Re: Do you give your kids a multi vitamin?

[Guest guest]

I used to before all my research and switch to traditional/primal eating. I

stopped because I & #39;m convinced that multivitamins are at best harmless but of

no benefit, and at worst, toxic.

Why? 1. Most are synthetic copies of vitamins that are most likely

unrecognizable or harmful to the body. Vitamin A is a great example of this. 2.

Vitamins and minerals from whole, unprocessed food are synergistic (the sum of

the whole is greater than the sum of the parts). 3. A diet based on quality,

nutrient dense foods has ample vitamins in ideal bio-available form. My

multivitamins of choice are ample amounts of pastured egg yolks, grassfed meat,

fat and organs, fclo, grassfed dairy (especially fermented), fermented veggies,

real bone broth, veggies and berries.

[Guest guest]

One thing to figure out is whether they contain naturally derived or

synthetically produced vitamins. I'm not an expert on this, but I know

that the difference exists. I phased out vitamins now that we eat naturally

nourishing foods, but we do take fermented cod-liver oil (Green

Pastures). However, I do sometimes give my kids a " booster " vitamin from

their ones I have left over, if we are fighting a sniffle or a little

run-down.

On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 3:22 PM, Bethany Welter <betwelt@...> wrote:

> **

>

>

> If not, why not? If so, what's your favorite and why?

>

> I get that there are vitamins in there, but I can't help feeling like I'm

> just giving my 2.5yo a couple pieces of candy every single day (which I

> would never do)! At least she likes to take them, I suppose...

>

> Thanks,

> Bethany

>

>

[Guest guest]

We don't give our kids vitamins. I believe the best way to give them vitamins

is to give them good food. Granted, they don't always like everything we serve,

but...

I have read that most vitamins made don't even get absorbed into the body. If

you are going to invest in vitamins, I recommend choosing the co-op or a trusted

source, someone who understands how the vitamins are made and what the

ingredients are.

[Guest guest]

Great topic! We give D3 in the winter and Carlson's Omega 3 daily.

Occasionally we do FCLO but I am trying to research whether this lowers vitamin

D levels in the blood (have heard some of anecdotal reports that it does) so

just do that weekly right now. Sometimes high vitamin butter oil. We also

include a bit of kelp powder, discorea root, and green powders like wheatgrass

and spirulina in food dishes and smoothies. We try to do a lot of good fats for

our kids in particular, like avocado, raw walnuts, young coconuts, and quality

milk and meat sources, colorful veggies and fruits for antioxidants, fermented

foods for probiotics, and bone broth for minerals. I do an electrolyte mix

(potassium, calcium, magnesium mixed with stevia and lemon juice) which my kids

love and steal a drink now and then when they see me drinking. In short, we

don't do a multi for our kids but are not opposed to one if we find a good one

that's mostly food based and sugar-free. I'd be super interested if someone

knows of one!?!?

I think that black and white thinking about vitamins (like either they are

wonderful and will solve all your problems or that they are totally unnecessary)

does people a huge disservice either way. There's lots of difference between a

quality food based brand like Mega Foods(one of the one's I've been looking

into) and synthetic brands at GNC or Walmart. Also, there are times (healing,

growth spurts, stress, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc.) that people, including

kids, are going to be much healthier with a supplement, even if their diet is

first-rate.

Something to think about when choosing a MV: the latest research on iron

supplementation with kids turns the old wisdom (of adding it even if Hg levels

are fine) on its' head. I personally would not add nonfood-based iron to kids'

diets unless 1) you have tested your kid's Hg and know it to be low or 2) the

child will be undergoing a high blood loss surgery in the near future (and still

in those cases, I'd work with a Dr. to get the right amount).

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/12/too-much-iron-in-infant-formul\

a-could-be-harming-your-babies/249615/

Faith

>

> If not, why not? If so, what's your favorite and why?

>

> I get that there are vitamins in there, but I can't help feeling like I'm

> just giving my 2.5yo a couple pieces of candy every single day (which I

> would never do)! At least she likes to take them, I suppose...

>

> Thanks,

> Bethany

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would reiterate what most people have said about using foods as the

multi-vitamin. We also give fish oil daily and Vitamin D3 during the winter.

We also use the Standard Process multi-vitamin (Catalyn), their immune system

booster (Congaplex), and their probiotic (Zymex) as treats for her. For

instance, we're potty training now, and her biggest incentive is to get a Zymex

wafer when she goes on the potty. It's been great! We also used the Catalyn

and Congeplex in Easter Eggs this year as our " candy " . She's only two right

now, so things might change as she sees other kids eating more processed

candies, but it's been working great for us so far.

Anne

>

> If not, why not? If so, what's your favorite and why?

>

> I get that there are vitamins in there, but I can't help feeling like I'm

> just giving my 2.5yo a couple pieces of candy every single day (which I

> would never do)! At least she likes to take them, I suppose...

>

> Thanks,

> Bethany

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I go back and forth on multis, but the one thing I make sure we all take is

vitamin D.

Barb

[Guest guest]

Is the zymex something found at the coops? Whole foods? Id like to add this in

for the 2 yr old

, and their probiotic (Zymex) as treats for her. For instance, we're potty

training now, and her biggest incentive is to get a Zymex wafer when she goes on

the potty. It's been great! We also used the Catalyn and Congeplex in Easter

Eggs this year as our " candy " . She's only two right now, so things might

change as she sees other kids eating more processed candies, but it's been

working great for us so far.

>

> Anne

>

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[Guest guest]

I second the Standard Process vits in Anne's email. We get them from our

chiropractor, Dr. Nick Mellum of Complete Chiropractic and Wellness in

Richfield.

I especially like the congaplex for cold season and teething. Standard

Process docs reccommend the extra calcium found in their congaplex

chewables for teething - especially for children who get fevers along with

teething. Once we started offering congaplex our boy's teething periods

became much more doable, with short-lived to no fevers present

I also share our FCLO/butter oil with our little one. He easily takes down

the gel form from Green Pastures.

a

[Guest guest]

Yes, but unfortunately more than I'd like! Pickyness has become super extreme

for my 3 yo in the past 6 months, so I have added in a few more supplements that

I don't think would be needed if he were eating in a balanced way. Trying to up

his zinc and probiotics. At least he still eats branchweiger! Fish

oils/gummies/capsules are hit and miss with him, he'll get through half a bottle

loving it, and then one day, hate it and won't touch it, so I try not to break

the bank on those. (He LOVED those cinnamon fish that Green Pastures used to

have, sigh, I wish they'd bring them back) Animal Parade gold is his main multi

vitamin, (it has some vit K in it, and a sugar free version) and he loves Animal

Parade Tooth Fairy (D, calcium, probiotics...) and I try to sneak probiotic

powder into some of his foods. I'm still searching for some kid friendly

zinc...in the mean time I give him some gummy bear immunity C formula from

walgreens...it only has 20% zinc, so I give him two. I think it is making a

little (positive) difference in his appetite/pickyness that I have noticed in

the past week or so. I just know it would be so much better if he could get a

higher dose! Anyone out there know of kid friendly zinc and/or magnesium?

From: betwelt@...

Date: Tue, 22 May 2012 15:22:24 -0500

Subject: Do you give your kids a multi vitamin?

If not, why not? If so, what's your favorite and why?

I get that there are vitamins in there, but I can't help feeling like I'm

just giving my 2.5yo a couple pieces of candy every single day (which I

would never do)! At least she likes to take them, I suppose...

Thanks,

Bethany

[Guest guest]

For the most part Standard Process is sold only by practitioners. My husband is

a chiropractor, so we've been fortunate in that he just orders everything for

us.

He did mention that the Northwestern Chiropractic College bookstore carries a

pretty good supply of Standard Process products, and he thought you might be

able to purchase it yourself there. Also, there are a number of chiropractors

or naturopaths who have access to it, so if you currently have a holistic doc

that you see, you might want to start there. If these options don't work for

you, feel free to email my husband (Dr. Warren) at

info@.... He could order it for you and have it shipped

directly to your house. (Most of the time he wants to see someone before he

will get them supplements, but since Standard Process is food-based he isn't too

concerned about overdosing or giving someone something that won't be good for

them). Hope that helps!

Anne

>

>

>

>

> Is the zymex something found at the coops? Whole foods? Id like to add this in

for the 2 yr old

>

> , and their probiotic (Zymex) as treats for her. For instance, we're potty

training now, and her biggest incentive is to get a Zymex wafer when she goes on

the potty. It's been great! We also used the Catalyn and Congeplex in Easter

Eggs this year as our " candy " . She's only two right now, so things might

change as she sees other kids eating more processed candies, but it's been

working great for us so far.

> >

> > Anne

> >

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> >

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[Guest guest]

We don't. About five years ago I started having heart palpitations, and after

reading the labels on our vitamin bottles, I threw them all out. My realization

that our bodies developed in a food environment came after that. Then I tried

juicing, and it was a pain (and, not a whole food, really). About a year later,

I met someone who suggested I look into a dehydrated whole-fruit and veggie

product. After " looking " for a year, we tried it. We continue to take it, and

I became a distributor (so we get a big discount on our own purchases). I would

be glad to discuss it or just let you look at my web site.

www.minnesotajuiceplus.com. We take other things in addition, but we stick with

this for balance.