When is the right time to start nutritional supplements for your kids? Do your kids need supplements or your home-cooked food is enough for their overall growth? How effective are the Calcium and Vitamin D supplements for kids?
These are some of the most common questions related to kids’ supplements. Starting a supplement course for your kids comes with a lot of apprehensions and speculations. Hence, before you start it, it is vital to consult a nutritionist or certified pediatrician to avoid any side-effects. Irrespective of the kind and extent of research you do on the internet, the best opinion always comes from an expert. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to book an appointment with a doctor in-person, you can also opt for the other ways to consult. The online medical and healthcare websites like HealthKart offer the facilities to talk to a doctor online. Using such platforms also enables you to make use of discount coupons such as HealthKart coupon code. So, you don’t have to always take some time out of your schedule to go and meet a doctor in person.
Now that we have made the ground rules clear let us move ahead. Let us explore answers to the above-mentioned and lots of other questions related to health supplements for kids above 5 yrs of age.
Supplements – Understanding their types and age-groups:
There are various forms of supplements. Nutritional supplements can be added to your diet to complete the dietary requirements such as Vitamin D and Calcium. Both of them are highly crucial for the human body and its core functions. Vitamin D and Calcium play an important role in the growth years of kids. Bones, skeletal structural elements, and nervous system – all of them require Vitamin D and Calcium. This is why doctors and nutritionists prescribe calcium-rich foods such as milk and dairy products for growing kids.
Every age-group has a different requirement for Vitamin D and Calcium.
Find the details in the following section for Calcium:
- Age 1 to 3 – 700 mg daily
- Age 4 to 8 – 1000 mg daily
- Age 9 to 18 – 1300 mg daily
- Age 19 to 50 – 1000 mg
Daily Vitamin D requirements for different age groups:
- People up to 50 yrs of age: 200 IU per day
- Age 51 to 70: 400 IU per day
- More than 70 yrs of age: 600 IU per day
Should you choose the single supplements or combo supplements?
Many supplements like Vitamin D and Calcium are generally taken together (for nutritional purposes). However, you can also take them separately as advised by your health expert. You can also take two tablets (one of each) daily.
Further, the body needs to vary across the different
individuals, and supplements are prescribed accordingly.
Is there any special reason behind supplement combos?
Yes. Many nutrients and vitamins work in unison with each other. Vitamin D boosts the absorption of Calcium from our intestines. Likewise, Calcium is able to work at full-potential only if your body has enough of Vitamin D.
So, depending on the body needs, experts prescribe combos or single dosages of supplements.
Consult a health expert today and figure out the best supplement option for your kids.
Now that we have had a detailed introduction and have
covered the basics let us move ahead.
What are the different roles played by Vitamin D and Calcium in young kids?
Childhood and early years of adolescence are the formative years in human beings. Most of the skeletal tissues and nervous system elements develop and proliferate at this time. Hence, it is vital for the kids to have a proper and well-balanced nutritional intake.
Vitamin D and Calcium are highly important, and work together to accomplish many life-critical tasks. Healthy and proper consumption of both of them is attributed to strong bones, a well-formed nervous system, and mental presence.
Calcium and Vitamin D deficiency in kids leads to:
- Weak bones
- Rickets
- Osteomalacia
Dental deformities, easy fractures, impaired growth, short stature, and lots of other issues are linked to the deficiency.
The best natural sources of Vitamin D are:
- Egg yolk
- Fatty fish
- Vitamin D-fortified milk
Top natural sources of Calcium are:
- Skimmed Milk
- Low-fat yoghurt and curd etc
- Tofu
- Swiss Cheese
- Calcium-fortified juice and cereals
What are some excellent ways to naturally incorporate Vitamin D and Calcium in your kids’ diets?
Find out the best ways to naturally incorporate Vitamin D and Calcium in your kids’ diets:
- Smoothies
Complex smoothies, i.e., smoothies with lots of ingredients, are an ideal way to make your kids’ meals nutrient-rich. You can mix a lot of ingredients such as milk, fortified milk, fruits, and nuts, etc. Take care to avoid using sugar or artificial sweeteners to keep the drinks healthy.
- Salads
If you are a non-vegetarian person, then you can make salads using meat, tofu, and yoghurt. These are a delightful break from sweet food and are an excellent way to incorporate nutrients.
- Yoghurt, Curd, and Buttermilk
All these three are generally loved by the kids. You can also make it a habit to offer buttermilk as a cold-drink substitute in the summer season. Flavoured and unsweetened yoghurts are also popular among kids.
Rest, drinking cow’s milk daily also aids in completing the nutritional requirement.
This completes our discussion on Vitamin D and Calcium supplements for kids above 5 yrs of age. When it comes to choosing the right age for starting supplements, you have to keep a few things in mind. Every kid has a different nutritional requirement. Hence, the age to start supplements, types of supplements, and dosages – all of them vary from person to person. You can also try to find best way to find good pricing just by checking 1mg Coupons to bring discount on each purchase.
For more information, consult a certified nutritionist or pediatrician online.
Stay Healthy; Stay Happy!
