Top 5 Vitamins and Minerals for Developing Children’s Health
Turn on the TV or cruise through family-centric sites or channels on the internet, and you’re going to run into ads telling you your kids need vitamin supplements. Every nutrition company seems to be touting its gummies or chewable as an essential part of raising a healthy child. With all this talk about vitamin supplements for your children, you’re probably wondering if it’s all advertising or if it’s actually that important for their health. The answer, as you might suspect, lies somewhere in between and is conditional depending on the child and their diet.
The Vitamins And Minerals Your Child Requires As Part Of Their Diet
The truth of the matter is that while it is essential that your child gets the necessary vitamins and minerals to grow up healthy and strong, it doesn’t require supplements. You can achieve the same end by providing your child with a well-balanced diet that includes everything they need. Doing so is best achieved with a diet that includes something like the following:
- Dairy products like yogurt, whole milk, and cheese
- Produce like vegetables and fruit
- Eggs, fish, meat, chicken, beans, or other proteins
- Brown rice, steel-cut oats, and other assorted whole grains
Foods like these form the foundation of a well-rounded diet that will provide them with all the nutrients they need to be healthy. That being said, this isn’t always possible for some families, particularly those living on a tight budget. The expense of whole, healthy foods is significantly higher than that of affordable foods that will fill a belly on a budget. For families like these, a vitamin supplement can be an affordable way of filling in the cracks left. When looking for a supplement for your child, make sure they contain:
- Vitamin A – This vitamin is about more than your eyes; it also contributes to healthy skin, immune responses, bone repair, and the growth and development of tissues.
- B Vitamins – This whole family of vitamins is necessary for a healthy body. Energy production, healthy circulatory systems, metabolism, nervous function, connective tissue, skin, bone, and tooth formation rely on them.
- Calcium – A foundational part of any diet, it’s critical in muscular function, as well as the development of bones and teeth.
- Iron – Critical to the development of blood cells and muscles and especially important for menstruating women.
One thing you need to keep in mind while looking for a vitamin is to avoid megavitamins. These vitamins contain large doses of the vitamins included, beyond that necessary for your daily requirements. While this can be useful for adults in certain controlled situations, it can be toxic for your children. This goes double for iron. Too much of a beneficial thing is definitely a problem.
Want More Tips About Keeping Your Child Healthy?
Contact your dentist and other medical providers to ensure that your child develops well. The vitamins listed above do more than just help your child develop a healthy smile; they’re essential for their whole body health. Call today to schedule a consultation!
April Toyer, DDS, FAAPD
The team at Lifetime Dental Care brings a full range of services to patients in and around the Woodbridge, VA area. These four doctors bring a range of experience, diverse backgrounds, and professional knowledge together to provide families with a safe and friendly home for their oral health needs.