Are Vitamins Good For Your Kids?

If you’re like many families, you start the day the same way – with a lot of hustle and bustle getting the kids out the door and ready for school. But you make sure they have a good breakfast before they go, and you may add in another ingredient you won’t find in a cereal box: a dose of vitamins.

But if you’re among the 30 per cent of parents who give their kids vitamins hoping to keep them healthy, you could just be throwing your money away. That’s the stance more and more pediatricians are taking after a recent U.S. study suggested multivitamins for children are practically useless.

“It’ll just pass out in their urine and pass out in your pocket book,” said Dr. Micky Lester.

Not only that, he warns that if misused, vitamins can actually be harmful for children.

“Too much of some vitamins can cause kidney stones,” Lester added.

But above all else, doctors suggest the greatest danger that comes from giving your child a multi-vitamin is a false sense of security.

“They feel that they’re getting their vitamins so they don’t have to drink as much milk, so they can get the junk food and it doesn’t really matter because I’m giving them vitamins,” he said.

Dr. Lester does say parents should give vitamin D to breast-fed babies, and should check with their child’s doctor on giving them iron and Omega 3. And for parents who only serve their children bottled water, a daily dose of fluoride is also recommended.

Here’s a guide to what each vitamin is supposed to do in the body.

Vitamin A

What’s it do?: Helps maintain skin, teeth and bones, resistance to infection.

Where’s it found?: Fish oil, liver, dairy products.

Vitamin B-1

What’s it do?: Aids digestion and appetite, helps regulate nervous system.

Where’s it found?: Br own rice, beans, peas, organ meats, whole grains, seeds, nuts.

Vitamin B-2

What’s it do?: Helps sustain normal growth, forms certain helpful enzymes in the  body, prevents sores on mouth and tongue.

Where’s it found?: Milk and other dairy products, meats, poultry, fish, green vegetables (like broccoli and spinach).

Vitamin B-3

What’s it do?: Aids in nervous and digestive system functions, health skin.

Where’s it found?: Lean meats, fish, poultry, whole grains.

Vitamin B-6

What’s it do?: Helps use amino acids in the body, aids in making hemoglobin.

Where’s it found?: Meats, whole grains, wheat germ.

Vitamin B-12

What’s it do?: Aids nervous system functions, development of red blood cells, helps process the carbohydrates and folic acid you get from foods.

Where’s it found?: Fish, dairy products, beef, eggs.

Vitamin C

What’s it do?: Promotes healthy bones, teeth, gums, may helps prevent colds and other diseases; speeds healing of wounds.

Where’s it found: Fresh fruits and juices, along with fresh vegetables.

Vitamin D:

What’s it do?: Promotes strong bones; helps regulate calcium absorption in your stomach. Sometimes called the Sunshine vitamin, and Canadians often don’t get enough of it during the winter months. But beware of taking too much.

Where’s it found: Fatty fish, liver, eggs, fortified milk.

Vitamin E:

What’s it do?: Aids brain function and formation of red blood cells. Touted for a while as a miracle vitamin, but now scientists are pulling back on the benefits.

Where’s it found?: Whole grains, vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, eggs.

Vitamin K:

What’s it do?: Aids in blood clotting

Where’s it found?: Green leafy vegetables, dairy products.

Source: Texas Heart Institute

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