality is approximately 10% of American children and teenagers wear some form of corrective lenses. Genetics certainly play a large part in whether or not a child has vision problems. However, there are certain nutrients found in natural children’s vitamins that can help prevent or delay the onset of certain eye conditions.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient required to produce rhodopsin, the receptors in the retina that allow the eye to react to light. Without enough vitamin A in the diet, it can be challenging to see in dim light. A prolonged deficiency of vitamin A can result in corneal ulcers, scarring, and eventually vision loss. A diet full of fruits and vegetables can supply ample vitamin A. For picky eaters, natural children’s vitamins can bridge the nutritional gap.

Vitamin C
Commonly found in natural vitamins for children, vitamin C has been shown to lower the risk of irreversible vision loss from macular degeneration. By getting the daily requirement each day, a child will decrease the chance of obtaining the sight-robbing disease in later years.

Vitamin E
This vitamin, commonly found in nuts, avocados, and vegetable oils, can also help prevent macular degeneration along with uveitis, a condition in which one of the layers in the eye becomes inflamed and obscures vision.

Vitamin D
Commonly associated with bone health, vitamin D is also important for maintaining good eye health. The vitamin can help inhibit tissue inflammation and the development of abnormal blood vessels that contribute to age-related macular degeneration.

All of these common nutrients are found in well-formulated natural children’s vitamins.