by Jennifer Smith

Created on: April 18, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2008

VITAMINS AND CHILDREN

Ah, the secret of youth. The life-long quest for the fountain of youth is frequently sought after and rarely attained. What role does vitamins play in the nutritional well being of your child. How do you know when they are not getting enough, or is it possible to give too much? We all know that good nutrition is the foundation to a long and healthy life. Nutrition, just like everything else begins in infancy.

In the first year of life breast milk is best. The mother's milk is easily digested to the infant and is full of nutritional benefits. Let's face it, after the breast milk it all goes rapidly down hill as we fight with our children about the importance of eating green vegetables.

Sometimes due to allergies or other factors the nutrition your child may receive is not adequate. The well balanced diet will provide most children with the nutrients that he or she needs. However, should vitamins become necessary, Dr. Green, at DrGreen.com suggest a number of KEY vitamins and minerals that your child especially needs.

Vitamin A, D, and E are all fat soluble vitamins found in foods such as liver, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables and nuts. These vitamins each have a function in maintaining your child's overall health. Vitamin A promotes healthy eyes, skin, nails, hair, and teeth. Vitamin D plays an important roll in the formation of healthy bones as well as overall growth development. Vitamin E protects red blood cells that are required for health muscles and assists with neurological functioning.

The B Vitamins include Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Pyroxidine. They are all water soluble vitamins that assist the body in energy production, metabolism, appetite regulation, and tissue repair.

Folic Acid is essential for growth and the formation of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 helps prevent anemia and is also essential for the formation of red blood cells. Vitamin C aids in tissue repair and assists in the absorption of iron.

Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Fluoride, Zinc, and Iodine are all minerals especially needed by the body and the growing child. They each have a certain job within our bodies that allows the child to remain healthy.

Toddlers and young children within ages 1-5 need to have two servings of fruits and vegetables, Four daily servings of whole grain, three servings or one pint of whole milk per day, and two serving of protein a day. Some serving examples are 1 or 2 cooked broccoli spears, 5 to 7 cooked baby carrots, cup of melon, 5 to 7 strawberries, 1 8oz cup of milk, cup of rice or potatoes, a quarter cup of ground meat, and 1 or 2 chicken drumsticks. Sometimes additional vitamins and minerals are recommended for very young children.

School age children follow a similar new food guide pyramid that adults follow. The key in school age children is variety and creativity. School age children need three to five servings of vegetables, two to four fruit servings, six to eleven servings per day of whole grains, two to three dairy products and 20mg of zinc five times per week. During adolescence kids grow at a more rapid pace and sometimes benefit from increased dairy and iron intake. All of the above intake suggestions come from DrGreen.com and the new national food guide pyramid. Grand Forks Human Nutrition Center reports on the benefits of zinc as related to children's brain development.

Sources Cited:
Nutri-Force Nutrition: Miami, Florida: (305) 468-1600

South Florida VA Foundation for Research and Education: Miami, Florida: (305) 575-7000, extension 4495

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