As a Mum to a 2 year old, I often ask myself this question. I have seen a ton of kids’ supplements pop up in the aisles at my local chemist and I have also seen them promoted at Baby Expos that I have attended over the years. I understand the benefits of supplements for an adult and I have personally taken them over the years, but is it necessary to give to a child?
We interviewed Lee Holmes, who is a nutritionist and author of the best selling books Supercharged Foods series, on her thoughts about kids supplements as well as talking about the new range of supplements for kids by Southernature.
Do we need to be giving our kids’ supplements?
Vitamin supplements can be truly beneficial to children’s health and development. Kids can be fussy eaters and with the prevalence of allergies on the rise, it is important that we nourish our kids correctly. Not every child needs vitamins and supplements. In an ideal world, kids should get this from a healthy, balanced diet. When that doesn’t happen, health care professionals may recommend supplements.
Shouldn’t kids get enough nutrients from what they eat?
If your child’s diet is restricted due to allergies or taste, supplements are a great way to maintain those nutrient levels that they may not be getting from their food. As a standard, adults and children should be eating fish at least three times a week to get an essential dose of Omega 3, which in most cases, doesn’t happen. In this instance, supplements like Southernature’s Kid’s Omega 3 Plus are a great way to boost their overall wellbeing and keep their nutrient levels in check.
What are the benefits of giving supplements to kids?
Besides providing essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients to kids, there are other benefits to supporting your child’s health and wellbeing through supplementation. Below are some benefits that supplements can provide:
- Calcium Supplements are great for kids because they help with the development of bones and teeth
- Iron can help build muscle and it is essential to the makeup of healthy red blood cells
- Magnesium supports bones, muscle and nerve function and it can improve kids’ sleep, mood and regularity
- Multivitamin Supplements assist with growth, development and physical performance
- Omega 3 Supplements provide kids with healthy brain function and eye and nerve health
- Vitamin A contributes to growth and development, tissue and bone repair and healthy immune responses
- Vitamin B promotes energy production and metabolism efficiencies
- Vitamin C encourages healthy muscles, connective tissue and skin
- Vitamin D is critical for immunity and bone health
- Zinc is another building block for a healthier immune system, which can also support sexual development at puberty
What is so good about the Southernature range?
The Southernature range is made with quality, natural ingredients that are rich with essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. This provides that extra nutritional support that kids may not be getting from their diet. I’m really proud to be an ambassador for this wonderful Australian company. Because they are Australian made, they follow regulatory standards and only use the highest quality and potency ingredients. They even have products that are vegan and vegetarian!
I’m a true believer of healing and nourishing the body from the inside out and that’s why I use Southernature. This is why I recommend Southernature for children, because they deserve the best quality products. They even have great flavours and are easy to swallow, which is perfect for fussy kids!