Alexandra Worsley
Essentials For Kids Health
It seems that the children are only just back at school and the bugs have started. As we see the start of Autumn it is really the time to start thinking about boosting your children’s health to prepare their immune system and to get them ready for the mental and psychological challenges that school can bring.
The first starting point for your children's nutrients is obviously the food they eat. A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, essential fats (oily fish, avocado, nuts and seeds) and protein (lean meat, fish, beans, pulses and dairy) could provide your child with all of the nutrients they need. It is however very difficult in todays society as parents face peer (and kids) pressure, party after party and trying to juggle activities, school and work. All too often the diet does not contain the vital nutrients that they need.
So what can we do? Here are the essentials for your kids health:
1) A Multi vitamin
A good multi vitamin will provide a balance of nutrients for all round health. Look for one with good levels of B vitamins and magnesium (are both involved in hundreds of body processes, including energy production and the production of ‘feel good’ and calming brain chemicals including serotonin and dopamine), zinc and vitamin c (for immune support and skin health) and calcium for growing bones.
2) Essential fats
Despite the bad press, some fats have an essential role in the body. The good fats have a role in almost every cell of the body and approximately 60% of the brain is made up of fats. Studies have linked essential fats to an improvement in behaviour and in and learning[i]. The government recommend eating 2 portions of fish a week one of which should be oily[ii]. For many children salmon, mackerel and sardines are not their first choice when it comes to food so a fish oil supplement can step in and provide a good level of these essential fats.
3) Probiotic
Most people have heard of probiotic but why are they so important to your child's health? In balancing the beneficial bacteria in the digestive system, a good probiotic may support a child's immune system[iii], reduce symptoms of atopic eczema in children who are allergic to cows milk[iv] and may improve symptoms of IBS such as constipation and diarrhoea[v]. A probiotic should always be considered to re-balance digestive function after a course of antibiotics.
When we mention probiotic, most people think of the commercial drinks. These drinks whilst being convenient, can contain added sugars and relatively low levels of probiotic. A better option is a probiotic powder which can be mixed into juice or water. There are also manŷ different strains of probiotic available so it is important to find the one that is best for your child and their symptoms.
If your child is struggling with a health or emotional concern, please come in and have a chat. At Alexandra Worsley we have a team of therapists who offer nutritional therapy, food intolerance testing, homeopathy, counselling and much more. We can help find the right package whether it is to boost your child's immune system, identify food intolerances, find relief from eczema or to offer emotional support.
View our range of Childrens Health Supplements
[i] Richardson AJ and Montgomery P. Dietary Supplementation with Fatty Acids in Children. (2005). Pediatrics 115(5): 1360-1366.
[ii] Food Standards Agency. FSA Nutrient and Food Based Guidelines for UK Institutions. (2006). Online <http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/nutguideuk.pdf>
[iii] Hatakka K, Savilahti E, Ponka A, et al. Effect of long term consumption of probiotic milk on infections in children attending day care centres: double blind, randomised trial. BMJ 2001;322:1327
[iv] Woo SI, Kim JY, Lee YJ, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus sakei supplementation in children with atopic eczema-dermatitis syndrome. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2010;104:343-8.
[v] Kim HJ, Camilleri M, McKinzie S, et al. A randomized controlled trial of a probiotic, VSL#3, on gut transit and symptoms in diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2003;17:895-904
