A Little Supplement Can Go a Long Way

By Traci Williams

We are all looking out for our children’s health, and striving to give them the best food we can. This being said, ensuring that our children get the required nutrients can be difficult at times as we race home from work to put dinner on the table and then get our kids off to hockey, soccer, or dance classes…

However, giving our children a multivitamin with minerals and Omega 3 can make up for those times when they cannot get all they need from food. Granted, many of us already know that Vitamin D helps bones grow strong, Vitamin A is good for the eyes and Vitamin C bolsters the immune system, but what about folic acid, magnesium and Omega 3? Folic acid not only protects unborn children from congenital defects in the case of pregnant women, but will also help our little ones produce healthy red blood cells and protect them against anaemia. Magnesium is needed for our children to absorb calcium—important for a healthy nervous system and skeleton. It is also required in many of the body’s processes, such as communication between and within cells. Omega 3s are naturally found in breast milk and certain oils like fish and olive. They are high in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which supports brain development. Lack of DHA can lead to problems with learning, memory and behaviour, as well as depression. These are just some of the components needed to keep our children in optimal health.

So the next time you have to “nuke” a frozen meal or stop for fast food to get to an appointment on time, you can rest assured that a good supplement will be of benefit when nutrition must take a back seat to our frantic lifestyles.