Vitamins and minerals are very important for children. They support their growth, development, and overall wellbeing. Ideally, kids should get their vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet that includes:
-Dairy products like cheese and yogurt
-A lot of fresh fruits and leafy vegetables
-Protein like chicken, fish, meat, and eggs
-Whole grains like oats and brown rice
But, to give your child high-nutrient food all the time can be a challenge. And especially if you have a picky eater.
Which kids need more vitamin supplements?
Pediatricians may recommend a daily multivitamin supplement for:
- Children on vegetarian or vegan diet. These kids are potentially at risk for iron deficiency and B12 deficiency.
- Breastfed infants and babies drinking less than 1 liter of baby formula. These children are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
- Kids with chronic medical conditions and digestive problems.
- Kids eating a lot of fast food and drinking a lot of carbonated sodas, which can leach vitamins and minerals from their bodies.
- Kids with food allergies.
- Picky eaters.
Soil depletion
Unfortunately, vitamins and minerals in the soil have been gradually degraded over hundreds of years. It means less and less of micro-nutrients are making their way into the food we eat. In fact, to get the same amount of vitamins from an orange as our grandparents would have done, we would need to eat eight oranges today.
The NHS recommends that people eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, but some studies show that this number needs to be much higher, as high as 10 in order to get enough nutrients.
What are the most important vitamins for children?
Children need to get a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. However, the following vitamins are especially important for kids' growing bodies:
Vitamin A. Supports healthy eyesight, skin, normal growth and tissue repair.
Vitamin C. Supports a healthy immune system.
B vitamins. Support healthy nervous system, energy level.
Vitamin D. Helps the body build and maintain strong teeth and bones, supports immune system.
Calcium. Helps develop strong bones and teeth.
Iron. Important for production of blood cells and hormones, supports energy level.
Zinc. Supports immune system and healthy growth of child.
That being said, vitamin supplementation is important for children, because it can be difficult to get enough of the nutrient through diet. Especially it is important to support your child’s health during the cold season and to prevent sickness.
When it comes to taking vitamins, you should choose vitamins according to your child’s age and it should be a safe option. If they can not swallow a capsule its better to choose gummies or liquid. We recommend to try out chewable Kids Multivitamin Gummies by Dr.Moritz. They contain 14 essential nutrients and are very delicious.
