There are a million and one supplements on the market these days. Plus, all the information on the internet makes it hard to know what supplements you might actually need. Information is even harder to decipher when it comes to children. But as a parent, you want to support your child’s health and supplements can be one way to do that.
Finding healthy supplements for kids is important to their overall well-being. Most people assume that you can get all the nutrients you need from a healthy diet, but that’s not always the case. Even exclusively breastfed babies who should get all their nutrients from mom’s milk are sometimes deficient in vitamin D.
Iron levels show a similar problem. This is how I see it, liver and spinach aren’t part of a child’s daily diet and fortified foods don’t contain a sufficient dose to make an impact. Let’s not forget that most fortified foods like cereals are processed and full of sugar anyway.
That’s why I’m going to share all about healthy supplements for kids in this article!
Good health begins at home with high-quality food and nutrition, a non-toxic environment, minimal stress, and emotional nurturing. These are the primary building blocks of health.
Should I Give My Kids Supplements?
You want the best for your child. You want them to be healthy and develop appropriately. The concern you have for your child’s health means you have a lot of questions about what you should and shouldn’t put in their body. Will it be effective? What is the dosage? Will my kid get better if we don’t see a doctor right away?
I’ve been there. I have six children and learned so much throughout raising them! One thing I fully believe in is the holistic approach. Holistic is typically defined as pertaining to body, mind, and spirit. This means that all aspects of your child are considered, including feelings, behavior, toxic exposures, stress, diet, nutrition, genetics, and environment.
At its best, it involves looking at the whole child to determine underlying imbalances that might be affecting health.
Listen, I can’t make the decision for you. I can’t tell you to give your kids supplements or not, but I can arm you with the right knowledge and encourage you to talk to your pediatrician about possible supplements.
You Are Your Kid’s Holistic Health Care Provider
This may come as a surprise to you, but you are your kid’s number one holistic health care provider. You know your child’s mind, body, and emotions better than anyone else in the world. Good health begins at home with high-quality food and nutrition, a non-toxic environment, minimal stress, and emotional nurturing. These are the primary building blocks of health.
Now that you feel equipped to handle and optimize your child’s health, let’s talk about supplements!
Instead of sugar-loaded gummies look for supplements that list all the ingredients and the amount of each contained per dose. In addition, it’s important to look for a supplement that actually contains a therapeutic dose.
What to Look For in a Supplement For Kids
The problem with supplements for kids is that many companies play on parents’ fears and use marketing to sell low-quality products. For example, by putting the word “pediatric” on a bottle companies can sell vitamin gummies that are more like candy than vitamins. Kids may love them because they’re loaded with sugar, but the nutritional value is missing.
Instead of sugar-loaded gummies look for supplements that list all the ingredients and the amount of each contained per dose. In addition, it’s important to look for a supplement that actually contains a therapeutic dose. Most supplements contain too little of a vitamin or mineral to do any good. For example, Most children require 1,000 iu per day of vitamin D, but many pediatric versions of this supplement only contain 400 iu.
Healthy Supplements for Kids
As I said, there are so many supplements on the market but usually, you only need a handful of targeted vitamins to impact your health. The same is true for your children. Not only that, each child is unique and kids can have complex issues. What works for one child may not work for another which is why it’s so important to be in tune with your kid’s health and work with their pediatrician.
Overall, here is a list of the supplements that most children could benefit from taking.
Vitamin D
Unless you live near the equator and spend a lot of your time outdoors it’s hard to get enough vitamin D. In the United States, 47% of African American infants and 56% of Caucasian infants have vitamin D deficiency. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants who are breastfed and children who consume less than 1 L of vitamin D-fortified milk need 400 IU of vitamin D supplementation.
Vitamin D is fat-soluble and acts more like a hormone than a vitamin. Every single cell in your body needs vitamin D to function. It also plays an important role in the metabolism and absorption of other minerals in the body. Adequate levels of vitamin D may also help reduce the risk of autoimmune conditions, infection, and type 2 diabetes.
Probiotics
Research shows that the gut microbiome is more critical to your overall wellness than ever thought before. That’s not all, there is overwhelming evidence that probiotics are safe for use in the general population. Plus, probiotics are suggested as a therapeutic or preventive option for a variety of childhood diseases.
Gut problems are linked to irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, and depression. An excellent-quality probiotic supplement can help a child overcome serious digestive issues, while attempting to introduce those same helpful bacteria into their diet by providing fermented foods may not be as effective. You can only get your kids to eat so much sauerkraut.
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is important for more than just battling the common cold. It helps support healthy bones and teeth. It forms collagen, cartilage, blood vessels, and muscle. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant and helps reduce damage to cells from free radicals in the body.
Unfortunately, the body can not produce vitamin C on its own. It must come from the food you eat. Plant sources, including tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and kiwi, are the best sources of vitamin C. Of course, getting your child to eat lots of fruits and vegetables can be hard which is why supplementing with vitamin C is a great option.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in food like fish and flaxseed. They are essential to many aspects of health including fetal development, brain function, heart health, and immunity. Your body does not produce omega-3 which is why they are called an essential fatty acid.
Omega-3 is so important for your child’s growth and development. Studies also show that omega-3 may help reduce the symtpoms of ADHD and asthma. Other studies show that it helps improve sleep and brain function. High-quality fish is a great source but when that’s hard to obtain a supplement will do the trick.
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that is important for immune function, wound healing, and the senses of smell and taste. According to the CDC, Children 7 to 24 months need 3 mg of zinc each day. It’s especially important to supplement zinc in children who are exclusively fed breastmilk. Levels of zinc in breast milk are high after birth and go down over the first 6 months. A deficiency in zinc is associated with stunted growth, increased colds, infection, and learning impairment.
Work With a Holistic Health Coach
I know it can be overwhelming to wade through all the health information on the internet, especially when you’re trying to make the best decision for your children. There are healthy supplements for kids, and there are ways to support your kids holistically body, mind, and spirit. If you’re interested in learning more about how to best optimize your health and that of your family reach out to me,
I’d love to have a conversation with you!
Mandy Patterson
