To Your Health
August, 2007 (Vol. 01, Issue 08) |
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The correct conclusion to this data analysis is that we must supplement our children's diets, because it is virtually impossible for them to consistently eat the right combination of foods to provide their necessary nutrition.
For this reason, knowledgeable health care and nutrition professionals recommend vitamin supplements for children.
Where does a parent turn, but to their local grocery or pharmacy shelf? There, they will find all manner of cute and cuddly candy-like multivitamins. They will review the labels to select one that appears to have a full spectrum of what's missing from their child's diet.
So, this should be the end of this article ... but it's not. What's wrong with cartoon vitamins? A study of the available products reveals startling, problematic results. They contain synthetic vitamins, inadequate minerals, as well as binders, preservatives and sugar - some of the very items we need the supplements to combat in the first place! Yet those items are listed first in the ingredient section of the cartoon vitamin label. Unfortunately, the primary consumers for these products (parents) are untrained in how to interpret the labels. The most glaring problems include:
- The formulas are incomplete.
- They contain synthetic vitamins: chemically derived substances that are supposed to mimic the natural form, but in fact are like mirror-image opposites.
- Processed sugar is used to flavor the pills to increase compliance, but most kids already get too much sugar in their daily diets.
- To get the vitamins to hold their cute shapes, manufacturers use binders, which are non-natural chemical additives.
We need to provide our kids with the kind of nutritional supplements informed adults demand:
- All-natural, with no synthetic chemical nutrients.
- Derived from whole foods.
- Complete and balanced formula, meaning they should contain at least the 25 FDA-recommended nutrients, preferably more.
- Good taste to ensure compliance, but without added sugar. Liquids are best, as they absorb better and the dosing can be modified, depending on the child's size and needs.
- Need to contain the full spectrum of organic trace minerals.
What is the solution? In this case, unfortunately, there aren't many good ones. Randy Miles, a certified nutritionist and co-owner of Family Health Market in Frisco, Texas, does not recommend any children's multivitamin product. Rather, he uses their best liquid adult's formula and reduces the dosage for children. "Multivitamin supplements for children are in a segment that is virtually ignored. What you find are products containing only the bare minimum of nutrients and also alarmingly include titanium and aluminum." Miles continues, "Cartoon vitamins are all that is out there, so many pediatricians recommend them, but it's more about marketing to the kids than it is about nutrition."
The proof is in the pudding. Today's children face more obstacles to good health than just poor nutrition. Our kids are exposed to more toxins, pollution and stress than those in one or two generations prior. They're dealing with free-radical damage and oxidative stress daily and in higher amounts. Air pollution, water pollution, pesticides, preservatives, radiation, smoke, fatty foods and stress are factors that raise free-radical levels. These free radicals increase risks of degenerative diseases, as they cause cellular and tissue damage within the body.
There is a great need for diets rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to combat the free-radical damage. Children receiving the right amount and combination of these minerals and vitamins are better able to counteract the effects of the extra toxins they might face. It is absolutely a must for them to strengthen their armor with a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, and low in processed foods and sugars. Then, we must augment that effort with the very best supplements available. Our kids deserve better health than their parents, but unless we do something, they are fighting an uphill battle.
Richard Drucker, ND, is a licensed naturopath who has been performing concentrated research and work in the natural health and nutraceutical fields for more than 20 years. He is the CEO of Drucker Labs (www.druckerlabs.com).
