Do Healthy Children Need Supplements and Vitamins?

More and more child supplement advertisements have sprung up with claims to meet their nutritional needs. But is it true that every child needs daily supplements or vitamins? Experts answer "not necessarily". Ideally, these children get vitamins through a balanced and healthy diet derived from milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt, fresh fruits and green vegetables, proteins such as chicken, fish, meat, and eggs, and whole grains like wheat and brown rice. Then, who needs supplements? Come on, read more here ...

Special Conditions
Because many parents do not have time to process food needed by children, pediatricians also recommend a daily multivitamin or mineral supplement to:

• Children who do not eat food regularly and balanced portions are made from fresh and whole foods.
• Picky eater children who do not eat enough vegetables and fruit.
• Children with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or digestive problems, especially if they are taking medication. Be sure to consult with your pediatrician before starting supplement if your child is being treated.
• Children who consume a lot of fast food, good food, and processed foods.
• Children are vegetarian or vegan but may need an iron supplement, a milk-free diet but need a calcium supplement, or take another restricted diet.
• Children who drink lots of carbonated soda cause the release of vitamins and minerals from their bodies.

The six most important
There are vitamins and minerals in alphabetical order which are very important for children's growth, as reported by the Webmd.com page.

• Vitamin A for normal body growth and development, tissue and bone repair, and skin, eye and immune health. Recommended sources of vitamin A include milk, cheese, eggs, and yellow to orange vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin.

• Vitamin B complex (B2, B3, B6, and B12) can help metabolize, produce energy, and have a healthy circulatory and nervous system. Good sources include meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, beans, and soy.
• Vitamin C for healthy muscles, connective tissue and skin. Good sources include oranges, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, and green vegetables like broccoli.
• Minerals for the formation of bones and teeth and help the body absorb calcium. Good sources include milk and fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight.
• Calcium helps build strong bones as the child grows. The best sources include milk, cheese, yogurt, tofu, and calcium-fortified orange juice.
• Iron builds muscle and is essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells. Iron deficiency will pose a risk in adolescence, especially for girls once they start menstruation. Good sources include beef and other red meat, turkey, spinach, beans, and plums. 

On the other hand, avoid megavitamins (large doses of vitamins) for children. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) can be toxic if children consume too much.

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