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Should You Be Giving Your Child a Vitamin

Giving Your Child a Vitamin

Every parent wants their child to be healthy, and they do all they can to ensure just that. One way parents ensure optimal development is by giving their kids the right vitamins and supplements to boost their immunity and keep them healthy all year round. While some vitamins can be produced only in our bodies, others come from external sources.

 

How Important Vitamins Are

Over the years, some of the worries of many parents revolve around whether to give their children vitamin support or not. Of course, parents want the best for their kids, but they also don't want to be wrong. Children require nutrients in the right amount for proper physical growth, brain development, organ growth, and overall well-being. Sometimes, all these nutrients are not present enough in their daily diet, so extra support is needed. 

Vitamins are essential for support and development, with Vitamin A,  Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D taking the topmost place in their importance. Each of them has its unique functionalities and immense contribution to the overall well-being of the body. Generally, most growing kids don't need very high vitamin amounts as we think. A healthy balanced diet should be enough to produce the daily required vitamin amounts but if you have a baby with iron deficiencies, Funch Australia - Baby Rice Cereal could be a good way to introduce them to solid foods.

Types of Vitamins 

Vitamins can come in one of two types:  organic and synthetic. Anything extracted directly from fresh produce, like organic vitamins for kids, comes directly from food and real food sources, while synthetic vitamins are made from chemicals pharmaceutically. The latter group is considered less healthy than the former, and they are mostly sold as supplements. Although some supplements can be organic too if made from food sources, organic supplements are generally less common, and most buyers find it difficult to differentiate between the two.

More on Organic Vitamins

Vitamins are present in a wide range of common and healthy food sources. Vitamin A, responsible for strengthening your children's immune system and helping their long and short-range vision, can be derived from food sources such as carrots, mangoes, and sweet potatoes.  Vitamin C, which is about your kids’ overall health and healing cuts and wounds (we all know children play a little dangerous), is present in broccoli, oranges, and tomatoes. 

Vitamin D is found in eggs and oily fish, but the best source of this nutrient is the morning sun, and it specifically sees the well-being of the skin. Vitamins play a huge role in your children's development. However, parents need to be careful and seek the advice of professionals to prevent any mishaps. This is because even adults only need small amounts. Ultimately, healthier choices should be made to improve the overall well-being and productivity of your children.

Are They Healthier?

Consuming natural vitamins is a healthier choice than using pharmaceutically manufactured supplements. Usage of large doses of vitamins can cause nausea, headache, and many other problems. 

Vitamin C overuse has been directly linked to the formation of kidney stones. These are medical conditions that you don't want to expose your children to because of recklessness and bad decision-making. If your children eat well, play well, are very active and functional, and don't notice any form of illness, they probably don't need extra supplements. A well-balanced diet should be enough.

Although the need for nutrients gotten directly from food has been discussed, but supplements  are necessary if your child falls under any of these categories:

  • The picky eaters: if your child doesn't eat well, maybe because they don't just like food, or they find the idea of having to eat every time boring, you have to get the supplements. They may not get the needed nutrients from food since they are not eating enough.

  • Allergies: if your child is allergic to foods that are main vitamin sources. You don't want him or her lacking nutrients because they are naturally unable to eat or process some certain kind of food. Get supplements.

  • Health conditions: if your child has a certain condition that affects growth or any other type of illness, there might be a need to get supplements on your child's doctor’s recommendations. Most people are encouraged to but Vitamin C supplements when recovering from fractures.

  • Restrictive/ Limiting diet: if your child is a vegetarian or for some reason is restricted from eating vitamin-rich foods, it is advisable to get supplements. The body doesn't produce most of these nutrients, so they have to come from external sources.

Lastly, please always inform your child’s pediatrist first before introducing any major supplementation in your child’s diet. If you notice any side-effects, don’t hesitate to call or visit your primary care physician.