Which Nutrients Does My Young Child Need?
For growing children, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids are especially important. Children who have difficulty eating healthy foods—such as vegetables, fruit, and fish—may not get the recommended daily intake of nutrients.
For babies and toddlers, additional vitamin D is recommended, since bone and tooth development occurs at a rapid pace during this phase compared to later stages of life. For some children, a multivitamin can be a useful supplement, especially if you are unsure whether your child eats enough healthy food every day.
There are also probiotics specifically designed for children. In addition, the essential omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are important for the normal visual development of infants up to 12 months of age, while iron is important for the normal cognitive development of children.
These nutrients naturally occur in fatty fish, but they can also be supplemented through products such as fish oil, algae oil, or cod liver oil.
Which Nutrients Does My Teenager Need?
Just like in the early stages of life, your child’s body works overtime during the teenage years—this time due to growth spurts and cognitive and hormonal development.
Several nutrients are particularly important during this phase. Iron supports the production of red blood cells and can be especially important for girls who start menstruating. B vitamins and vitamin C help reduce fatigue and support energy levels.
Vitamins A, B2, B3, B8, C, and zinc contribute to healthy skin. Iron, iodine, and zinc support concentration and memory. Finally, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium are important for bones and muscles.
How Do I Recognize a Good Supplement for My Child?
Choosing a supplement for your child can be challenging because there is so much choice. Since it concerns your child’s health, you naturally want to be sure you select a good product.
What should you look for? First of all, focus less on the brand and more on the ingredients and their quantities. Every supplement has a different composition, and it is important that the product contains the nutrients that are recommended for your child according to established guidelines.
It is also wise to look at the quality of the nutrients used. Are the vitamins natural, bioactive, or synthetic? In addition, you will want as few additives as possible, including sweeteners, colorings, and fillers.
Never give your child a supplement or (multi)vitamin intended for adults unless it is specifically stated that it is also suitable for children. The dosages in adult supplements are not tailored to a child’s body.
Natural Supplements for Children and Teenagers
For growing children, it is therefore very important that they receive sufficient vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and support proper development. Most children get enough nutrients from a balanced diet, but in some cases supplements containing vitamins or minerals may be helpful.
Ergomax has selected a number of high-quality supplements specifically designed for children and teenagers. For children ages 5 and up, Kids Multivitamin chewable tablets from Seeking Health or MegaFood's Kids One Daily – Multivitamins are good options.
