Should You Supplement Your Child's Diet?

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Not long ago, I was a firm disbeliever in supplements. I thought they were all part of a money making racket, and made up of cheap fillers that made no real difference to your health. I believed that eating a healthy diet of whole foods would meet your bodies nutritional requirements. That was until I had a health scare myself. Many tests were run, but the results that stuck in my head were those that illustrated how deficient in vital vitamins I was. It was shocking.

Since then I have been researching vitamins and other supplements and how best to get what your body requires. First and foremost you need a varied diet of whole foods, plenty of fruit and vegetables and a good source of essential fats such as Chia seeds. Over and above this, due to the way in which fruit and vegetables are grown these days with an abundance of pesticides and only chemically replicated fertilisers, supplements are vital. Our food is just not as nutritious as days gone by.

Source: Pinterest, pinned by Ocyawlil Yram from website Shape.com 

I found that Patrick Holford's books have some of the best information out there concerning what you should be taking, why, and the repercussions of being deficient. He shares plenty of studies showing the improvement of health and wellness after starting a supplement regimen.

So... is it necessary to supplement your child? In a word, yes, it definitely is. But, if your child still gets the bulk of his nutrients / calories from breastmilk then it is unnecessary to supplement him. It is, however, imperative, to ensure that you are taking the correct supplements.

Lets start off with what a breastfeeding mother should be taking to ensure her milk is as nutritious as possible for a growing baby 

(Again, this is according to my research, I welcome comments on whether you disagree or think I have left something off the list)

A good multivitamin and multi-mineral
You really get what you pay for with multivitamins, the cheaper the supplement generally the more laden it is with cheap fillers and un-absorbable nutrients. I have found that among the best are the Patrick Holford range and the Solal Technologies range. It is crucial that your take a multivitamin and mineral daily, especially if you are taking any other vitamins such as Vitamin C, as you can upset the very delicate balance that is your body and make yourself deficient.
A good pro-biotic
Due to the modern diet our guts are in a shocking state. Most modern day foods strip the gut of precious bacterial enzymes, allowing the bad bacteria to flourish resulting in all sorts of complaints from irritable bowel syndrome to thrush. Also, people don't realise that a lot of the bacteria that should be in your gut to help with digestion and produce vitamins such as B12, only stick around for a couple of days and then pass through. It is important to keep replacing these bacteria, and if you are not doing so by eating fermented foods daily and adhering to a very healthy diet then taking a pro-biotic is crucial.
An Omega supplement including GLA (Omega 6), DHA and EPA (Omega 3)
I cannot begin to stress how important fats are for yourself and for your babies growing brain. The brain is mostly made up of essential fatty acids. If you are deficient in fats, it affects your IQ, period. With the modern day diet most of us have a high intake of bad fats, such as saturated fat (fried foods) and a deficiency in essential fats that are found in nuts, seeds and Avocado's. Taking an omega supplement which includes things like salmon oil, flaxseed oil and borage oil helps to keep the brain functioning at an optimal level, also improving things like concentration and mood.
A high dose Vitamin C or Anti-oxidant supplement
Due to the fact that Vitamin C is a water soluble nutrient it is impossible to overdose on it. Taking a high dose vitamin C supplement daily helps to keep your immune system functioning at an optimum level, as well as helping your body fight off baddies such as pollution, heavy metals and pesticides.
Vitamin B complex with folic acid
Vitamin B is essential for keeping up a nursing mothers strength. It is also vital for your babies growth and development. We know how important it is to supplement with folic acid whilst pregnant but it is just as important to do so whilst nursing, it is essential for brain and nerve function.
Garlic oil
There has been much research on the effects of garlic on the immune system and all agree that it has wonderful healing properties. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and is antifungal. This supplement is relatively affordable, and I cannot come up with a reason not to take it.
A 'green' powder such as Aim's Barleylife
Getting the required amount of green vegetables in our diet nowadays is almost impossible. A green powder supplement is generally made from dehydrated barley grass, and is jam-packed full of nourishment as well as fantastic anti-cancer properties. It is worth looking at a green powder that also contains seaweed, especially Spirulina.

Source: Pinterest, pinned by Felicity Humblestone from website  The Costa Rica News

Once your child is getting the bulk of his nutrients from solid food, you need to start supplementing him. His daily supplement schedule should look something like this. 

A good multivitamin and multi-mineral
Again, you get what you pay for with multivitamins and minerals. Most brands have a kid friendly chewable option which makes your life easier. Straight away your mind can rest at ease whilst your child receives the majority of essential nutrients.
A vitamin C supplement
Unfortunately most multivitamins do not contain enough vitamin C, magnesium or calcium, especially kids supplements as vitamin C makes them taste unpleasant and magnesium counteracts the chewiness. It is possible to get a chewable vitamin C that uses calcium / magnesium ascorbate and zinc in drop form, also for adding to drinks and this kills three birds with one stone.
A good pro-biotic
You will be amazed at the difference taking a pro-biotic daily will make to your child's disposition. A happy tummy makes for a happy baby. I have found that the liquid pro-biotics are the easiest to dispense to small children. Simply add them to a beverage or give it to them with a dropper if they will allow that.
A Omega supplement including GLA (Omega 6), DHA and EPA (Omega 3)
So, so, SO important for growing brains. If your family does not already have a high intake of nuts and seeds you will see a drastic improvement in concentration and motor skills in your child in only a couple of days.
Soya lecithin granules
A good source of choline and phospholipids which are essential for brain development. Sprinkle a tablespoon on your childs cereal in the mornings or on any other meal.
Vitamin D
This is a fat soluble vitamin. Prime food sources of this vitamin are egg yolk and fish. An egg only supplies 6% of the RDA and fish doesn't do much better. A good source is sunshine, but if you live in a temperament climate, supplementation is essential.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin which is only stored in the body for a short time. Higher vitamin K intake seems to correspond to greater bone density. Without enough Vitamin K, cavities in teeth, stunted growth and facial deformities can occur, as can gastro-intestinal bleeding and easy bruising.
Ionic iron
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in our society. Iron deficiency is also the most common deficiency in children below the age of 5 due to fussy eating and early weaning. However, iron toxicity can be serious, so you need to be careful about supplementing. Ionic iron is the best supplemental iron because of the absorption rate. Ionic minerals have molecule clusters that are small enough to be fully utilised by the body. For a vegan child, as my child will be until the age of 4 or 5, four teaspoons of ionic iron per day is sufficient.
Vitamin B12 spray
This is a water-soluble vitamin. Bacterial enzymes within our colon produce vitamin B12, but we cant absorb it at that site - we absorb it in the small intestine. This means its highly unlikely that we use the vitamin B12 that is created inside us. It is available in seaweed and in dairy products and eggs. If you, like me are worried about an allergy to egg and are waiting till your child is older to feed him egg then supplementation is vital. The best B12 supplements are those administered sub-lingually (beneath the tongue) for optimum absorption.

With this list you can rest assured that your child is one step closer to perfect health. A


A note on RDA's (Recommended Daily Allowance), these are set as the minimum amount of each nutrient one should be consuming on a day, and not the maximum amount. Therefore, it is best to over supplement than to under-supplement. I have found Patrick Holford's books have the best information on RDA's as well as Evie's Kitchen by Shazzie .

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