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Vitamins & Dietary Supplements
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| Yes | 65% | 90 votes | Total: 138 votes | |
| No | 35% | 48 votes |
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Add to FavoritesDo Children Need Vitamin Supplements?
Humans are omnivores. An omnivore can process a high variety of foods. We consume not only meat and protein like carnivores, but also plants and carbohydrates like herbivores. This gives our bodies a substantial amount of chemical alternatives which it can utilize to build healthy tissues throughout our infrastructure.
However, the process only works well if we actually consume the variety of foods our body is capable of processing. Unfortunately, in our modern world we seem to bypass much of that diversity, especially our children. When children are thirsty many drink soda pop which is basically processed sugar and water with a little artificial flavor thrown in. When they are hungry many gravitate toward junk foods or the same foods much of the time with little variation. This does not give their body enough selection of raw materials for it to complete the tasks necessary to grow and maintain itself correctly.
Are vitamin supplements the answer? If we admit to the reality of our eating habits, yes. Are they the best answer? Not really. The best answer would be for all of us to eat a perfectly balanced diet made up of a combination of foods containing all the minerals and vitamins necessary for our bodies to maintain themselves and remain healthy. Will that ever happen? Not likely. Vitamin and mineral supplements are the next best thing.
Have you ever noticed how many species of pets can live a long healthy life eating almost exclusively one type of food? Scientists have studied specific genres of animals and determined what combination of vitamins and minerals must be consumed by that particular animal type to survive. Its food is then prepared using these ingredients and contains everything necessary for that animals health.
Doctors and scientists have undertaken the same studies regarding humans, determining the best combination of vitamins and minerals necessary for our survival. The minimum amount of these is contained in a one-a-day vitamin. If we are not going to eat a perfectly balanced diet, taking these supplements can give us some of the minerals that are absent from our insufficiently diversified food intake, thus providing our bodies with the necessary building blocks to remain healthy.
Children especially need a diverse intake of vitamins and minerals as their bodies are not only maintaining themselves but growing into adulthood. A one-a-day vitamin contains many of the chemicals necessary to form good healthy organs, bones and other tissues. Sometimes a specific vitamin or mineral is deficient in certain children due to diet or heredity. Once this deficiency is discovered, specific supplements can be consumed to correct it.
I would recommend a one-a-day vitamin for every child. I believe if a comprehensive study was done it would reveal less health problems for children who take them versus children who do not.
Learn more about this author, James Dreamer.
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No
Vitamin supplements are great way to get an extra boost you need, especially if you are very busy and can't always make the time to eat properly. But just like you can become dependent on drugs(street and prescription), alcohol and tobacco, you can become dependent on vitamins. Taking too many vitamins supplements, or getting too much of one particular vitamin or mineral can be very hazardous to your health. You could actually become sick taking vitamins. But aren't they supposed to be good for you? Yes, but you have to know what you are doing. Talking to a doctor, reading books and consulting a nutritionist is the best way to go about making sure you are doing a good thing for your body.
My opinion is really split on this one but I am voting "No" because if you are feeding your child a nutritious diet, one with plenty of meat, eggs, milk, cheese, fruits and vegetables then they should be getting the recommended amount of vitamins, minerals, protein and iron they need. Don't let them fill up on junk food or fast food. No skipping meals. Of course this is in a perfect world where life isn't moving so fast and you have time to cook nutritious meals for your children. Breakfast and dinner aren't rushed because of running for the bus, homework and extracurricular activities. Your children actually eat the school lunch or the lunch you pack. There are no problems with allergies, picky eating or aversion to certain foods. But we don't live in that perfect world. I am not going to tell parents to ignore what the pediatrician has to say. Definitely heed the doctor's advice. You should have good communication with your child's doctor and let the doctor know about the child's eating habits, your eating habits and the family's lifestyle. Why is all of this important?
Believe it or not, the whole family's eating habits, especially the parent's eating habits will influence how the children will eat. Here's a scenario: Dad hates spinach. Mom likes it and prepares it for dinner with the entree. Now don't bet on the child to follow Mom. He or she may follow Dad. Next scenario: Mom is dieting and eats small portions. She won't eat certain foods, even if they are healthy for her to eat depending on the diet she is on. She complains about her body and weight. The child may end up eating just as much as Mom or even less . . . because they want to be on a diet too. If an adult has body image problems, and their eating reflects that, the child could eventually pick up on it and mirror the parent's symptoms. Children are very perceptive and by a certain age mimic what their parent's and older siblings do. They are learning but you want to be able to teach them healthy habits that will follow them all their life.
But just because someone in the family doesn't like a particular food, doesn't mean everyone else in the family has to follow suit. Everyone's habits are different and should be, just try to encourage your children to eat well. Introduce new foods to your children and encourage them to try new things even if they are somewhere else and it's not something you would necessarily prepare for your family's meal. Instruct them: They cannot say they don't like something unless they try it once. But the only way to get this to work is to lead by example. This means to explore new foods with your child. Tell them that even if you don't like a certain food, it doesn't mean they have to not like it as well. It's okay if they love broccoli but Mom hates it. But you may find that there are foods you've never tried but end up loving!
One thing you cannot control is if your child is allergic to a certain type of food. You have to be careful not only at home, but also at school, restaurants, friend's homes and family's homes. Anything you prepare must not contain that ingredient and if you and the rest of your family like that particular food then you would have to prepare separate meals. This can be very hard, especially if you don't have a lot of time to prepare meals. If you feel your family can get along without that particular food being in the household that is fine, but hopefully it is not a favorite with anyone. In addition you would have to find another nutritional alternative to supplement everyone's diet. This is also true if parents' decide to raise their children to eat vegetarian or vegan foods. Iron and protein are very important and necessary to a child's growth and making sure the meat, egg, cheese and milk they are missing is supplemented with foods equivalent in nutritional value.
A family that is busy with career, school, hobbies and extracurricular activities does not have a lot of time to eat together let alone prepare meals. Physical activity is healthy for a child. Enjoying hobbies is a great way to keep the mind focused and sharp but taking time out to relax and bond as a family is important too. There's nothing wrong with being sedentary once in awhile as long as it doesn't become out of hand. Schedule family time and private time to relax the way you schedule homework, school activities and extracurricular activities and chores. Being a couch potato watching TV and playing video games all the time is not healthy-mentally, physically or emotionally. Meal time is a great way for the family to bond and for parents to keep in touch with all areas of their children's lives. Also you make sure they eat and know what they are eating. Although it may seem easy just to throw a frozen dinner in the microwave or order takeout, it is not easy on your body or your physical health. Pre-prepared meals, such as frozen dinners and canned food such as Chef Boyardee are wrought with sodium and preservatives the body just doesn't need. Fast food is loaded with a lot of the same and with fat, cholesterol and seasoning you have no control over. This is why parents' turn to vitamin supplements to make sure their kids are getting the nutrition they need. But while this seems like an easy and convenient way . . . it is not the right way. You wouldn't want a stranger feeding your children this way . . . why would you as a parent do such a thing?
If you plan ahead of time, you can prepare healthy meals and make sure your children get the nutrition they need naturally. A lot of meats and vegetables come cut and seasoned already if you have absolutely no time to prep your meal. Bagged frozen vegetables don't come with the sodium canned vegetables do and instant potatoes are still nutritious even though they are in the form of flakes. Even a simple baked potato is very nutritious and can even be appealing to eat with different toppings instead of butter. If you have a lot of children, you could have them help you in the kitchen as you prepare the meals. This is another way to bond as a family and at the same time your children learn a new skill. Slow cooking in a crock pot is the new rage in cooking. You put all the ingredients; meat, vegetables, starch and seasoning in the pot in the morning and by the time you get home from work dinner is served! Putting appealing yet nutritious food in your child's lunch is a way to get them to eat their lunch and not trade it to their friends at lunchtime. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can be healthier with wheat bread and grape or strawberry preservatives (if you are worried about the sugar content of jelly). Celery with peanut butter is also an excellent nutritional yet appealing combination. A smoothie made with milk, yogurt and fruit is a great alternative to a shake. Chips with salsa, veggies and dip and fruit with yogurt are all examples of what you could pack in their lunch bag. Getting your child to eat healthy yet making it appetizing is a great way to make sure they are getting the nutrition they need. They won't go looking for the candy and junk food! The Food Network (look for the listing on your cable channel or at foodnetwork.com) has great tips on preparing meals for your family without spending a lot of time. "Pantry Raid" on the Style Network shows you how to prepare great meals with things you already have in your cupboard or pantry.
Lastly, I am not trying to tell parents how to raise their children. You as a parent know your child better than anyone and what is best for them. If you feel your child needs vitamins, whether the pediatrician says it's okay or not, then do so. Just don't overdo it. Don't let them think that this is a alternative to eating healthy. A simple supplement like the Flintstone vitamins will suffice. But good habits started at youth and practiced consistently and regularly will follow them into adulthood and away from eating disorders and body image problems. Regular exercise maintains a healthy appetite and strengthens their bodies. Just do the best you can with the situation you are in and everyone in the family will Thank you for it!
Learn more about this author, Emmluu.
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