Best nutritional supplement for children
Some advice-giving nutritional supplements to children, but what is the best nutritional supplement for children? And should supplements always be used for children?
Children need many vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, but it is often difficult to determine which vitamins and minerals are important to them, so in this article, we will learn about the components of the best nutritional supplement for children.
Best nutritional supplement for children
The best baby food supplement contains the following vitamins and minerals:
1. Vitamin A
The best supplement for children should contain Vitamin A; It helps stimulate bone growth, repair damaged tissue, and promote healthy skin, and vitamin A enhances eyesight and helps you see in dim light.
Children should get between 300 and 400 micrograms of vitamin A daily. You can get vitamin A from dairy products, dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach, and orange vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and mangoes.
2. Vitamin B complex
One of the vitamins contained in the best nutritional supplement for children is the vitamin B complex, which contains vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B12. These vitamins help in the production of red blood cells, enhance metabolism and energy production, and work to maintain the health of the nervous and circulatory systems.
Vitamin B complex can be obtained by eating red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, soy, eggs, and cheese.
The proportions of B-complex vitamins needed for children daily range according to the following table:
Vitamin B | younger than 8 years old | Over 8 years old |
Vitamin B2 | 0.3 - 0.6 milligrams | 0.9 - 1.2 milligrams |
Vitamin B3 | 2 - 8 milligrams | 12 - 14 milligrams |
Vitamin B6 | 0.2 - 0.6 milligrams | 1 - 1.2 milligrams |
Vitamin B12 | 0.4 - 0.9 mcg | 1.2 - 2.4 mcg |
3. Vitamin C
The best food supplement for children contains vitamin C, which is necessary to boost immunity, fight various infections, and strengthen tissues, muscles, and skin, and it also enhances the absorption of iron.
Children need vitamin C daily between 15-25 milligrams, and vitamin C can be obtained by eating citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and kiwis.
4. Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps in the formation of bones and teeth in children and maintains their strength, and enhances the absorption of other minerals such as calcium; Therefore, it is one of the essential vitamins in the best nutritional supplement for children.
Vitamin D can be obtained from fortified foods, such as dairy products and breakfast cereals, but exposure to sunlight is the main source of vitamin D, but be careful not to spend too much time in the sun.
It is worth noting that children under the age of one who is breastfed should get a dose of 8.5-10 mcg per day, and children between the ages of one and 4 years old, they should get 10 mcg of vitamin D per day.
5. Calcium
Calcium is an essential mineral in the best baby food supplement. Because it maintains healthy bones and teeth, not getting enough calcium during childhood may cause weak bones and osteoporosis in later life.
The amount of calcium needed for children ranges between 700-1000 milligrams per day, and calcium can be obtained from dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified orange juice.
6. Iron
One of the minerals necessary to be present in the best nutritional supplement for children is iron, as iron helps to produce and strengthen red blood cells, and build muscle, and the recommended daily ratio for children of iron ranges between 7-10 milligrams, and iron can be obtained from red meat and turkey meat Spinach, beans, and fortified breakfast cereals.
Do all children need a nutritional supplement?
Children who follow a proper diet do not need to use nutritional supplements in most cases, but some cases require the use of nutritional supplements, such as:
- All breastfed infants need vitamin D supplements, unlike infants who drink formula.
- Children who do not eat enough fresh, healthy food.
- The presence of chronic diseases in children such as digestive problems or asthma.
- The need for the child to follow a special diet, such as a vegetarian or dairy-free diet.
- The presence of problems in the development of the child's body.
Tips for giving a nutritional supplement to children
Some tips can be followed when introducing nutritional supplements to children, such as:
- Consult a specialist doctor about the possibility of providing nutritional supplements to children, especially if he is using any medications.
- Provide the appropriate form of supplements for the child, if he does not accept the pills, he can be given the supplements that come in the form of chewable candy or drops.
- Keep nutritional supplements away from children and not call them candy, so that they are not used more than the daily need.
- Give the child supplements that contain fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin D after eating.