Making sure your kids are getting enough nutrients is essential for their healthy growth. Micronutrients like vitamins are not always produced by the body naturally, so it is important to ensure children get the proper nutrition levels through their diet and supplements. Read on for tips to help you find the best supplements, like organic infant probiotics and multivitamins for your kiddos.
How To Read Labels
Knowing how to read food labels will help you find the right organic supplement for your child’s needs. It’s crucial to remember ingesting too much of any micronutrient can lead to vitamin toxicity. Pay attention to both the serving information and the daily value information to avoid taking too much of a vitamin or supplement.
The serving information will give you a recommended serving size for your child. All the nutrition information on the food label is based on one supplement serving. Once you know how much to give your child, look at the daily value information, often located at the bottom of the label. This part of the label tells you how much one serving of the supplement meets a daily dosage of that particular micronutrient.
Ingredients To Avoid
One of the pros of opting for organic supplements over non-organic supplements is you know that the products are free from pesticides, insecticides or other synthetic ingredients. Make sure to look for a USDA organic label, certifying that the vitamins have been made under the strict conditions that keep the product free from inorganic elements.
Some specific ingredients to keep an eye out for include:
- Magnesium silicate and titanium dioxide. These additives have no nutritional value and are used to whiten the appearance of vitamins and supplements. The colorants can have adverse side effects if ingested regularly.
- Certain colorings and artificial flavors. Colors such as Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Red 40 are often added to children’s vitamins to make them look more appealing. Artificial sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, which can be labeled as a natural flavor, are used to enhance the flavor of supplements.
Finding the Right Vitamins for Your Child
Some children may need a complete multivitamin that helps boost their overall micronutrient levels, especially if they are picky about eating fruits and vegetables. But not all kids need a high dose of every vitamin. Talk with your pediatrician to determine what areas of your child’s diet may need an extra boost.
For example, if your kid doesn’t eat a lot of meat by preference or because they are vegetarian, you may want to consider vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B or iron supplements. If your child struggles to eat leafy vegetables or fruits, they may need to take vitamin C, vitamin K or vitamin E.
Whether adding vitamin C drops or an organic multivitamin to your child’s diet, understanding how to choose the best supplements ensures safety and helps keep your kiddo healthy. Be proactive in taking care of your children’s nutrition and find the right organic products for your kid.
