Children’s
Daily Nutrition and Supplements
 What our children eat –
especially today’s American diet – will never give them
enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients their bodies need
to stay healthy and grow. However, all the proper nutrition in the
world won’t help without good digestion.
When children develop poor digestion,
it can affect their health for a lifetime. Here are some essential
rules to follow for both good nutrition and digestion for your children.
- Children need the “Antioxidant”
family of vitamins and minerals – especially the Big Five
– A, E, C, Zinc and Selenium. Antioxidants ward off atom
particles floating in the air without partners. These are called
“free radicals”, and can damage our tissue cells
that make the immune system work and fight infection.
- Lipids (good fats) and “essential fatty
acids” (EFA’s) help the body’s neurotransmitters
to function well with the brain. Improper neurotransmission
is a huge factor in the behavior of children (and adults) suffering
from ADD or ADHD. Essential fatty acids – called Omegas
3, 6 and 9 – are present in a lot of foods children may
eat like nuts and eggs – but they may not eat enough fish,
flaxseed or green vegetables which are loaded with them.
- Boost your child’s Immune System.
- Limit fast food intake. Not just because
of calories and fats, but because:
- Many times the grease for frying potatoes,
chicken nuggets or fish may sit overnight or even be used
for 2 to 3 days and can become rancid. Rancid oils can stay
in the digestive system and draw bacteria.
- Hasty eating makes us swallow without
chewing, which is the beginning of digestion. Proper mastication
uses our saliva to initiate the process of absorbing nutrition
well.
- Quick eating of greasy food promotes
acid indigestion, bowel problems and blood sugar irregularities.
- Children need to be sternly taught the benefits
of all food groups. Even if you take them off wheat or dairy
due to allergies, there are substitutes to replace these groups.
Dark green vegetables absolutely must be served, and sugary
foods and beverages limited.
- Speaking of beverages, the phosphates in
carbonated colas, including sugar free, can rob the bones of
calcium and should be restricted.
- Mental and emotional factors and our environment
play a huge part in a body’s efficient use of nutrition.
Children will best absorb nutrients if meal time is calm, fun
and the family is together. With today’s schedules, this
happens less and less. Try this a few times a week – you
might like it!
- Get your children moving! Nutrition from
both food and supplements is best absorbed with an active lifestyle.
Brief rest or a walk after a meal is good, but laying around
or sitting in front of TVs and computers pretty much guarantees
that most of the nutrients you ate or took will come right back
out “in the wash” – in the urine.
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