How Do I Choose the Right Multivitamin for My Child?
By Tara Prien
We all want our children to be healthy and happy. We want them to develop and grow into smart, health-conscious and successful adults who get the most out of their lives. This begins with making the right choices about nourishment and nutrition when they are young.
As parents and guardians, we would all love to provide our kids’ vitamins and minerals from natural raw sources, but the demands of life today oftentimes make that difficult for many families. Luckily, there is help. Children can take a daily multivitamin to easily supplement their nutrient needs. However – the vitamin market is overflowing with hundreds of choices of kids’ multivitamins. How do we begin to know which is the best choice?
Many products advertise that they use natural sources for their supplements combined into one convenient and attractive pill. Some even come in the shape of animals or cartoon characters to lure us – or more cleverly – our children in. Remember, it’s not about the packaging – it’s about whether that package contains the right multivitamin that kids need today.
Information is power, so we must read the labels. What ingredients does the multivitamin contain? Is it easy for the body to absorb so kids actually get the doses its label claims? Is it checked to ensure quality and prevent the presence of elements that are not supposed to be in the multivitamin?
With so many choices in the children’s vitamin market today, we need easy to follow guidelines for choosing the best multivitamin for kids. Below are lists of what to avoid, what to require and which vitamins and minerals are vital for children’s health and development.
What to watch out for:
Artificial or unnecessary sugar - you want a vitamin, not candy.
Additives that you don’t recognize - what is titanium dioxide really?
Dyes - many studies link these to allergies and hyperactivity in children.
Preservatives - linked to health problems (cancer) over time.
What to look for:
Organically sourced natural ingredients such as fruits and vegetables.
Easy to take - chewable and tasty with only natural flavors and sweeteners.
Tested by third parties for quality control.
The Essentials of Children’s Multivitamins
Vitamin A - supports the immune system, strong eyesight and healthy cells
Vitamin C - supports the immune system and overall health
Vitamin D - supports the immune system and strong bone development
Vitamin E - supports the immune system, strong eyesight and heart health
Vitamin B’s - support concentration, mood, sleep, energy, cell growth & skin
Calcium - supports strong bones and overall development
Riboflavin - supports eyesight, energy and cell growth
Iodine - supports healthy thyroid function
Zinc - supports the immune system and healing
Selenium - supports healthy sleep and mood and reduces inflammation
Manganese - supports healthy metabolism and reduces inflammation
Nourishment is vital for healthy development. Unfortunately, we live in a world that tempts children with junk food, sugar addiction and imbalanced diets. Even the most health-conscious parents should choose a daily multivitamin to ensure that their children are getting all of the essential nutrients their bodies need, and the best supplemental vitamins and minerals are sourced directly from natural foods. If a child does follow a well-balanced diet, would any parent deny them an extra helping of berries or broccoli? Don’t all parents wish their kids would eat a little more kale?
A natural multivitamin made from fruits and vegetables boosts kids’ essential vitamins and minerals intake in a natural way and helps to ensure there are no gaps in their nutrient needs.