Vitamin Deficiency and Child Behavior
Kids. They can drive us bonkers with their behavior sometimes. As a parent, you’ve likely found yourself asking the “nature vs. nurture” question. You know the one. It goes like this: “are my kids acting up because of how we raised them or is something else going on?” Quite often, that something is their diet. While you need to take a variety of factors into consideration, food is a biggie.
Changes in mood and the development of behavior problems may be linked to poor nutrition including the lack of proper vitamins and minerals. Ensuring your child receives enough vitamins and minerals will not only help them grow physically, but also may also support their mental health and brain development as they advance toward adulthood. Here, we’ll take a closer look at vitamin deficiency and child behavior while explaining why the growing brain needs proper nutrition.
How Common Is Vitamin Deficiency in Children?
Vitamin deficiencies may weigh on your mind as a parent, but the good news is that serious vitamin deficiencies simply aren’t that common in the United States. This isn’t a free pass to feed them anything you want, of course. Kids still need well-rounded and balanced diets, and the truth is many kids are picky eaters. Left to their own devices, they won’t always make the right nutritional choices. Still other children may suffer from malabsorption or live in a place where food insecurity is common, making vitamin deficiency a very real problem.
In addition to feeding them vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, health supplement for kids can help smooth the path to a healthy adolescence and adulthood. SmartyPants vitamins can help fill in the gaps.
Specifically formulated for kids, SmartyPants Kids Formula is packed with more than 15 premium ingredients, including omega-3 EPA and DHA essential fatty acids, along with Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B12. And, as tasty gummies, these are vitamins your kids will love to take every day.
Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiency in Children
We mentioned that vitamin deficiencies are not all that common in the U.S., but they do still exist. Symptoms of a deficiency are wide-ranging and your child’s pediatrician is the best source for information when you’re concerned about any aspect of your child’s health. Here are some of the symptoms that may indicate a vitamin deficiency in a child:
- Dry skin
- Hyperactivity
- Diarrhea
- Not focusing on tasks or schoolwork
- Generally poor growth
Prevent Deficiency Through a Balanced Diet
What can you do to prevent nutrient deficiencies? You can start with a balanced diet. From there, if your child is a picky eater or suffers from food allergies that prevent them from getting enough of a certain nutrient, you can supplement with the following vitamins and minerals:
- Antioxidants: found in colorful fruits and vegetables, antioxidants reverse the damage done to the cells by free radicals. Eat the rainbow!
- Omega-3 fatty acids: like the ones found in SmartyPants Kids Formula
- Probiotics: Friendly bacteria that work wonders on your child’s digestive health.* Happy tummies make for happier kiddos. Link SmartyPants Probiotics
- Vitamin B: Teamed up, vitamins B6 and B12 support energy metabolism.*
- Vitamin D: Also known as the sunshine vitamin, this one is crucial for bone health*
- Vitamin C: Helps immune system function.*
- Magnesium: Helps Build strong bones and teeth* (Link SmartyPants Kids Minerals)
Supplementation for Kids
If your child enjoys a balanced diet complete with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and lean proteins, there may be no need for supplementation. However, if they’re a picky eater, supplements can go a long way toward filling the nutritional gap. Learn more about SmartyPants multivitamins for the entire family here and, as always, talk to your pediatrician about how supplements can help your child.
