Giving Our Kids a Healthy Foundation
Good Diet and Supplements for Children

by Julian Whitaker, MD

September is back-to-school time, and the biggest concern for most American children right now is what kind of lunchbox they want. But for millions of children here in the US and around the world, the real problem is what goes in the lunchbox. The state of most children’s diets today is atrocious, from fast-food lunches in the school cafeteria to the soda machines in the hallways. But for the millions of kids who live in poverty, the problem is even worse. Government studies reveal significant deficiencies among underprivileged children in the intake of total calories, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, B6, C, and E. Deficiencies like this have grave consequences. They reduce a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school, increase aggression and behavior problems, and add to our tax burden and social problems. Even more distressing, according to public health experts, is the fact that exposure to extreme poverty early in life can have detrimental and long-lasting effects on health later in life.

If you’re a subscriber to Health & Healing, you know I’ve written for years about the importance of providing children with a solid nutritional base. Most kids can’t get all the nutrition they need from their diets alone, and I’ve always recommended supplementation to lay that firm foundation. But there are millions of underprivileged families around the world who just don’t have the means to afford the supplements they need. That’s why I’ve been such an enthusiastic supporter of Vitamin Relief USA. Last year alone, this organization distributed 18 million nutritional supplements to underprivileged kids through public schools, Head Start programs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other outreaches. It also provided more than 23 million supplements to children in developing countries. And in this month’s issue of Health & Healing, I’m thrilled to announce the start of a brand-new program that will ensure delivery of supplements to at-risk children in our nation’s capital. Supplement manufacturers Tishcon Corporation and Marine Nutriceuticals have joined forces with Healthy Directions (the company that supplies the supplements I recommend), to donate daily multivitamins and DHA capsules to disadvantaged kids in Washington, DC. The children in the program will be tracked and their health and academic progress monitored for a full year. I’ll have regular updates on the program in Health & Healing in the coming months — subscribe now to keep track of how it’s going.

Make Sure Your Children Are Getting the Very Best

I hope this partnership serves as a good reminder of just how critical it is to make sure our children are getting the nutrients they need. If you’re looking into supplement options for your kids or grandkids, here are a few common pitfalls to look out for in children’s multi-nutrients:

Make sure any vitamin C is buffered: Non-buffered vitamin C is very acidic and can be hard on kids’ teeth and upset their stomachs. Look for calcium ascorbate or sodium ascorbate on labels.

No iron: Iron is toxic if taken in large amounts, and accidental iron poisoning is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in young children. (Good-tasting chewable supplements are often the culprit.) If your child needs extra iron, purchase an iron supplement and lock it up out of reach of children.

No refined sugars or artificial sweeteners: Watch out for sucrose, fructose, and sorbitol, as well as aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, which are added to many children’s supplements to improve the taste. Natural sweeteners like xylitol and stevia are much better choices.

No hydrogenated fats or other additives: Also be on the lookout for hydrogenated oils, dyes, artificial flavorings, and other additives. Children’s vitamins can be perfectly palatable using natural ingredients such as vanilla and fruit oils and flavorings.

Divided doses: Water-soluble nutrients flush out of the body and need to be replenished to maintain optimal levels. A supplement that recommends divided doses is far superior to a one-a-day brand.

Taste: Make sure it tastes good. When kids are involved, taste is everything!

Do As I…Do? Any parent who’s tried to change the behavior of a child knows full well that kids are much more likely to do as we do, not as we say. It’s up to all of us to set the very best example we can when it comes to living a healthy life — so make sure your kids see you take your supplements, eat your vegetables, go for your daily walk, and read your newspapers and books. They may never admit it, but they’ll strive to be just like you! Stay healthy!

Julian Whitaker, MD