Health companies with gimmicky products and fun characters are good at marketing to your child but are their products really effective? How do you ensure your child's supplement actually works and isn't just a sugary snack?
Should My Child Take Vitamins?
Vitamins and Minerals
Children’s diets aren’t perfect. They aren’t even close. Even if you have been blessed with a child who willingly eats fruits and vegetables, there are so many other factors that dictate how much of this gets absorbed and utilized by the body. This can be an issue for growing children who need optimal amounts of a wide range of nutrients to keep bugs at bay and promote proper growth and development. This is why supplementation is usually recommended.
Studies have been found to show the benefit of vitamin and mineral supplementation. Children over the age of eight who supplement with a multivitamin were found to have added micronutrients to their diet that would have otherwise been inadequate for their recommended daily intake of vitamins A, C, and E, phosphorus, and magnesium, according to a 2015 study(3). The study also found that supplement users had higher micronutrient intakes than those who did not supplement.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are just as important for growing children due to their integral role in the growth and maturation of the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids contain DHA and EPA, both of which are found in fish and seafood. As children don't often consume enough of these foods, supplementation is a great way to boost this essential nutrient.
Studies show an improvement in behavior and cognition in children who supplement with DHA(1). According to a 2015 study, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids may help support better learning. (2) The study showed that children who are supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids had a better attention span than those who did not.
How to Choose the Right Supplement
Choosing the right vitamin is just as important as putting your child on one in the first place. The wrong supplement can do more harm to your child than good if it contains synthetic additives such as artificial coloring and preservatives, which have been linked to behavioral problems(4).
Popular gummy vitamins might seem like a good choice for picky eaters, but it is important to do your research as many are full of harmful ingredients. Beware of children’s gummy vitamins that contain artificial coloring such as red dye 40 and yellow 6. Also, watch out for hidden sugar lurking in the coating of your child’s vitamins. No vitamin should ever contain sugar of any kind. Sugar may come in the form of glucose syrup, sucrose, fructose or artificial flavors.
Why Xtendlife Children's Supplements?
The best children’s vitamins contain no hidden chemicals, and Xtendlife's children's supplements are just that. Containing no nasty additives, artificial colors, or flavors, they provide clean nutrition for your child’s growing body and mind.
Total Balance Children’s contains the perfect amount of vitamins and minerals in the right nutritional forms to perfectly meet the needs of your child’s recommended daily intake. The goal of Total Balance Children’s is to offer support to children who may not be getting what they need from their diet alone, providing your child with proper nutrition for cell regeneration, immune support, coordination, and concentration.
Omega 3/DHA Children's is our recommended pairing with Total Balance Children's. It is a specially formulated children's blend that is pure, safe, and easy to swallow. Omega-3 fatty acids are needed to improve your child’s attention span and ensure they have the focus they need to succeed in school. Xtendlife is proud to promote a product that features omega-3 fatty acids from clean waters and sustainable fisheries for the optimal amount of fatty acid nutrition.
Our pure and pristine oil is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives that are lurking in other children’s products. We pay special attention to important oxidation processes that may hamper the quality of our product, ensuring your child is guaranteed freshness and the highest quality fish oil possible.
Your child’s focus and development starts with good nutrition. Choose superior supplementation for improved appetite, learning, and immunity; and equip your child for better performance in school and good health that lasts a lifetime.
In good health.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3738999/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3738999/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=journal+pediatrics+Bailey+Fulgoni+micronutrient+sufficiency
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22928358