Children and Supplements

children

Children and Supplements

If my children eat a healthy diet, why do they need to take supplements?

This is a common question we hear from parents. Firstly, congratulations if your children are eating a healthy diet! You are helping lay the foundations for their future well-being and teaching the importance of being healthy and strong.
There are several things to consider when we discuss why kids need supplements in their diet, our geographical location is one of them. WA is on limestone bedrock, which is basically old coral. It has very little nutrient in it and thus very little gets into our food chain. Combine this with:

  • Long transport and storage times which drive oxidation
  • Pesticide exposure which antagonises uptake of nutrients
  • Over use of super phosphate which displaces many minerals
  • High stress environment with less down time and family connection which increases oxidation

 
So what do you do?
Wherever you live in the world, find out what the local agriculture department is advising the farmers to supplement livestock feed with. In WA, livestock feed is supplemented with zinc, selenium, copper, molybdenum and magnesium- depending where the farm is.
What do my kids need if they are healthy, symptom free, and have a good diet?

  • Selenium 4mcg per 10kg
  • Molybdenum 4mcg per 10kg
  • Zinc 7mg per 10kg
  • Magnesium 34mg per 10kg
  • Vitamin D 100iu per 10kg
  • Vitamin E 50iu per 10kg
  • Omega 3 1000 mg per 10kg

These nutrients are in different forms: ionic, picolinate, and chelate. The rule of thumb is go for a liquid/ionic as a premium choice, a capsule for convenience and efficacy, and use a tablet as a last option as chelates in these are absorbed less easily.
 
 
So where are we heading? Not space food I hope!
The health of the general population has incrementally improved in the last 150 years until recently. We are now seeing a steady decline in overall health. Not longevity- health. The only truly healthy individuals in the future will likely, and sadly, be the super educated who demand high quality food and health care and are prepared to pay for it. Teaching our children about the importance of quality nutrition and supplementation for health is a great way to empower them to make healthy choices in the future.
 
 
 

Deborah Taylor
[email protected]