There are a number of supplements that can be particularly beneficial as we look ahead to school starting in August, especially for young adults going away to college. It's a good idea to gather up a daily supplement care package for them to take with them to help "cover the bases".
These are a good place to start:
Multivitamins
A multivitamin can be a good idea especially for kids or young adults who might not have the best diet. I know my daughter does not eat as well as I wish she would, so I feel like a multivitamin helps to fill in the gaps. Of course, a multivitamin is not a replacement for a healthy diet, but it makes me feel better that at least she's getting the nutrients she needs. Bluebonnet has a nice easy to swallow one a day multivitamin that's gentle and food based. Since it's food-based it's not mega doses of anything, but rather just the amounts that are needed. We also have chewable vitamins or gummies for children or young adults who don't like to swallow pills.
Omega 3s
Omega 3s are what are known as essential fatty acids, meaning they're literally essential to the proper functioning of our bodies, especially for brain health. The main dietary source of omega 3 is eating fish, which most kids and young adults do not eat very much of. Supplementing with omega 3s can help with proper brain function, concentration, and even help with balancing mood. Omega 3s can't be manufactured in the body so they must be obtained through either diet or supplements. You know your kids, if they aren't eating fish, they're probably deficient in omega 3s, and one of the ways that manifests is by trouble concentrating, problems with focus, and even poor impulse control. Ensuring that your kids have a proper amount of omega 3 is a good idea just to make sure their bodies (and brains!) have what they need to be running properly.
Most omega 3 supplements are derived from fish, but we do have vegetarian sources available at the store as well. We have omega 3s in softgels, a good tasting refrigerated liquid by Barlean's, and a new gummy by Life Extension with good omega 3 potency. In general, chewables or gummies can sometimes have pretty low potencies especially when it comes to omega 3s, but we have some great ones to choose from.
Anxiety
Many young adults, and even kids since it's unfortunately happening younger and younger, have a lot of anxiety especially when looking forward to school starting. There are a number of supplements that can be really beneficial for helping young adults and kids to feel less stressed and anxious.
The amino acid theanine is one we especially recommend since it can not only help with reducing stress and anxiety but also aid in increasing focus. It can be used during the day to help with stress or before bed to help with sleep. Theanine does not make you feel tired, but it can help with improving sleep quality because it can make a person less anxious before bed.
Passionflower is a great supplement for anxiety for young adults and college students. Research at Mount Sinai found that daily use of passion flower was as effective as a prescription drug commonly used for generalized anxiety disorder.
Another supplement that we really love is Solgar's Stress and Anxiety relief. It's a one-a-day tablet that would be great for college students since it contains ashwagandha, which is great for helping with daily stress along with saffron, which is an antioxidant that is helpful for boosting mood.
For younger kids, we probably recommend sticking with theanine (an amino acid found in green tea that's been found to be safe for all ages), but for older young adults and college students, passion flower, ashwagandha, or saffron can be beneficial.
Immune Health
If you're sending your college student away to school, it's a good idea to send them with something for their immune system. Younger kids would benefit from taking something to boost the immune system once they start school as well since it's very common to get sick once all the kids are together and sharing their germs. For older young adults and college students the product Immuno Shield by Irwin Naturals is a great blend of natural immune boosters that can be used preventatively but also in higher doses if one starts to feel sick. For younger kids, we have elderberry syrup, which is a natural antiviral, and elderberry gummies which are a great (and good tasting) preventative that combine the antiviral elderberry extract with zinc, a mineral that's great for the immune system.
Other suggestions of things to think about are would be probiotics or digestive enzymes for stomach troubles if your kids have a sensitive stomach. Also magnesium can be for helpful for muscle aches, preventing headaches, and constipation
Stop in the store for more information or personalized recommendations, we’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.
Back to School Help for Stress and Anxiety
August means back to school (which personally is depressing to me, because when I went to school, school started in September, but I digress). I'm really hoping this year will be a little more normal than last year, which is actually the same thing I said last August I think.
Still, any year can be a cause of anxiety and stress for kids of all ages, so if your child, teen, or college students are having a tough time looking ahead to the start of school, we do have some supplements that can help.
The one we would recommend above all others is theanine, an amino acid from green tea which is great for helping to reduce stress and anxiety without making you feel tired or spacey- in fact, it can even help with increasing focus and concentration. We have it available in capsules or great tasting gummies, and it’s something that we’ve had customers with kids of all ages have good results with.
Additionally, we’d recommend omega 3s for students of all ages to help with overall brain function and focus. Omegas 3s are called essential fatty acids because they must be obtained through either food or supplements, and most kids and teens realistically aren’t eating salmon multiple times a week. If you’re not getting Omega 3s through the foods you eat (primarily fatty fish), it’s likely you’re deficient.
Research has linked low levels of Omega 3s with an increase in depression and attention problems. We even have vegetarian forms of Omega 3s since vegetarians are at an even higher risk of fatty acid deficiency. Stop in the store and we can help find the right supplement for you and the kids in your life.
Stop by and see us at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights so we can help you to find the supplement that’s right for you!
August is Back to School Month
August means back to school. I always think of September as the back to school month, since that’s what it was when I was little, but now most kids are going back be back in school by the third week of August if not sooner.
Hopefully this will be a more normal school year than last year, but even on the most normal of normal years, there can still be stress and anxiety for many about starting school. Theanine is a great supplement for stress and anxiety and is safe for both kids and adults. It’s an amino acid that’s found in green tea that can help kids to feel more calm and less worried. It can even be used before bed to help with sleep, not that it makes you tired, but it’s effective for sleep since it helps to encourage a calm state of mind. It’s especially helpful for school age children and teens since in addition to enhancing feelings of calm, it also can help with increasing focus (something most of us would benefit from). It’s available in gummies or capsules, and most children start with a 100mg dose, whereas most adults take 400mg.
See this article on our website for more information: Theanine for Reducing Stress and Increasing Focus
Preventing illness is always a concern once school starts again, since with so many kids packed in together, colds and other respiratory viruses are more likely. There are a number of great kid-friendly immune boosters we’d recommend, like our elderberry gummies by Zhou, which also contain a good dose of immune boosting zinc (plus they’re great tasting). A few other immune supplements that we recommend for kids are probiotics and vitamin D- we have both available in good tasting chewable supplements. Probiotics have shown in research to help with preventing respiratory infections in children, resulting in fewer missed school days, and vitamin D is a great all-around immune booster that’s great for everyone.
Here are a few helpful articles from our website with more information:
Keeping Kids Healthy this Winter
Manuka Honey Throat Lozenges for Cough and Sore Throat
Elderberry: A Potent Antiviral Against Colds and Flu
Finally, a few other supplements that can be helpful for kids are an omega 3 supplement and a multivitamin. Omega 3s are essential fatty acids that are crucial for brain function, and many kids are deficient because they have to be obtained through either diet or supplements, and most kids don’t eat a lot of fish. A great tasting, high potency supplement is Barlean’s Omega Swirl (for both kids or adults). We’ve found that most kid’s omega 3 chewables or gummies have very little actual omega 3 in them, so we recommend Barlean’s Omega Swirl liquid as an easy way to get the recommended amounts in just one teaspoon (it’s not at all oily or fishy, it tastes like lemon cream).
See our article Improving Children’s Concentration at School for more information.
Multivitamins are great for kids or adults that are picky eaters or people without the best diets, since they help to fill in nutrition gaps. A multivitamin is not a substitute for a healthy diet, but it’s a simple way to ensure you or your children are getting the nutrients you need every day for optimal health.
Please stop by the store this month so we can help you to find the supplements that are right for your individual needs.
A New Fish Oil + Lutein for Kids to Protect the Eyes from Electronic Devices
We’ve written about fish oil many times before, especially on how great it is for kids.
I’ve read a few new studies lately that have made me want to highlight it again, plus we’ve just found a new fish oil for kids by Barleans that has added lutein, which is the first kid’s product I’ve ever seen combining the two nutrients.
The benefits of omega 3 fish oil for kids are many, with a whole list of researched and documented benefits including better performance at school- especially reading scores, better impulse control and behavior, and even a new study that reported that kids who took omega 3 fish oil slept better at night than those who didn’t.
In addition, supplementation of omega 3 fish oil for kids is especially important since omega 3s must be obtained either through diet or supplements since the body cannot make the nutrient itself. Many adults eat fatty fish multiple times a week, but it’s extremely rare for that to be the case with kids (and if you’re the rare person whose child is eating salmon four times a week, I definitely commend you!), so in most cases, supplementation of omega 3 fish oil is necessary.
Fish oil as a kid’s supplement is something that has been around for many years, but the fantastic addition of lutein can really make a difference in kid’s health.
Many adults take lutein to protect and preserve their vision, but new research is highlighting the importance of lutein (a nutrient related to vitamin A) to protect children’s eyesight against strain and damage from exposure to blue light from electronic devices like phones and tablets.
Research suggests that continued exposure to blue light from electronic devices can lead to damage in the cells in the retina, damage that is most often manifests over the years as macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is something usually seen in older adults, and is the leading cause of vision loss as we age. Scientists are now speculating that the ubiquitous use of electronic devices among children (now starting at younger and younger ages) may, as time passes, cause vision problems earlier than ever seen before.
This unique new kid’s fish oil and lutein combination we’re recommending by Barleans is called Omega Pals Hooty Fruity Tangerine Fish Oil + Eye Nutrition, which is kind of a mouthful. It combines not only omega 3 fish oil with lutein, but also has added zeaxanthin and astaxanthin, two other eye nutrients that work with lutein to further protect the eyes- particularly the retina and the macula, the two parts of the eye crucial to sharp, clear vision where damage is most often seen over time.
The other thing I wanted to mention is that these kid’s fish oils by Barleans are absolutely delicious. Most parents laugh at the idea of trying to get their kids to take liquid fish oil, but Barleans has found a way to make a flavored fish oil that is not at all fishy tasting, but also one that is made in a way that keeps it from being oily- it’s more of a creamy or custardy consistency, with a nice orange flavor. I have given my daughter the kid’s liquid fish oils from Barleans since she was about two years old, and she absolutely loves the taste. I even have a picture from years ago, when she was in her highchair and had somehow gotten a hold of the Barleans liquid fish oil I had on the table (it was a lemon cream flavor that they had at the time), and she had grabbed the bottle and was literally pouring it into her mouth since she liked the taste so much!
The nice thing is that there is no downside to supplementation with lutein and eye supplements for kids, only benefits. There is no conclusive proof that has shown that years of exposure to electronic devices, beginning in childhood, will absolutely cause eye damage and degeneration. That’s because this has never happened before. Children growing up now are the first generation to be exposed to electronic devices practically since birth. The light now coming from computers, phones, and tablets is something different than any of us grew up with.
If thirty or forty years from now all those kids who were using electronic devices so much as kids grow up to have perfect eyes, well that would be wonderful, but the possible (and exceedingly likely) alternative- an entire generation of adults who will grow up to have vision problems like macular degeneration, appearing earlier and younger than ever before, is something to be prevented if at all possible.
Macular degeneration, as many adults know, is something that cannot be treated. There is no way to reverse it, but it can be prevented or slowed by proper nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin which help to protect the eyes against damage.
This new product by Barleans containing both fish oil and eye supplements for kids is something that can make a real difference for kids, both for their health now as well as eye health long term.
Stop by the store for more information and so we can help you further!
Barlean’s Omega Pals Hooty Fruity Tangerine Fish Oil + Eye Nutrition:
For children ages 1 year+
Made with Barlean’s ultra-purified, Fresh Catch® fish oil
Contains Lutemax 2020® Lutein & Zeaxanthin plus Astaxanthin to protect eyes from digital device use*
500mg Omega-3 EPA & DHA per serving
Sweet taste and creamy texture
Emulsified for 3X better absorption
Non-GMO, gluten Free, sugar free, dairy free
No artificial flavors or colors
No fish burps!
New Delicious Elderberry Zinc Gummies for Both Kids and Adults
We have a new product for the winter “Fight Against Illness” in stock that I’ve been really impressed with- our new Zand Elderberry Zinc Gummies. Zinc is a fantastic immune booster, and has also been shown in numerous studies to help reduce the duration of colds and respiratory infections.
The trouble with zinc is that it generally tastes terrible (sorry zinc lozenges, but you know it’s true). I don’t know what kind of witchery Zand has performed on these gummies, but they taste amazing (and they still contain a bunch of zinc).
Elderberry is a potent antiviral, and taking zinc at the very first signs of illness has been shown to help reduce the duration of colds.
These new gummies are perfect for picky kids (or adults) as an immune boosting treat. I’ve been putting a couple in my daughter’s lunch every day and she loves them (honestly, she says like they taste like candy).
Best of all, they’re on sale this month for 25% off, so be sure to give them a try!
Back to School Supplement Lists
August heralds back to school for most kids, and while you begin to get back into the school routine, it’s a great time to begin a supplement regimen for your kids.
We’ve made a list of the best products for back to school for kids of all ages. Each age group section (grade school, high school, and college) has the following items:
MULTIVITAMINS
Multivitamins are important for filling in gaps in the diet, particularly for picky eaters or kids on the go due to sports or activities who do not always have the best of diets.
PROBIOTICS
Probiotics are Important for the immune system and proper digestion. Probiotic use has been researched with children and has been found to dramatically reduce the amount of respiratory infections children contract (in research, probiotic use reduced respiratory infections by 30%).
OMEGA 3S
Omega 3 fatty acids are crucial for brain function in children. Omega 3s are not produced in the body and must be obtained through foods. If a child is not eating fatty fish or flaxseeds on a regular basis (multiple times a week), it is likely that they are deficient in omega 3s. Omega 3 fatty acids in children have been linked to fewer behavior and attention problems, and have even been in a recent study showing benefits for helping struggling children learning to read when compared with those who took a placebo.
OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTS IF NEEDED
STRESS AND ANXIETY
Many children of all ages suffer from stress and anxiety at school. We recommend theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, which helps to produce a calm, focused state. Theanine reduces anxiety without feeling tired, drugged, or “out of it”. Theanine is effective whether it is used every day or only occasionally, and can help sensitive kids have an easier time of it.
EXTRA IMMUNE HELP
Probiotics are extremely helpful for the immune system, though we have also listed a few other products in this section which are helpful when taken at the first signs of illness to help to get better faster.
CALCIUM
Depending on a child’s diet, calcium supplements may be a good idea.Research has found that the majority of children aged 9 to 13 years are calcium deficient. Only about 12% of girls and 17% of boys consumed the recommended daily amount of calcium. For older teens, 42% of boys and only 10% of girls consumed enough calcium daily. Supplements are a simple way to ensure that kids have the proper amounts of calcium needed for healthy bones.
And so, without further ado- the lists!
We’ve made printable PDFs of each of the Recommended Supplement Llists, with information on the best specific supplements for each age, linked below:
Natural Help for Colic and Gassy Babies
Anyone who has had a new baby knows that it can be rough. One of the worst things is when a little one has digestive issues including gas and colic. It’s incredibly common for babies to have digestive troubles, especially around the six to eight week mark. While it’s something that most babies grow out of, there are safe, natural remedies that can help to soothe infant’s digestive problems when you’re in the thick of it.
The first we’d recommend is a specific probiotic made for infants called JarrowDophilus Infant. It contains just one strain of good bacteria, B. Infantis, which has been studied extensively for its benefits to the developing digestive tract of newborns and infants. Studies have shown that supplementing with this specific probiotic strain is associated with a reduction in gas and digestive upset in newborns and infants.
The B. Infantis strain of probiotics make up over 90% of the good bacteria found in the digestive tract of healthy, breastfed infants. It can be extremely helpful for formula fed babies or any infant with gas, constipation, colic, and any other digestive issues causing them discomfort. Probiotics, including JarrowDophilus Infant, are only beneficial, with no negative side effects. It is completely safe for daily use for babies from birth onward, and in many babies can make a real difference in helping to normalize digestive troubles.
Another product we would recommend is called Gripe Water. It’s an all natural supplement of ginger and fennel, which works incredibly well to soothe gas and colic. We’ve even had customers report that it has helped their babies to reduce hiccupping. Our Gripe Water has an easy to use dropper that can be squeezed directly into a fussy baby’s mouth. It’s definitely a great thing to have in the house if you have a newborn.
The JarrowDophilus Infant and Gripe Water can be used in conjunction without a problem. The infant probiotic is generally meant for daily use, whereas the Gripe Water is meant to be used for acute issues of gas and colic on an as needed basis.
Back to School Supplement Essentials for All Ages
August heralds back to school for most kids, and while you begin to get back into the school routine, it’s a great time to begin a supplement regimen for your kids.
We’ve made a list of the best products for back to school for kids of all ages. Each age group section (grade school, high school, and college) has the following items:
Multivitamins
Multivitamins are important for filling in gaps in the diet, particularly for picky eaters or kids on the go due to sports or activities who do not always have the best of diets.
Probiotics
Probiotics are Important for the immune system and proper digestion. Probiotic use has been researched with children and has been found to dramatically reduce the amount of respiratory infections children contract (probiotic use reduced respiratory infections by 30%).
Omega 3s
Omega 3 fatty acids are crucial for brain function in children. Omega 3s are not produced in the body and must be obtained through foods. If a child is not eating fatty fish or flaxseeds on a regular basis (multiple times a week), it is likely that they are deficient in omega 3s. Omega 3 fatty acids in children have been linked to fewer behavior and attention problems, and have even been in a recent study showing benefits for helping struggling children learning to read when compared with those who took a placebo.
Optional Supplements if Needed
Stress and Anxiety
Many children of all ages suffer from stress and anxiety at school. We recommend theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, which helps to produce a calm, focused state. Theanine reduces anxiety without feeling tired, drugged, or “out of it”. Theanine is effective whether it is used every day or only occasionally, and can help sensitive kids have an easier time of it.
Extra Immune Help
Probiotics are extremely helpful for the immune system, though we have also listed a few other products in this section which are helpful when taken at the first signs of illness to help to get better faster.
Calcium
Depending on a child’s diet, calcium supplements may be a good idea. Research has found that the majority of children aged 9 to 13 years are calcium deficient. Only about 12% of girls and 17% of boys consumed the recommended daily amount of calcium. For older teens, 42% of boys and only 10% of girls consumed enough calcium daily. Supplements are a simple way to ensure that kids have the proper amounts of calcium needed for healthy bones.
And so, without further ado- the lists! We’ve also made printable PDFs of each of the lists, linked below:
Back to School Supplement Supply Lists
Scroll down to find the list for your child's age, though for length it may be easiest to click on the PDFs linked above.
Grade School Essentials
Multivitamins
Animal Parade Gold
These have the best ingredients of any kids chewable. It is the premium kids multi available.
Nordic Berries Gummy Vitamins on sale in August!
These are great tasting gummy multivitamins for kids. They are similar in look and taste to gumdrop candies.
My Kind Organic Kids Gummy Vitamins on sale in August!
These are the first food based kids organic gummy vitamin; it’s a fantastic choice for a gummy.
Probiotics
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Chewable Probiotics on sale in August!
This is the highest potency children’s chewable available, at 5 billion probiotics per chewable. We recommend it very highly.
Renew Life Ultimate Flora Gummy Probiotics on sale in August!
If you need a gummy probiotic, this is a great choice with a good potency (plus, they're great tasting!).
Omega 3s
Yummy Bears Omega Gummies
This is the highest potency fish oil gummy available (most kids chewable omega 3 supplements are very low potency, so this is a good tasting choice for kids).
Barleans Omega Swirl Fish Oil Liquid on sale in August!
A liquid fish oil does not sound particularly appetizing, but Barleans has made their Omega Swirl Fish Oil to be more of a cream than an oil, in several great tasting flavors without any fishiness. Stop by the store to try a sample.
Optional Supplements if Needed for Grade School
Stress and Anxiety
KAL Relax a Saurus on sale in August!
This is a good, theanine based chewable to help young children feel more relaxed.
Jarrow Theanine Gummies on sale in August!
These great tasting gummies have a nice amount of the relaxing amino acid theanine, and are very effective for stress and anxiety for children and adults of all ages.
Extra Immune Help
KAL ImmunoRaptors on sale in August!
This is a great combination of supplements designed to help boost children’s immune systems.
Nature’s Answer Sambucus Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup has been studied extensively for its benefit as an antiviral, reducing the length of colds and flu. It is safe for both children and adults and is a great tasting liquid. It can be taken preventatively or in higher amounts if you are trying to combat an acute illness.
Calcium
Carlson Calcium Gummies on sale in August!
These gummies are wonderful tasting and are appropriate for both children and adults. Each gummy has 250 mg of calcium.
High School Essentials
Multivitamins
Nature’s Plus Power Teen for Girls or Boys
These are chewables specifically designed for the needs of growing teenagers. They’re also a nice option for teens who have trouble swallowing pills.
Solaray One-A-Day High Energy Multivitamin on sale in August!
These are nice, easy to swallow capsules with high B vitamins, which help with energy.
Probiotics
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Chewable Probiotics on sale in August!
This is the highest potency children’s chewable available, at 5 billion probiotics per chewable, and is appropriate for teenagers who prefer chewables.
JarrowDophilus EPS on sale in August!
These are easy to swallow capsules with a potency of 5 billion each.
Omega 3s
Nordic Naturals Lemon Fish Oil Softgels on sale in August!
These softgels are smaller sized than many fish oil supplements, and also have added lemon oil inside the softgels to prevent “fish burps”.
Barleans Omega Swirl Fish Oil Liquid on sale in August!
A liquid fish oil does not sound particularly appetizing, but Barleans has made their Omega Swirl Fish Oil to be more of a cream than an oil, in several great tasting flavors without any fishiness.
Optional Supplements if Needed for High School
Stress and Anxiety
Jarrow Theanine Gummies or Capsules on sale in August!
Whether teenagers prefer a gummy or a capsule, theanine is wonderful for anxiety and stress- it works to produce a calm, focused, and relaxed state. Theanine is not habit forming and can be extremely useful for children and adults for reducing anxiety.
Extra Immune Help
Irwin Natural’s Immuno Shield
Immuno Shield is a fantastic immune booster that combines a variety of supplements that work to activate the immune system.
Nature’s Answer Sambucus Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry is a great antiviral, and works well to shorten the duration of illness caused by viruses (the flu in particular).
Calcium
Carlson Calcium Gummies on sale in August!
These gummies are wonderful tasting and are appropriate for both children and adults. Each gummy has 250 mg of calcium.
Digestion
American Health’s Chewable Papaya Enzymes
Papaya enzymes are helpful for anyone who gets occasional stomach upset or indigestion after eating. Papaya enzymes are all natural and work by breaking down the food in the stomach so it’s able to be digested easier.
College Student Essentials
Multivitamins
My Kind Multivitamins for Men or Women on sale in August!
My Kind vitamins are organic, food based and extremely gentle on the system.
Solaray One-A-Day High Energy Multivitamin on sale in August!
These are nice, easy to swallow capsules with high B vitamins, which help with energy.
Probiotics
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics for Men or Women on sale in August!
These are wonderful, high potency probiotics that have specific strains for male and female bodies- for example, the women’s probiotic has strains that help with preventing urinary tract and yeast infections.
JarrowDophilus EPS on sale in August!
These are easy to swallow capsules with a potency of 5 billion each.
Omega 3s
Nordic Naturals Lemon Fish Oil Softgels on sale in August!
These softgels are smaller sized than many fish oil supplements, and also have added lemon oil inside the softgels to prevent “fish burps”.
Optional Supplements if Needed for College Students
Stress and Anxiety
Jarrow Theanine Gummies or Capsules on sale in August!
Whether teenagers prefer a gummy or a capsule, theanine is wonderful for anxiety and stress- it works to produce a calm, focused, and relaxed state. Theanine is not habit forming and can be extremely useful for children and adults for reducing anxiety.
Extra Immune Help
Irwin Natural’s Immuno Shield
Immuno Shield is a fantastic immune booster that combines a variety of supplements that work to activate the immune system.
Nature’s Answer Sambucus Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry is a great antiviral, and works well to shorten the duration of illness caused by viruses (the flu in particular).
Calcium
Carlson Calcium Gummies on sale in August!
These gummies are wonderful tasting and are appropriate for both children and adults. Each gummy has 250 mg of calcium.
Country Life’s Calcium Magnesium Capsules
These are nice for teenagers and adults who prefer a capsule to swallow.
Digestion
American Health’s Chewable Papaya Enzymes
Papaya enzymes are helpful for anyone who gets occasional stomach upset or indigestion after eating. Papaya enzymes are all natural and work by breaking down the food in the stomach so it’s able to be digested easier.
Stop by the store this month, we'd be happy to help you find the exact supplements that would be best for the children in your life!
A Helpful Tip: Chewable Gummy Vitamins for Kid’s Lunches
In general, for kids, we think hard chewables are better for kid’s multivitamins, since they usually have more complete ingredients, and/or higher potencies of vitamins. However, I wanted to share a helpful tip regarding gummy vitamins which has helped our family and that I’ve found to be especially useful.
My first grader takes a lunch to school every day, and I’ve gotten in the habit of putting gummy vitamins for her to take in with her sandwich. Most schools would balk at seeing regular hard vitamins in a school lunch (understandably, since they can look like medicine), but the gummy vitamins we have at the store just look like candy or fruit snacks. I’ve found it to be a perfect solution for us since I never forget to give her her vitamins (I do a gummy multivitamin, an omega 3 chewable gummy, and a gummy probiotic), and she loves having them in her lunch since the gummies taste like a treat (I don’t usually give her fruit snacks or the like, so the gummy vitamins are a special thing in her mind).
We have a number of great tasting gummy vitamins at the store which are “kid approved” for taste.
Multivitamins
While multivitamins aren’t a replacement for a healthy diet, they are helpful to “fill in the gaps” especially for picky eaters. We recommend Nordic Naturals Nordic Berries Multivitamins and Yummy Bears Multivitamins.
Probiotics
Probiotics help with digestion and boost the immune system naturally. Research has shown that kids who take probiotics on a regular basis get fewer upper respiratory infections than kids who do not take probiotics. We recommend Renew Life’s Ultimate Flora Sour Gummies.
Omega 3s
Omega 3 fatty acids help with brain function, improving concentration and focus. Omega 3s must be obtained through diet, since the body does not manufacture them, so if a child isn’t eating fatty fish on a regular basis, it is likely they’re deficient. We recommend Yummy Bears Omega 3 + DHA and Nordic Natural's Omega 3 Gummies.
Stop by the store and we'd be happy to help find the children's vitamins right for your family!
Our Favorite Things: Animal Parade Gold Vitamins for Kids
We have our Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Gold Vitamins on sale this March. I wanted to highlight them, since Nature’s Plus will very rarely have their products on sale. They are fantastic, fantastic multivitamins- they’re the ones I give my daughter. I love them because I think their ingredients and nutrient profile are truly the best.
A multivitamin is not a substitute for a healthy diet, but adding a vitamin supplement to a child’s daily routine is a fantastic idea to fill in nutrient gaps in their diet, especially those who are picky eaters. It really is important that growing children are getting all of their recommended nutrients, since they are literally growing healthy bodies for the future.
If you haven’t started a kid’s vitamin, I’d recommend starting with a hard chewable like Animal Parade Gold. Gummy vitamins are fine, and we have a large selection at the store, but if you can, it’s best to have children take a hard chewable vitamin, since they will have a better nutrient profile and a full listing of all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Gummy vitamins are good for kids who won’t take anything else (for example, Nordic Naturals Nordic Berries Gummies are the most delicious things ever), but if you can get them to take a hard chewable, it definitely is better.
