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Guide To Children’s Vitamins & Probiotics – What You Should Look For & What To Be Wary Of

probiotics for kids
Family LifePost Category - Family LifeFamily LifeWellnessPost Category - WellnessWellness - Post Category - HealthHealth

Wondering whether or not your child needs supplements? What should you look for in a vitamin or probiotic and what should you be wary of? We have all the answers to your questions on children’s supplements.

It’s often been said that if you eat a varied, balanced diet and have no deficiencies or health conditions, you may not need supplements like vitamins and probiotics to keep you in tip-top health. But what if your little one is a super picky eater or if they have allergies and can’t eat certain food groups? Knowing what supplements to look for and how to evaluate a good vitamin or probiotic is key.

Who might need to take vitamin supplements?
Anyone struggling to meet their nutritional requirements from food alone. People with higher requirements (such as women wanting to get pregnant, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and those with underlying chronic illnesses) may need supplements. Those who have excluded food groups (some vegetarians, vegans, those with food allergies or intolerances as well as picky or selective eaters or those with disordered eating) may also benefit from supplements.

What should you look for in a vitamin?
– Always buy supplements from a reputable source and know the brand you are buying.
– Check that there is an expiration date, batch number, and manufacturer on the supplement label.
– Check that the supplement ingredient list doesn’t have a long list of additives, fillers, and preservatives.
– Check the dose and storage recommendation and always stick to the dose recommended for age.

Anything to be careful of?
Fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, E and K and minerals such as iron are stored in the body, and too much of these can be harmful. Check against the DRV percentage and don’t go over 100%, as you will also be getting some from your diet and the sun too. If you are pregnant, avoid fish liver oil as it contains vitamin A; large amounts can be harmful to babies.

supplements for kids

What should you look for in a probiotic?
Probiotics are a huge area of interest at the moment, but there is no evidence to suggest these supplements will benefit healthy people. For probiotics to be useful you need to take the right strain that you need in the correct dose* >10 million Colony Forming Units or CFUs.
Tip: Read supplement storage guidelines carefully, as probiotics won’t survive at high temperatures or in sunlight, and if not stored correctly, you will not receive the effective supplement dose.

How do you choose the correct strain of probiotics?
If you want to target a particular problem, talk to your doctor or dietitian about the strain (and dose) that is right for you and your specific symptoms. A few examples of conditions where probiotics may be of benefit, along with the strain that has been found to have benefit, include:
– Treatment of general symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) treat with a specific strain of Lactobacillus Plantarum
– Prevention of antibiotics-associated diarrhoea treated with strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or Saccharomyces boulardii 
– Treatment of symptoms in infantile colic trear with strain L reuteri.
Remember, there are a lot of foods out there which contain probiotics, such as live yoghurts, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha. Eating a balanced diet is important for probiotics to work. Probiotics are good bacteria and need prebiotics from your fibre (wholegrains, fruits, vegetables and legumes), to survive!

Vitamin supplements

Redoxon Kids Immuno Smarty & Immuno range

Where to buy: Guardian, Watsons, FairPrice Unity and online at Shopee and Lazada

Redoxon is no stranger in the supplement world, and now their new Redoxon Kids Immuno Smarty and Immuno range is meant for children aged 2 and up. At this age, kids are all about exploring, and as parents, we want to ensure they do so with strong immunity. The new Redoxon Kids Immuno (from $13.90)  is packed with 100% organic black elderberry and zinc to help keep their immune systems robust.

The Redoxon Kids Immuno Smarty (from $17.90) also supports brain development and cognitive growth with the added nutrient choline. It comes in a delicious fruity berry flavour, is sugar-free, free from artificial colours, and is vegan-friendly, fitting right into the palates of our little ones.

Quote BAYER15F on Shopee to get 15% off the new Redoxon Kids Immunosmarty and other Immuno products!

Read more about Redoxon’s Immuno Smarty here.

Probiotic supplements

Akesi Berry and Akesi Tropical

probiotics for kids

Where to buy: Buy directly on the Akesi website or at Little Farms, SuperNature, Scoop, Balanced Living

Did you know that a healthy gut in kids is said to lead to happier moods and improve brain development? By nurturing your child’s gut health, you’re not only supporting their physical well-being but also helping to boost their emotional and cognitive development. Akesi’s liquid probiotic range aims to achieve just that! This homegrown brand is all about gut health, offering products made in Australia. The range is natural, keto-friendly, vegan, and free from gluten, dairy, and sugar.

It comes in three flavours – berry, tropical, and ginger. Each blend is formulated to contain prebiotics, multispecies probiotics, postbiotics, and polyphenols.

Use code SASSY at akesiwellness.com to receive 10% off regular-priced products and free local delivery (no minimum purchase)!

Other over-the-counter supplements:

Looking for more supplement brands for your needs? Try BioGaia, Thorne, Nature made, Vitabiotics, Centrum, Nordic naturals, Elevit, Smarty pants, and Nature’s way.

Where else to buy supplements: Watsons, Guardian, Amazon.sg, Robinsons Chemist, iherb.com and Supernature

Lead image: Flickr

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