Integration in kindergarten and school-going children
The habit of asking the pediatrician for vitamin and mineral supplements for their children is very common among parents. Often, however, such supplements are useless: in fact, if the child is fed in a complete way, with a balanced intake of all foods, including fruit and vegetables, it is very difficult for him to suffer from deficiencies in vitamins or minerals.
However, there may be times when your body needs a 'little help'.
At school age: supplementation when the child is tired
Often during the school period, parents report to the pediatrician that the child appears tired and less focused. In this case, a supplementation of complexes based on iron, zinc, vitamin B6, B12, folic acid could be given. The important thing is never to decide on your own initiative the type of supplement and the dosage, but always follow the instructions of the pediatrician: some substances, if taken in excessive quantities, are not free from side effects! Also, parents should before giving a supplement to the child evaluate lifestyle of child. If you go to bed late, if you watch too much TV or your cell phone, the solution is not the supplement for fatigue, but a change in habits.
Supplements for memory and academic achievement
There are no miraculous substances capable of increasing memory and school performance and this Sipps document specifies that "in healthy school-age children, in the absence of specific deficiencies or risk conditions, the supplementation of any specific nutrient is not recommended in order to to improve memory and academic performance ".
That said, the document itself is a reminder of how important it is ensure adequate levels of certain substances - vitamin B12, iron and DHA fatty acids - during fetal development and early childhood to ensure "the optimal development of the central nervous system and its performance also at the cognitive level". It means that you have to be careful about the situations they can expose you to deficiency of these substances, such as a vegetarian or vegan diet or even the time of weaning from breast milk. Up to six months there are no problems with iron intake. After this date, however, breast milk becomes deficient and that is why it is advisable to introduce foods that can guarantee a correct intake of this substance. If this does not happen, for example because the baby eats very little outside of feedings, integration is worth considering. Remembering that in general the importance of iron should not be underestimated. It is the other fundamental pillar of growth and development, along with vitamin D ".
Integration and do it yourself
In any case, in general the "do it yourself" by the family is absolutely to be avoided, not only with drugs but also with supplements and supplements. In the long run, excessive doses of vitamins or minerals can lead to overdose and intoxication conditions, with more risks than benefits.
Read also: Vitamins and supplements in its first year of life
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TAG:
- Vitamins
- supplements
- child diet
