Facts About Vitamins for Kids
According to KidsHealth.org, as long as children eat a good variety of foods, their bodies will absorb all the different types of vitamins needed to be healthy. Although most children don't need to take supplements, vitamins are important because they provide energy for the body, create stronger muscles and bones, and produce healthy red blood cells and tissues. Because most young children are picky eaters, it's important to make sure their growing bodies are getting the proper nutrients.
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Essential Vitamins
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Vitamin A strengthens the body's immune system so it can fight off infection or illness more easily. Dark green and orange vegetables and fruit provide antioxidants. These are a different type of Vitamin A that is important in maintaining healthy cells. B Vitamins (which include B1, B2 and B6) produce energy for the body. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the production of red blood cells and a healthy nervous system. Folic acid is needed for the formation of red blood cells and healthy DNA production. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and produces healthy gums and cells. Vitamin E keeps the heart healthy. Vitamin D strengthens the bones and teeth.
Statistics
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Ninety-eight percent of children do not eat the appropriate amount of servings daily from each food group. Only three out of 10 boys and one out of 10 girls are getting the proper amount of calcium during a crucial time of growth. Because of these revealing statistics, many young boys and girls take a multivitamin every day.
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Infants
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Many breast-fed babies need a daily supplement of 200 IU of Vitamin D. This vitamin is absorbed by the human body from the sun. Since most babies are kept out of the sun, this vitamin may be lacking. Besides strengthening bones, sufficient intake of Vitamin D is also thought to benefit children later in life by preventing breast and colon cancers and Parkinson's disease. Bottle-fed babies do not need a Vitamin D supplement because baby formulas are already fortified with all necessary vitamins.
When to Take Supplements
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A good time to start giving vitamin supplements to children is after they have turned one. If parents give a special formula to their toddlers, they should already be getting a sufficient amount of necessary vitamins. Multivitamins given to children from ages 1 to 3 can potentially benefit them as they get older because these are the critical years when the brain and body are growing at a fast pace.
Good to Know
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Stay away from vitamin supplements that remind children of candy so as not to encourage a bad habit. Pay attention to the information contained on a multivitamin label and avoid certain additives such as hydrogenated vegetable oil, artificial flavors, aspartame, gelatin, sugar, artificial flavors, and others. An effective vitamin supplement should contain at least 50 to 100 percent of the recommended daily intake of several important vitamins and minerals.
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References
- Photo Credit Leonor Crossley
