Most children are fussy eaters, and given the choice, they would pick a bag of lollies over a plate of vegetables anyday!
When children are very young, we have complete control over what they eat, but as they get older it gets more difficult to ensure they only eat wholesome and healthy food. Kids develp their own tastes and quickly voice their opinion on what they do not like and will often downright refuse to eat what we put in front of them.
Children are not simply smaller versions of us. Their nutritional needs are vastly different. Adults need to maintain and nourish what we have, but children are develping and building the bodies that will carry them through their adult life.
Supplements can be an investment in their development, especially if your child is turning out to be a fussy eater.
The key nutrients children need for healthy growth and development:-
Vitamin A – plays an important role in the development of enamel layer in teeth.
Vitamin C – aids in forming collagen in bones, helps in keeping gums healthy, reduces allergic reactions and promotes fast wound healing, by ‘glueing’ cells together to reduce the risk of foreign organisms pentrating the wound.
Vitamin D – is one of the most important vitamins for children as it allows calcium to be absorbed the vital building block for strong bones. It also helps control blood sugar and boosts immune function.
Vitamin E – is an important nutrient for healthy skin, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and boosts resistance to infections.
Calcium – is the building blocks of strong, healthy bones, and with 90% of bone mass being created by the age of 17, adequate calcium intake is imperative for children.
B Group Vitamins – assist the body with energy production, but most importantly brain and neveous system function.
Magnesium – one of the most vital minerals for coping with stress and tension.
Carotenoids – are powerful antioxidants that keep the immume system functioning at it’s best, boost eye function, and assist with growth and repair of tissue.
In a perfect world children would eat a well-balanced diet, consiting only of farm fresh produce, wholegrains, never have sugary foods or takeaway. As that is simply not reality for many, and fussy eaters will make the task of providing adequate nourishment impossible.
In the past getting a child to take a multi-vitamin required crushing, hiding, and devious disguising as children and tablet taking just don’t mix. Fortunately manufacturers of wonderful vitamin products have got smart, and now their daily dose comes in gel like forms that can be ‘mistaken’ for a lolly or in good tasting fun shaped chews. This really is a break through in convenience. Follow the guidelines on the bottles and just like medication, keep them out of your childs reach as they might try eating the whole bottles worth in one sitting.
For peace of mind, I get my girls to take a daily multi-vitamin, to me it is insurance for their future health.
Do you give your children a vitamin supplement? Do you take supplements like L-Arginin 4500, vitamins and minerals yourself? Share your experience, please.
I often think about giving my boys supplements and for a while I’ll be all super organised and make sure they take one every day, but then it always seems to fall by the wayside.
For us, it is just like brushing your teeth, you just do it each day 🙂
Teenagers can also consume supplements for body building but one thing they should keep in mind before buying any type of supplements that always buy organic products and should take in a proper manner that will help you to getting more fat and energy.