Let’s face it: Most kids’s diets are less than stellar.  Between poor-quality cafeteria food, class celebrations and birthday parties, they’re getting way too much sugar, dyes, additives, hydrogenated oils, and the list goes on.  Keeping them on these staples will help fill in the gaps of their diet and keep them healthy and sharp all year long.

Whole Food Multivitamin/Antioxidant
You might already be giving your child a multivitamin to make sure he or she gets all the necessary nutrients.  The problem with Flintstone Gummies and other brands you might see in the grocery store is that they are synthetic and very difficult for our bodies to absorb.  That’s why a whole food multi is a better option.  They often come in a liquid or chewable form for children.  Our bodies can recognize and use them because they are real food, not some concoction created in a lab.  Even if your child’s diet is packed with organic fruits and veggies, a whole food multi can provide added benefit.  Since our air is so polluted and our soil so depleted, our food supply is about ten times less nutritious than it was just 100 years ago.  In addition to feeding our kids as whole and healthy as we can, we should supplement with a high-quality whole food multivitamin.

Pick a brand that contains added antioxidants.  Free radicals are electrically charged ions or molecules that have an unpaired electron in their outer shell.  This makes them unstable and very destructive to nearby molecules.  Free radical damage can lead to cancer, bone, joint and tissue deterioration, premature aging, organ decline and immune dysfunction.  Antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and Beta-Carotene combine with and deactivate free radicals.  We can get antioxidants by eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies (Think green veggies like spinach, broccoli and kale and fruits like berries.).  Once again due to the depletion of our soil, it’s also necessary to supplement with an antioxidant.  We need all the help we can get to combat free radical damage.

Probiotic
Believe it or not, your child’s digestive tract contains about 400 different types of bacteria that promote a healthy digestive system by reducing the growth of harmful bacteria and yeast.   Since Americans are eating so many processed foods and taking so many antibiotics these days, we’re lacking in beneficial bacteria.  That’s why it’s important that we support our digestive systems by eating foods high in probiotics and taking a probiotic supplement from an early age (This is especially important if the child was born by c-section and/or they were not breastfed..).  Many children experience positive improvements in their digestive and immune function when they start taking a probiotic on a regular basis!

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
It’s so important children get quality fats in their diets.  With a quality fish oil supplement, they get all the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids (healthy levels of cholesterol, heart, brain, joint and skin health) from fresh fish, without potential exposure to mercury and other heavy metals.  You can also get essential fatty acids into them using vegetarian oil sources such as walnuts, flax seeds, hemp hearts and evening primrose oil.  The classic American diet and average school cafeteria lunch is devoid of Omega-3s, so once again it’s important that children receive a supplement.

Cold and Flu Season Staples

You can boost your child’s immune system by adding in these supplements around the time daylight savings ends and keeping your kids on them until the Spring.

 Vitamin D3
Among its many benefits, D3 activates the immune system to defend against invading microorganisms.  We get this fat-soluble nutrient through sun exposure, but during the dreary winter months, it’s often necessary to get it through supplementation (Approximately 85% of Americans are deficient!).  As a general rule, an adult of average weight should ingest at least 5,000 international units of supplemental D3 a day, and children should take a daily dose of 1,000 international units per every 25 pounds of body weight.  This varies depending on the season, where you live, age, skin tone, etc.  You may think your child is getting enough D3 from his multi-vitamin, but that’s really just a small sample compared to what we need each day for a healthy immune system.

Colostrum
Our body’s immune system defends against infection and illness by releasing immunoglobulin, or antibodies.  We ingest many germs throughout the day, and they end up in the 400 sq. ft. of GI tract surface area where immunoglobulin works to neutralize them.  Unfortunately, many of our bodies don’t release enough immunoglobulin due to stress, poor foods and toxins, so we’re unable to fight against illness.  This is when it may become necessary to take these antibodies in the form of a supplement.

Bovine colostrum is a natural whole food that provides a rich source of IgG and PRPs (Proline-Rich Polypeptides). It also supplies protein, immune factors, growth factors, vitamins and minerals to ensure health and vitality naturally.  Numerous scientific studies have shown that colostrum supports the human immune system. Bovine colostrum is 40 times richer in immune factors than human colostrum and is biologically transferable to humans.

ImmunoG PRP is a pure bovine colostrum and is collected within the first 16 hours after birthing.  A key feature of ImmunoG PRP is that it is specifically processed to retain high amounts of PRPs. PRPs are tiny information carrying proteins with amazing adaptability. In times of intense physical stress, they enhance immune activity.  Many colostrum products are produced in a way that they lose these very important PRPs. This formula is low heat processed for maximum biological activity and is hormone, antibiotic and rBST free.

Vitamin C
Also known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and a powerful antioxidant.  Humans don’t have the ability to make their own C, so we must get it from our foods (Think fruits and veggies!).  Vitamin C stimulates both the production and function of white blood cells, which attack foreign bacteria and viruses, and it protects the integrity of our cells.  Vitamin C is affordable, easy to find and it comes in all kinds of forms (chewables, powders, capsules, etc.).

If you have questions about the best staples for your child, call our Nutrition Shop at 770-642-4646 to speak with a knowledgeable staff member.