Why And When Supplementation May Be Needed For Your Child’s Health
By Keri Glassman, Registered Dietician
In an ideal world, we’d all eat straight from the farm, have the time to cook fresh meals and snacks from scratch (exactly to our kids' liking) three times a day, and our kids would embrace all flavors and textures of food as if they were scanning new toys, games and electronics. Unfortunately, this is not reality. Yes, we should all aim for as much whole real foods as possible, but with our fast-paced lives, it is often hard to meet the nutrient needs of our kids through food alone—even if we did have the time to shop, prep and cook all day long. Enter, supplementation. Supplementation can help bridge dietary gaps, support the immune system, not to mention gut, brain and eye health, and promote overall healthy development.
Here are five reasons why and when supplementation may be needed for your kids:
Nutrient Insufficiencies Due to a Limited Diet
Let’s face it—kids can be picky. What they eat, when they eat, how much they eat… it can feel like a full-time job just navigating their food preferences. Add in depleted soil nutrients, and even those "healthy eaters" might not be getting everything they need.
Nearly 15% of toddlers are iron-deficient, which can impact cognitive development and immune function. Vitamin D deficiency is also common, with up to 50% of children not meeting recommended levels, affecting their bone health and immunity.
And when it comes to nutrients like
lutein and zeaxanthin (which are superstars for eye and brain health), kids need about 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin daily to achieve optimal levels. Yet, many fall short. This is especially concerning in the digital age.
In a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 60 children aged 5-12 years, using Lutemax Kids, it was shown to reduce eye strain and fatigue as a result of digital device use and significantly improve aspects of cognitive health including attention, focus/concentration, episodic memory and more.
This is why when I’m choosing a supplement I look for one with a Lutemax Kids or Lutemax 2020 because I’m confident they provide an efficacious dose and are safe. Lutemax ingredients provide a similar 5 to 1 ratio of lutein to zeaxanthin as it is found in nature.
Immune Health Support
We all know fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy immune system, but here’s the reality: Almost half of kids don't eat a vegetable daily! Children with low intakes of essential nutrients like vitamin D and zinc may have weaker immune health making them more susceptible to cough, cold and seasonal allergies.
Studies show that kids with higher vitamin D levels have a reduced risk of respiratory infections, while adequate zinc levels support immune function by helping managing inflammation.
And let’s not forget sugar—our kids are getting way too much of it, which can also weaken their immune systems.
Cognitive Development
Lutein and zeaxanthin, which are often deficient in children's diets, play crucial roles in eye and brain health. Studies have shown that higher intakes of these nutrients can support cognitive function. Supplementing these nutrients early on can provide protective benefits throughout life. Despite the importance of these nutrients, many children fall short of the levels shown to be protective—once again, especially concerning with the rise in screen time.
Increased Nutrient Needs During Growth Spurts
Growth spurts (especially during puberty) mean a serious spike in nutrient needs. Teens need higher amounts of calcium, iron, zinc, folate, and vitamin A to support bone growth, hormone production, and overall development.
Kids 4 to 8 years old need 1,000 mg of calcium a day and pre-teens and teens 9 to 18 years old need 1,300 mg. Kids need 10 mg of iron, while pre-teens need 8, but teen boys should get 11 and teen girls 15 mg of iron a day. Pre-teens to teens zinc requirements go up 1 mg for girls and 3 mg for boys. Folate increases from 200 mcg to 400 mcg from childhood to teen years. Finally, vitamin A increases from 400 mcg RAE to 700 for teen girls and 900 for teen boys.
Yet, how many times do they skip meals, pass on school lunch, or rush off to after-school activities without the proper fuel? This means missed opportunities to get in essential nutrients from a wide variety of whole foods including fruits, veggies, lean protein and healthy fats.
Managing Increased Exposure to Environmental Stressors
Our kids are exposed to more environmental stressors than ever—think air pollution, highly processed food, and the everyday chemicals in their surroundings. These stressors may lead to oxidative damage which can increase inflammation and affect health and wellbeing.
Antioxidants like lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins A, C, and E help limit oxidative damage. Getting these nutrients daily through food is ideal, but supplementation can bridge the gap.
While we should always aim for whole, real foods, supplementation can be a key part of keeping our kids healthy and setting them up for a lifetime of wellness.
About the Author:
Keri Glassman is a Registered Dietitian, renowned nutritionist, healthy cooking expert and wellness thought-leader. She is the founder of Nutritious Life, a lifestyle and media company devoted to helping individuals discover and live their most nutritious and happiest lives and the Nutritious Life Studio, (NLS) which provides cutting-edge nutrition, coaching, and business education to passionate students around the globe.
