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Kids thrive on whole—preferably organic
—foods and a daily multiple
For every healthy food marketed for children,
there are 10 more high in saturated or trans fat, salt,
and sugar—but low in nutrients. Watching ten commercials
an hour (mostly for junk foods), kids are easy prey
for major food manufacturers. Young people influence
72 percent of family food purchases today and not necessarily
for the best.
When your child asks for highly processed
food, try a little deprogramming. Even very young children
can understand a simple explanation of why a product
is undesirable. Chemical additives can hurt the body.
Sugar rots the teeth. Certain fats can make kids unhealthy.
Gently add that saying no means you love them.
Teach your children to read food labels,
and encourage them to pick out fresh produce when you
shop. “Whenever possible, buy organically grown produce
and grains,” suggests Janet Zand, ND, LAc. A new study
finds that certified organic produce contains, on average,
three to four times less pesticide residue than conventional
fruits and vegetables—and up to 10 times fewer multiple
pesticide residues. Also important for growing children?
Meat and other animal foods—produced without synthetic
pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics—support
healthy growth and development. (Please see this month’s
feature on page 30 for a healthy diet that won’t make
your kids overweight.)
A Daily Multiple
“Even the most vigilant parents cannot be 100 percent
certain what nutrients are in the food they serve their
children,” says Jeff Bradstreet, MD, founder of the
International Child Development Resource Center in Florida.
That’s because cooking, exposure to air, certain preservatives,
and even how foods are grown can impact their nutritional
value. Although not a form of energy like carbohydrates,
fats, or proteins, vitamins are essential to normal
growth and metabolism.
Water- soluble vitamins (like B complex
and C) must be consumed daily for healthy development.
Even the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (like A,
D, E, and K), which remain in the body, can be damaged
by frying foods or taking antibiotics. Found in all
body tissues and fluids, minerals are necessary for
the body’s processing of nutrients, as well as muscle
contractions, nerve responses, and maintaining the right
fluid balance. Critical minerals (like calcium in bones
and teeth) are excreted from the body, so need replacing
daily.
Many multiple vitamin-mineral formulas
created for children contain artificial colors and questionable
sweeteners. So it’s important to read labels carefully,
looking for natural sweeteners instead. While toxic
overloads of vitamins or minerals are rare, they can
occur, especially with overly sweetened multiples that
taste like candy. Too much iron, for example, can be
dangerous at any age. Parents are wise to keep kids’
daily vitamin-mineral out of reach and to follow label
directions carefully. Choose a daily multi based on
the age-appropriate levels in the pullout chart that
follows.
Your Best Defense
If food poisoning strikes, your own health plays a significant
role in determining the severity of the infection. The
health of your intestinal tract and the efficiency of
your immune system are both important factors in resisting
or minimizing the effects of foodborne pathogens. Adequate
intake of dietary fiber may help minimize your risk
of getting sick, and a low fat diet increases your body's
defense mechanisms.
SELECTED SOURCES
- An
Evidence-based Approach to Vitamins and Minerals by
Jane Higdon, PhD ($59, Thieme, 2003)
-
Food Fight by Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, and Katherine
Battle Horgen, PhD ($24.95, Contemporary Books, 2004)
n
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Personal Communication: Jeff Bradstreet, MD, 5/23/03
n PDR for Nutritional Supplements ($59.95, Medical Economics,
2001)
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Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet Zand,
ND, LAc; Robert Rountree, MD; Rachel Walton, RN ($22.95,
Penguin Group/Avery, 2003)
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