Children’s Diets

Children's diets today are a far cry from the diets that our grandparents ate. The enticement of burger bars and fizzy drinks machines is leading to unhealthy young adults with degenerative diseases already well-established.

In a study of 460 girls in the US aged 14 to 15, they found that those who drank fizzy soft drinks were three times more likely to break bones. They suspect that phosphoric acid, found in some brands of fizzy drinks may reduce bone mass. Dr Grace Wyshack of Harvard Medical School in Boston (US) pointed out that there were serious implications for women in later life; and that there were also concerns about carbonated beverages and obesity, tooth decay and osteoporosis (Daily Telegraph 15/ 06/00)

Osteoporosis causes a lot of suffering and premature death yet sensible eating in the early years can avoid this condition significantly. Eating high quantities of saturated fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils, commonly found in fast food and processed food, over time lead to heart disease and stroke. Children as young as 10 have been found to have the beginnings of atherosclerosis - furring up of the arteries.

Not enough fresh vegetables or fruit are being consumed, yet these are the keys to good health. The government recommends we all eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Does your child? Do you? Realistically, though, we should all be aiming to eat at least eight portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Even if your child does manage to eat the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables, the quantity of beneficial nutrients they receive is far less than 50 years ago. So, what can you do to give your child the best start in life? Encouraging them to eat fruit and vegetables is a start, preferably organic because those grown using pesticides will contain fewer nutrients. But even organic fruits and vegetables do not contain the same complement of nutrients as 50 years ago.

Therefore, the advice given by doctors practicing in Nutritional Medicine, to help your child receive sufficient nutrients to grow into a healthy adult, is to provide support in the form of supplements.

It is well known that a lack of vitamins and minerals can lead to behaviour problems like ADHD and ADD and by supplementing them in the diets of these children, studies have shown some remarkable improvements.

Also, regular colds and ear infections in children can indicate a poor immune system and these elements seem to diminish in children who take a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement.

But how can you be sure of buying a "good quality supplement" when there are so many to choose from?

Many supplements contain inorganic metallic minerals of which only 10 – 12% may be absorbed into the body. They can also be toxic, and dangerous levels of these metallic minerals can accumulate in the tissues and create serious health problems.

Chelated minerals are an improvement on metallic minerals, with an estimated 48% absorption and organic colloidal minerals, derived from plants, are considered to give better absorption than chelated minerals.

However, colloidal minerals are still too large for easy absorption and it has been found that a micro-colloidal solution containing minute, ionised minerals offers the best bio-availability.

NEWAYS has used this discovery to formulate a nutrient-packed tonic called Maximol Solutions. Organic fulvic acid is also added which helps in the delivery of the minerals, vitamins, amino acids and enzymes into the body, to give up to 98% absorption.

Maximol is suitable for children from 4 years of age. Younger children and babies may take Orachel for Kids which is a chewable, strawberry flavoured tablet containing a daily dose of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants specifically designed for a growing child. It may also be crushed into food.

Essential Fatty Acids are also important in a child’s diet. Numerous studies are showing how they can improve concentration and have been very effective in cases of ADHD and ADD. The best source is from oily fish but few children enjoy eating this. There have also been reports that toxins such as mercury and hormone disrupting chemicals may be present in this type of fish. The next best thing to offer your child is fish oil supplements from a reputable source.

NEWAYS produces two supplements containing fish oils - Omega 3 EPA and EFA Recovery Plus.

Omega 3 EPA contains two types of Omega 3 oils plus Vitamins D and E. EFA Recovery Plus also contains the Omega 3 oils but also contains Omega 6 and other essential fatty acids.

Either of these supplements can be given to children. As the oils are added to capsules, it is easier to snip off the end of the capsule and mix the oils into your child’s food.