Vitamin B12, which is important for manufacturing red blood cells, is not found in plant foods. If you don’t eat meat, you can find vitamin B12 in eggs, milk and other dairy foods, and fortified breakfast cereals. Vegans (vegetarians who eat no animal products at all, including dairy products) may need to take vitamin supplements.
Here are 5 simple reasons you should give your child a multivitamin:
- Gaps be gone! A multivitamin supplement is just that – a way to “supplement” your child’s diet and fill any potential nutritional gaps. A nutritional gap is a shortage of any one vitamin or mineral and can affect optimal health. All types of eaters, from the pickiest of the picky to the bottomless pits may have some nutritional gaps and can benefit from the daily nutrition provided by a multivitamin.
- Strong bones & bright smiles. Multivitamins that contain calcium and vitamin D provide kids with the primary mineral (calcium) needed for strong bones and pearly whites, and an essential vitamin (D) to help their growing bodies absorb the calcium. Getting enough of this vitamin-mineral combination is especially essential during early childhood and adolescence, when most of a person’s bone mass is formed.
- Healthy, happy kids. Vitamins like A, C, D and E are staples in our children’s multis, and each of them is so important for supporting immune health all year long. Multivitamins can contribute to antioxidant health and help keep your child’s immune system healthy and fortified.
- Fuel for play. Kids need energy from the right sources to fuel their active days – and not the temporary “energy” that comes from tons of sugar (and the inevitable crash that follows). Multivitamins are rich in B vitamins can help them convert food into energy. Just like adults, growing children need to replenish their supply of B vitamins daily, so they can support energy metabolism and enjoy their busy, fun-filled days to the fullest.
- Establishes healthy habits early. The regular replenishment of vitamins and minerals is essential to health and vitality, and this is especially true in the growing, changing-every-day bodies of children. Kids who grow up taking their vitamins every day are much more likely to continue this healthy habit into adulthood.
Julie this has all be great information. I know that Vegetarian Naturals produces two great vitamins. Kids Whole Life™ OMEGA & DHA Gummies and Bear Necessities Multivitamin Gummies. My last question is about the Omega & DHA. Can you share with us what this is and why it is important?
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty layers of cold-water fish and shellfish, plant and nut oils, English walnuts, flaxseed, algae oils, and fortified foods. DHA is an acronym for the nutrient docosahexaenoic acid, an Omega-3 fatty acid. (No wonder they abbreviate it.) Many studies suggest that Omega & DHA supplements offer several benefits for children.
May improve symptoms of ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition linked to symptoms like hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and difficulty focusing (5Trusted Source).
Some research indicates that Omega & DHA supplements may help decrease ADHD symptoms in children.
A review of 16 studies revealed that Omega & DHA improved memory, attention, learning, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, all of which are often affected by ADHD (6Trusted Source).
A 16-week study in 79 boys showed that taking 1,300 mg of Omega & DHA daily improved attention in those with and without ADHD (7Trusted Source).
What’s more, a large review of 52 studies concluded that dietary modifications and fish oil supplements were two of the most promising techniques to reduce ADHD symptoms in children (8Trusted Source).
Could reduce asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects children and adults, causing symptoms like chest pain, breathing difficulties, coughing, and wheezing (9Trusted Source).
Some studies have found that Omega & DHA supplements help relieve these symptoms.
For instance, a 10-month study in 29 children noted that taking a fish-oil capsule containing 120 mg of combined DHA and EPA daily helped decrease symptoms of asthma (10Trusted Source).
Another study in 135 children associated a higher intake of Omega & DHA with a reduction in asthma symptoms caused by indoor air pollution (11Trusted Source).
Other studies reveal a possible link between Omega & DHA and a lower risk of asthma in children (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
Promotes better sleep
Sleep disturbances affect nearly 4% of children under age 18 (14Trusted Source).
One study in 395 children tied lower blood levels of Omega & DHA to a higher risk of sleep problems. It also found that supplementing with 600 mg of DHA over 16 weeks decreased sleep interruptions and led to nearly 1 more hour of sleep per night (15Trusted Source).
Other research suggests that consuming more Omega & DHA during pregnancy could improve sleep patterns in infants (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).
