With so many vitamin brands and choices, choosing vitamins is never an easy process. There are many aspects to consider, I will cover a few of them here: Choosing the best vitamins for your kids.
Is your Vitamin C “Real” or Genetically Modified?
Vitamin C is a powerful ally in our tool chest, as it is a strong antioxidant, and well as good for tissue repair and healing of wounds (Vitamin C does much more, but my focus here is with children). Vitamin C taken in large doses (split up throughout the day) at the first sign of a cold is incredibly helpful for a quicker recovery.
The problem that many are not aware of is that most vitamin C tablets/powders are synthesized in a lab, in a form called ascorbic acid.
Ascorbic acid is synthesized from corn syrup. Over 88% of the corn crops in the US are currently genetically modified. (Source) Therefore, any vitamin C derived from corn syrup is a GM product. The only exception would be if the bottle states that the product is organic and GMO-free. Look for this seal on your bottle:
Although it is rare to be “seriously” deficient in vitamin C, evidence still suggests many suffer from a deficiency. (Source)
Here is a link to the vitamin C that my household uses daily. (Source) Available in pill or powder form
Some companies provide vitamin C as ascorbic acid but proudly state not from GM sources. Whole food is best, but is not the only available option.
What is the Difference Between Folate and Folic Acid? Why should you care?
There are many healthcare providers who believe that the two are interchangeable, but they are not. Folate is a group of water-soluble B vitamins, also known as B9. Folic acid is the oxidized synthetic compound used in dietary supplements, folate is the natural form.
Folic acid is not the only synthetic you need to look out for in your children’s vitamins. What is the issue with synthetic vitamins? Synthetic vitamins are made in a lab, with chemicals that do not come from the natural source, (made from whole food). Synthetic vitamins are supposed to mimic the way natural vitamins act in our bodies. Oftentimes, these synthetic isolates cannot be used or even recognized by the body, and here lies a major problem with synthetics (Source). Scientists are not quite sure what exactly happens when consuming synthetics, but one theory is they oxidize quickly in the body.
“The process of oxidation in the human body damages cell membranes and other structures including cellular proteins, lipids, and DNA. When oxygen is metabolized, it creates ‘free radicals’ which steal electrons from other molecules, causing damage” (Source).
Here is a complete list of synthetics to be aware of and avoid:
Vitamin A: Acetate and Palmitate
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Thiamine Mononitrate, Thiamine Hydrochloride
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Riboflavin
Pantothenic Acid: Calcium D-Pantothenate
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Vitamin B12: Cobalamin
PABA (Para-aminobenzoic Acid): Aminobenzoic Acid
Folic Acid: Pteroylglutamic Acid
Choline: Choline Chloride, Choline Bitartrate
Biotin: d-Biotin
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin D: Irradiated Ergosteral, Calciferol
Vitamin E: dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or succinate
NOTE: The “dl” form of any vitamin is synthetic.
(The above list is taken from Source)
One more important thing to mention is that there have been reports of negative effects on children who take supplements containing folic acid during pregnancy. One study showed a possible link to an increase in childhood asthma (Source). Here is a vitamin that I recommend for little kids that can not swallow a pill quite yet, has Non-GMO vitamin C (Source), derived from whole foods and does not contain folic acid.
Vitamins should not be a replacement for proper nutrition, but I fully believe that even when eating a good diet, vitamins may still be necessary. When you take vitamins derived from whole food, they are properly absorbed and assimilated without risk.
Avoid Large Amounts of Vitamin A
Are you aware of the risk that comes with taking large amounts of vitamin A, or any antioxidant for that matter? Although vitamin A is crucial for a child’s health and development, its consumption is not cut and dry. Let me explain.
Currently, the recommended dose of vitamin A for children is as follows:
1-3 years—1,000IU or 300mcg
4-8 years—1,333IU or 400mcg
9-13 years—2,000IU or 600mcg
These are the recommended daily allowance, not the maximum daily allowance. (Source)
If you look up the contents of vitamin A in a food you would see that vitamin A can be obtained easily. Now grab your child’s multivitamin. I would guess it contains 2,500IU of vitamin A, but I have seen some as high as 5,000IU.
Why is this a problem? Unlike vitamin C which is a water-soluble vitamin, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. When you take excessive amounts of water-soluble vitamin C, your body releases what it does not need in your urine. An excessive amount of vitamin A, however, gets stored in the body, particularly in the body tissues. According to WebMD, “High dose of vitamin A, or any other antioxidant, may do more harm than good and is associated with increased risk or mortality from all causes” (Source). As mentioned above, excessive consumption of any antioxidant actually becomes a pro-oxidant, and this is not favored.
Pay very close attention to the vitamins you are giving your children. Multiple products can contain vitamin A, for example, your multivitamin and cod liver oil if that is something you give to your children. Make efforts to add up the multiple sources.
I believe kids need a multivitamin, but they need one that is not providing everything in excessive amounts. You are feeding your kids the best you can and the vitamin is meant to close the gap. Many believe you can take too much of a good thing.
Another thing to consider….. You may have found vitamins that state that they are derived from whole food and that the recommended dose is not simply one pill, but 3-4 a day. Why is this? If you obtained the daily allowance of the vitamins and nutrients in one pill, the pill would be so large you may not even be able to swallow it! This is another reason for some synthetics. As you can see, there is not a perfect solution with one perfect answer.
Don’t Forget About Herbs
I have a minor in herbalism and am a huge proponent of using herbs at home. It is critical to know what you are getting with herbs as well as vitamins. Many crops are not grown sustainably, are heavily sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers, not fresh or true to the amounts that are shown on the bottle. As there is a multitude of things to keep in mind where herbs are concerned. I make all my own teas, decoctions, infusions, tinctures, etc. It is critical to perform your own research.
Here are a few companies that I utilize, but I do try to grow as much of my own herbs as possible:
Mountain Rose Herbs
Starwest Botanicals
Here are some resources to learn how to DIY:
It’s All Medicine
Whether we are talking about vitamins, minerals, herbs, or essential oils, they are all medicine. Little kids should not confuse vitamins with candy. Make sure they understand this from a very young age. I tend to avoid gummy vitamins for this reason (as well as the added sugar) unless I have made them. I have seen blogs showing babies and toddlers holding bottles of essential oils or applying oils themselves (no I am not making that one up). This is not recommended. Please respect it all as medicine, as that is what it truly is.
Remember that even though something is touted as natural, that everything is dose-dependent. The poison is truly in the dose.
Pediatrician Recommended
I simply could not write this article about vitamins and not talk about this. I find it incredible that the most widely recommended children’s multivitamin, “from prehistoric times” with a popular cartoon from when I grew up is filled with…well…crap! When looking at the label of the #1 PEDIATRICIAN RECOMMENDED CHOICE vitamin, you will find:
Aspartame
Numerous artificial colors (FD & C Blue #2, Red #40, Yellow #6)
Zinc Oxide
Sorbitol
Soybean Oil (GMO)
Corn Starch (GMO)
FULL of synthetics
Quite frankly, a vitamin could not get much worse than this.
Purity and Testing
It is important to do your own research on anything that you purchase. I have provided a few links throughout the article, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. Purity and testing are important, but there are not too many standards out there currently.
One that is relatively new is called USP (US Pharmacopeial Convention). According to their website (Source)
When you see the USP mark, it means the supplement:
Contains the ingredients listed on the label, in the declared strength and amounts
Does not contain harmful levels of specified contaminants
Is made according to FDA and USP Good Manufacturing Practices, using sanitary and well-controlled processes.
This surely is a good start.
Fish oils in any form also need to be researched well for purity and testing. Certain products can contain heavy metals, so it is important to know that your product has been quality tested and that the company stands by what is in their bottle.
In conclusion
We all try to do what is best for our children in every way and making sure that they are getting proper nutrition/nutrients is critical for health and development. I hope that I have helped shed some light on some important issues and have made the selection process a bit easier. Health and light!
*Sources listed within the article
Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.
BEFORE YOU GO! Remember to sign up for my FREE Facebook group! Hang out with me and THOUSANDS of other Essential Oil lovers looking to learn, click on to join Real Essential Oil Education Group!
Check out my FREE offer below!
