Written by
on Wednesday, 25 July 2018.
Tagged: health, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy lifestyle, kids, nutrition, vitamins
Do your kids need a multi-vitamin? Or perhaps a single specific vitamin like Vitamin D or a mineral like iron? As a general rule, I don’t think it’s a good idea to give children vitamin pills. If they’re eating a reasonably balanced diet, they should get all the vitamins and minerals they need from foods, so supplementation isn’t necessary.
If you believe your child needs a supplement, it’s best to talk to your doctor, early childhood nurse or paediatric dietitian about the right type and correct dosage. Don’t believe the persuasive marketing of celebrity naturopaths, health food shops and even well-meaning pharmacists.
Here are my reasons for and against giving supplements to children.
Despite what I’ve just said above, in certain situations your child may require additional vitamins, in which case supplements can be of help. Take a look at these scenarios.
Children who refuse to eat major food groups like dairy, meat or vegetables.
The removal of whole food groups such as grains and/or dairy also eliminates the vitamins and minerals they contain.
Kids in vegan households who eat no animal products at all may run short on vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as essential fatty acids. Remember children are growing and have requirements for growth and normal health. If you are opposed to any supplements at all, then an egg from a neighbour’s chicken that’s raised with love and respect is a suitable way to boost your child’s intake of these animal nutrients.
This is an extract from Catherine new ebook “Vitamins – what, why and where” which is for sale on this website. Click here to buy.
Catherine Saxelby has the answers! She is an accredited nutritionist, blogger and award-winning author. Her award-winning book My Nutritionary will help you cut through the jargon. Do you know your MCTs from your LCTs? How about sterols from stanols? What’s the difference between glucose and dextrose? Or probiotics and prebiotics? What additive is number 330? How safe is acesulfame K? If you find yourself confused by food labels, grab your copy of Catherine Saxelby’s comprehensive guide My Nutritionary NOW!
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