Vitamins for Kids
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Vitamins for Kids
Vitamins are organic nutrients with specific metabolic functions. They are required in minute amounts in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body. They are essential for the growth and maintenance of good health in human beings and are essential food factors which help in the proper utilization of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, lipids and amino acids. Vitamins have a host of advantages for people belonging to various age groups such as kids, adolescents, adults and aged individuals. It is not possible to get all the vitamins from diet alone. Supplementation is a significant means by which the body’s daily requirement of all the nutrients can be met.
There are a variety of vitamins for kids available in the market these days. It is necessary for children to take multi-vitamins on a daily basis. Not getting the adequate amount of a vitamin nutrient in the diet may result in a deficiency. It is necessary for kids to eat a well balanced diet comprising of the four basic food groups on a daily basis.
Essential vitamins for kids can be obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables and adequate amounts of meat, fish, egg, milk, cheese, cereals and curd. In case, the child is unable to get all the vitamins through a regular diet, it is best to start supplementation. There are a variety of tonics, capsules and injections available in the health and fitness industry that help prevent nutritional deficiencies in children and keeps them healthy.
Common deficiencies in children:
Vitamin D: The deficiency of vitamin D in kids may result in a disease called rickets which is characterized by poor absorption of calcium.
Vitamin B: This helps subside Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in children. Kids suffering from this disease are found to demonstrate low levels of serotonin in their brain. This prevents the brain’s capacity of sending messages to its other parts, resulting in the messages getting stuck in a repetitive manner. When large doses of Vitamin B in the form of Inositol are given to kids, they tend to help the child in combating the disorder.
Vitamin A: This may lead to poor eyesight, night blindness and lowered infection fighting capacity in children. This can be rectified by supplying adequate amounts of Vitamin A rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, carrots, milk etc.
Vitamin C: This leads to the weakening of bones, gums and teeth, delayed healing of wounds and susceptibility to colds and viruses.
Vitamins for the growth and development of kids:
There are two types of vitamins in the body:
Fats soluble vitamins consist of vitamins A, D, E and K that get stored in the fat tissues of the body.
Water Soluble vitamins consist of the B complex group and Vitamin C.
The fat soluble vitamins can only be absorbed when there is normal fat absorption in the body. They have diverse functions in the body. Vitamin A is essential for vision, vitamin D is required for calcium and phosphate metabolism, Vitamin E is known for its powerful antioxidant properties, vitamin K aids in blood clotting. A deficiency of these vitamins can lead to the development of a number of deficiency syndromes such as night blindness (vitamin A), rickets (vitamin D), neurological disorders and anemia of the newborn (vitamin E), hemorrhage of the newborn (vitamin K).
Water soluble vitamins also result in various deficiency syndromes such as beriberi (thiamin), cheilosis, glossitis, seborrhes (riboflavin), pellagra (niacin), anemia (vitamin B12) and scurvy (vitamin C).
The shortage of a vitamin can result in a deficiency, whereas the intake of a vitamin in excess can result in a number of side effects such as diarrhea, headaches, stomach cramps, vomiting, dizziness, outbreak of rashes on the skin etc. Vitamins are essential for kids. They enhance the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, boost the immune system and act as powerful antioxidants, enabling the body to fight the harmful effects of free radicals in the environment such as pollution, smoke, industrial fumes etc.
