When do you need to give Nutritional Supplements to your Kids

It is often said that children who consume a healthy diet complete with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains do not essentially need to take any multivitamins on a daily basis. However, how many children in reality fit this description?

Even if a child is residing in a household that is conscious about whole foods and cooking practices that are nutritious, children tend to be quite finicky when it comes to eating. On the other hand, chances are that households that follow standard western diets often consume high qualities of processed or junk food.

Can consumption of nutritional supplements equal to eating a healthy diet?

The answer to this question is evidently, no. However, with the right combination of whole foods and great quality kids vitamin and food supplements, parents are able to help maintain high nutrition levels for their children. Such combinations can help prevent nutrient deficiencies that they are in a risk at due to the consumption of processed foods. 

Giving your Child Multivitamins

Even though well-nourished children do not require any multivitamins, there is no harm in giving them some good supplements. In fact, many parents have noticed significant benefits in giving their children multivitamins from the perspective of making sure they meet their recommended dietary allowance.

Also, children from low income households are at high risk of experiencing nutritional deficiencies. These groups of children are able to significantly improve their brain function, immune system and attention levels by consumption of essential vitamin supplements. This further helps prevent diseases such as anemia.

Is your Child getting Enough Fluoride?

Fluoride is an important nutrient that helps reduce the occurrence of dental cavities. If you are residing in areas where the drinking water is not fluoridated, it is important that you give your child sodium fluoride supplements. The amount to take can be prescribed by your doctor, and will depend on the weight of the child. However, if your child is drinking fluoridated water, it is important that you do not give your child supplements since it can result in dental fluorosis; the permanent discoloration of the enamel of the teeth.

Is your Child Getting Enough Vitamin B12?

Deficiency of vitamin B12 can result in serious as well as irreversible damage of the nerve as well as anemia. One can find reliable quantities of this vitamin in fish, meat, milk, eggs and poultry. However, if you and your family are following a vegan diet, one that does not contain any animal products, you may require to provide your child with B12 supplements.

Is your Child Getting Enough Calcium?

Calcium is a critical element that helps your child or teen reach his or her peak bone mass. This helps prevent a future risk of the development of osteoporosis. Poor dietary choices, especially among adolescent girls, result in low intake of calcium. By providing your child with calcium kids vitamin and food supplements, you can help prevent a range of bone related problems. 

In addition to this, as a parent you need to assess the presence of Vitamin D, Fatty Acids, Iron and other vitamins and minerals in your child’s day to day routine. Get help from a doctor for correct prescriptions and guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions on Fish Oil Supplements

With radical diets and questionable quality of foods that we consume, a growing number of doctors are recommending the use of supplements to meet with the body’s dietary requirements. Fish Oil Supplements contain Omega 3 fatty acids and are found to be beneficial for strengthening of bones, managing the heart and some time even to solve minor infertility problems in men.

Here are a few commonly asked questions about fish oil answered.

Where do we find Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Nature?

Typically, Omega-3 Fatty acids can be found in the green leaves of plants such as algae, phytoplankton, grass a seaweed. This is food that we as humans aren’t typically designed to eat. However, this makes grass-fed beef, certain types of fish and pastured organic eggs a great source for Omega-3’s. Unfortunately, poor meat quality and over-consumption of fast and processed foods result in the lack of these essential fatty acids in our diet.

Why Can’t we Eat Seaweed or Grass?

The human body is not designed to digest grass properly. The parent molecule of Omega-3 is known as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This molecule is converted from plants by animals or fish into the potent and anti-inflammatory omega-3 known as EPA and DHA through a long conversion process. Fish and to a certain extent, land animals, perform some metabolic work that helps convert the plant based ALA into concentrated DHA and EPA. Since Fish Oil comes with such concentrated sources of EPA and DHA, it is considered to have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Why isn’t it possible to get Omega-3’s from Flax?

There are a number of problems when it comes to getting your omega-3’s from a plant source. Doing so requires a rather inefficient conversion process. This means that you body is compelled to do a lot of work just so that you get the DHA and EPA out of the fat that you find in flax. This process is full of difficulties that most often lead to more inflammation. Even if the conversion process is successful, the amount of EPA and DHA that the human body is able to convert from flax is rather miniscule.

Why does by body need DHA and EPA?

Fish Oil Supplements that are rich in DHA and EPA come with a number of well proven benefits for a range of lifestyle diseases and conditions. These two molecules are essentially specific types of polyunsatured Omega-3 fatty acids. Since your body is not capable of producing them, you need to acquire them through your diet or through supplements. These natural anti-inflammatory agents are great for the health of your brain and heart. In addition to this, they also provide sufficient protection against depression, Alzheimer’s and cancer. This supplement is often recommended for skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, fetal brain development, bowel disorders and arthritis.

When purchasing fish oil make it a point to buy from a brand that is free of diary, wheat, soy, sweeteners or any other artificial ingredients. Also look at the EPA and DHA amounts per serving to purchase on that is most effective.