Do vegetables and fruits give the required vitamins to your children? Millions of parents don't know the answer

While US sales of manufactured vitamins and nutritional supplements reached nearly $56 billion in 2020, a study of 2,000 people in the UK revealed that 37% were unsure about the vitamins their family needed, while a third admitted they didn't know the benefit. Nutrients They do not consider vitamin C essential for a healthy body, and less than half (43%) realize that it helps maintain healthy skin.

It also turns out that 3 out of 10 people are unaware of the importance of vitamin D, and they believe that it can be obtained by eating any fruit or vegetable grown in a country where the sun shines, according to the British newspaper " Mirror ".

The study concluded that millions of people have no idea about the different nutrients their bodies need, that 45% of them do not believe that they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need from their diets, and that only half of parents are confident that they know the essential nutrients for their children.

Most parents don't care about vitamins

The study also found that a third of people did not know the role of copper in red and white blood cell production. Only a fifth of them know that cheese is a good source of vitamin A, and that calcium is needed to build strong bones and teeth. Two-thirds of them were unaware that they needed 40 mg of vitamin C in their daily diet from 19 to 64 years old, according to the NHS.

While 69% of parents do not consider the vitamins and minerals their children need when purchasing the ingredients for their meals because they do not know what they need, it was worrying that 38% of those surveyed were not confident in their ability to detect the signs that their children needed a supplement. More vitamins.

Each age has its needs

In light of these shocking results, established a consultative nutrition and academic supervisor of the Sufi study of Medellin, in collaboration with the "Foundation Vitabiotiks " (Vitabiotics) vitamins and supplements, evidence of nutritional needs for each family member by age group stage, explaining that "humans need vitamins and different minerals to their bodies , to continue to function in a healthy manner, but these vitamins can vary at different ages.

Children who are experiencing stages of difficulty eating may benefit from vitamin supplements that include iron and B vitamins due to their importance for growth and development. And when they're school-aged, brain function and immunity are high on the parents' agenda. As they grow into adolescence, their nutritional needs are high, as they experience growth spurts and puberty. Also, adults' needs change, whether during pregnancy for women, or when they reach middle age or old age.

The most important thing your children need

Although the American Academy of Nutrition, Eatright says that "healthy children who eat a balanced diet generally do not need vitamin supplements, with the exception of vitamin D," this does not preclude that there are those who choose to give their children a supplement of vitamins and minerals. To ensure that their nutritional needs are met, their general health is improved, and their risk of disease is reduced. Therefore, the NHS recommends that children from 6 months to 5 years of age be given daily supplements of vitamins A, C and D.

Vitamin A (A) , found in a large number of foods such as dairy, cheese, fruits, vegetables, liver, eggs and oily fish, has many important functions, on top of which is that it leads the task of natural defense of the body against disease and infection, by helping the immune system to function properly. . It is unlikely that taking 1.5 mg or less per day of vitamin A, through diet and supplements together, will cause any harm, according to "NHS".

Vitamin C , Certified Nutritionist Kara Swanson asserts, "more than just a cure for colds, it helps fight immune system deficiencies and heart disease." And you can get it from different food sources, it is enough that one cup of broccoli contains the same amount of vitamin C as in an orange. But Swanson recommends giving a slightly higher dose when you feel a cold coming on, to keep your kids healthy.

Vitamin D , a nutrient that plays a role in heart health and infection control, helps the body absorb calcium from the foods we eat, and children need it to build strong bones.

Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital advises giving it as a supplement as a "fortification" because it is difficult to get enough from exposure to the sun, and most children spend a lot of time indoors or at school. Few foods contain it naturally. That's why food companies add it to milk, yogurt, infant formula, juice, cereal and other foods.

Children under the age of one year need 400 units of it per day. Children older than one year need 600 units or more per day. In general, health care providers prefer to take healthy children from 600,000 to 1,000 units per day, according to the Jobs Hopkins Hospital.

The NHS recommends taking a vitamin D supplement between September and March to ensure these levels are met.

And don't forget calcium, it's the building block for strong bones, and unlike vitamin D, kids can get it through foods rich in it like milk, cheese and yogurt. Food makers such as cereal, bread or juice often fortify them with calcium, according to the Jobs Hopkins Hospital.