Back to school MM
A helping hand
We may have just said ‘hello’ to the summer holidays, but it won’t be long before kids will be back at school and having to deal with a new routine, early mornings and lots of homework! So, now’s the time to get them loaded up with plenty of vitamins and minerals…
Once kids get back to school in September, they’re immediately hit by a raft of viruses and bugs. While you may not be able to do anything about these medical issues, you can certainly ensure that your child is in tip-top condition to face the challenges faced by their energy levels, concentration and immune system.
Multi-vitamins While, in an ideal world, every child should be receiving the optimal amounts of minerals and vitamins from their diet, every mum knows that this isn’t always feasible – particularly if a child is a fussy eater and views vegetables and oily fish as major turnoffs. Unfortunately, fruit, vegetables and fish
are the foods that contain the most important nutrients for kids. In addition to the fact that they increase their energy levels, they also support brain function and concentration – both of which are, naturally, essential for school and learning. A good multi-vitamin can do your child
the world of good. Not only will it provide them with the nutrients they need for action -packed school days, it will also prevent them from becoming physically and mentally tired over the course of the day. Over the last few years, various studies
have been done on kids’ IQ scores and they have repeatedly shown that concentration, performance and even behaviour have improved with the addition of a multi-vitamin.
Vitamin D Known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, the benefits of vitamin D have been very much in the spotlight recently. Vitamin D is essential for the maintenance of a healthy immune system – which may help your child to ward off those pesky little bugs that are synonymous with the start of a new school year – but it’s also great for building strong, healthy bones and teeth. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight
but, thanks to the, ahem, less-than-sunny climate in Ireland, kids don’t get enough vitamin D from this valuable source and so a supplement is generally required. The recommended intake for kids aged one to 18 is between 400iu and 1000iu. You could also try increasing their intake of vitamin D-rich foods, such as egg yolks, fortified milk, salmon, mackerel, liver and butter but, having said that, these food sources are not always a reliable source, and so a supplement is usually your best bet.
Probiotics Also known as micro biotics, these are ‘good’ bacteria that live in the intestinal tract. These bacteria are essential for kids in that they help the body to function properly. Where problems can arise is when ‘bad’ bacteria are present. These bacteria can be caused by intestinal imbalances which, if left unchallenged, can lead to a feeling of general malaise, thrush, digestive problems and irritable bowel symptoms.
While these bacteria are generally the
result of poor diet, lifestyle and environmental factors, such as stress, can also aggravate the situation. If your child tends to be anxious or worried – particularly by school – then it’s vital that you provide them with a probiotic in order to boost their ‘good’ bacteria levels and minimise the damage caused by the ‘bad’ ones.
Omega oils The benefits of omega – or ‘fish’ – oils have been touted on for some years now. Repeated studies have shown that an increased omega 3 intake will improve cognitive function, including hand-eye coordination, attention span, attention span and intelligence – all of which are vitally important in schoolchildren. Again, the best source of these oils is in
diet, in foods such as oily fish, nuts and seeds but, as we’ve already said, getting kids to eat these isn’t always easy – or successful – and so a fish oil supplement is perfect for ensuring that your child is not deficient in these essential fatty acids. While younger kids need supplements with increased DHA levels to support the development of their brain, eyes, and nervous and immune systems, older kids need higher levels of EPA, which helps to support cardiovascular, joint, skin, immune system and brain health.
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