Guest Post : Read This Before Giving Your Family Another Supplement

Nutritional supplements are becoming widely popular, as many people now realize the value of acquiring the nutrition they lack from their diet. As a parent, this may be one of your top priorities. After all, no parent wants his or her child to go through life lacking in essential nutrients!

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 How to Add a Supplement into Your Family’s Routine: A Few Simple Tips

Taking a nutritional supplement is recommended, especially if your family often consumes processed meals, junk foods, and fast food. But not all families are very keen on sticking to a daily routine of supplementation. Children, especially, may stubbornly refuse to take a supplement.

Here are a few helpful tips to remember before giving any supplement to your family: 

Consult your physician before taking any supplement. Learn the appropriate dosage, side effects, and contraindications. This is especially important if any of your children are taking any medications or have a medical condition. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should also consult a physician to find out if the supplement is safe for you to take.

Choose the supplement form that your family would be most comfortable taking. Supplements are available mostly in capsule form, but there are a few types that can also be bought in powder or liquid form. If you have small children who have difficulty swallowing pills, then these other forms may be a better option.

Familiarize your family, including your children, with the supplement. Many people usually become apprehensive of lesser-known supplements, especially if they are mostly exposed to common supplements like vitamin C or vitamin E. Tell them more about the supplement before asking them to take it. Make sure they know the appropriate dosage and potential side effects.

Don’t force any of your children to take the supplement. This may cause your child to rebel and lose their appetite. Instead, talk to them gently about the supplement and highlight the reasons why they should take it. You can also set an example by showing them that you are taking the supplement, too.

Mix the supplement in food. Some supplements have a strong and weird aftertaste. If possible, try mixing the supplement in your children’s food. Don’t subject the supplement to high temperatures, though, or its nutritional properties may be reduced.

Aside from the usual multivitamins and vitamin C dietary supplements that are sold on the market today, you should also take a look at emerging nutritional supplements, such as organic chlorella and spirulina.

Organic chlorella is a blue-green algae that thrives in freshwater. It contains high amounts of chlorophyll, the pigment used by the sun during photosynthesis to make energy.

Chlorella benefits are still being studied today, and yet this algae is already popular in many Asian countries especially Japan, where seven million people take it on a daily basis.

Always Make Sure That the Supplement is High-Quality

Before buying any supplement, though, you must check for its potency and quality. Many low-quality supplements go through poor manufacturing processes and contain synthetic vitamins and minerals that do nothing for your child’s health.

Another issue with low-quality supplements is that they contain “flow agents”. These prevent the ingredients from sticking to the equipment when being mixed or compressed, making processing quicker and easier.

Many of these flow agents are potentially harmful. One example is magnesium stearate, a compound made by adding a magnesium ion to stearic acid. It may also contain GMO ingredients, since magnesium stearate is made from hydrogenated oils like cottonseed oil, which is not only genetically engineered, but also contains pesticide residues.

A reminder: don’t just rely on nutritional supplements to achieve optimal health. Remember the other important pillars of good health: a balanced diet, proper exercise, adequate sleep, and effective stress management.

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About the Author:

Elaine Rosales writes health articles for Mercola.com. She is currently researching natural health products, as well as emerging supplements like organic chlorella and spirulina.