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Children need good food and excellent supplemental nutrition to achieve their full potential.

Omega-3 with DHA

Since 2004, the FDA has allowed qualified health claims for omega-3 fatty acids in our food supplements. These health claims are based on the ability of omega-3 fatty acids to promote our cardiovascular health. Prior to the FDA approval of these claims, the omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) had already been added to our infant formulas. Since DHA is poorly synthesized in our body, it must be obtained from diet or from mother’s milk. Even then it is only found in breast milk when a nursing mother consumes a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids. There is no current recommended daily intake (RDI) for these fats, so us savvy consumers must find them in our diets or in supplements.

So why are EPA and DHA being discussed in children’s health? These essential fatty acids are highly valued for their support of our nervous tissues. DHA is the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in our brains and is required for our normal growth and development of our nervous system. (1) DHA is also found in the eye and in nerve synapses, which suggests that it may play a role in nerve transmission. (1) In summary, EPA and DHA are beneficial to children as well as us adults who want to promote proper nervous system development and function in our lives.

Probiotic Power

Probiotic supplements are commonly known as “friendly flora.” These microbes live naturally in our intestinal tract and perform three main functions. They metabolize our foods, aid in the absorption of nutrients and help maintain intestinal flora. This translates to better digestive performance and improved immune and intestinal health. Probiotics have been researched extensively with regard to addressing gastro-intestinal issues. Bifidobacterium infantis (found in Probiotic Power) is the most common bacteria found in breast-fed infants. It is believed that this specific strain of bacteria helps provide immune support to infants as they enter a world surrounded by microbes. Much like DHA (mentioned above), it is another gift from mother to child that can be added to the diet in supplement form.

Probiotics should be supplemented regularly, because over time our healthy bacteria populations can dwindle. Probiotics should be stored in a freezer or refrigerator to ensure its potency. Shipping probiotics in heat and humidity does not destroy the bacteria. But to maintain a long shelf life they should be refrigerated.

Calcium Plus D3

Growing children need calcium to help form there healthy teeth and bones. Calcium is also required for their nerve transmissions, muscle contractions, and hormone secretion. Calcium is readily available in the diet from dairy foods and to a lesser extent, green leafy vegetables. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium in our children has slowly increased over the years. This helps us demonstrate the importance of calcium in the diet of our children. The current RDA for calcium is as follows: Age 1-3 years, 700 mg; 4-8 years, 1,000 mg; 9-18 years, 1,300 mg. (2) The body is limited in the amount of calcium it can absorb during a meal. To insure maximum absorption of calcium, it is best to take supplements periodically throughout the day with meals and with vitamin D. Chewable calcium supplements are not new, they have been on the market for years to address stomach discomfort and bone mineral density. But now calcium supplements have added vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is the active form of vitamin D. Our bodies make vitamin D from cholesterol and require exposure to sunlight. Sunlight is important in this conversion, which is why our children need extra vitamin D3 supplements throughout the winter months when daylight is short and skin exposure is brief. (3) Vitamin D3 promotes the absorption of it from the diet and deposits calcium into our bones. It makes good sense to add vitamin D3 to all calcium supplements.

Vitamin D3 supplements have been hot in the supplement market for several years now due to a large body of evidence that suggests higher levels of vitamin D3 offers immune system support not observed with other forms of vitamin D. While larger doses of vitamin D3 may be beneficial, we recommend following the RDA for the specific age group.

Suggested Children’s Supplements

Available Here…

References:

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcidsandHealth
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-QuickFacts
Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, et al. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91:1255-60.