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Are health supplements necessary for kids?


Every parent wants the best for their kids – giving them tuition lessons, signing them up for extracurricular activities and also eating healthily to stay in the pink of health. There are tons of health supplements for kids on the market – from gummy bears to tablets and liquids. These health supplements are packed with vitamins and minerals. However, does your kid really need these health supplements? Is it just a marketing tactic or are these colourful pills essential for your kid’s health? 

Health supplements are not a necessity in your kid’s diet, but they are certainly useful if your kids do not have a balanced diet. For example, if your kid is a picky eater, it will be hard for them to get all the nutrition they need.

Another reason for an imbalanced diet might be due to eating outside food more than homecooked food, or if your family is following a vegan diet.

With most parents both working in today’s society, families are increasingly buying takeaway meals rather than cooking at home after a day at work. If you are following a vegan diet, it might be hard to have a balanced diet too. In these instances, health supplements will be good to ensure that they have the essential vitamins and minerals they need to grow healthily.

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What kind of supplements does my child need? 

Fish oil or supplements containing omega-3 is good for your child’s brain development, while supplements containing calcium and Vitamin D is good for strengthening their bones and teeth. Other than these nutrients, look for health supplements containing Vitamins A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C and also Iron. 

Look for supplements from trusted stores in Singapore or sellers, such as AllLinkMedical where their products are formulated and manufactured in Singapore. They also hold licenses from the Health Science Authority of Singapore (HSA) for importing, wholesaling and manufacturing of Chinese Proprietary Medicines. 

If your child is a concern with his or her height, you can try AllLinkMedical’s GrowthXtend which is suitable for kids aged 10 and above. It contains 6 nutrients such as Vitamin D and Calcium Citrate which are essential for the bone development of your child.  

More the better? 

More may not necessarily be better. Always give supplements to your children as needed and according to the recommended dosage labelled on the bottle so that your child is consuming within the safe limits. Having too many vitamins or minerals can cause some unwanted side effects! For example, too much Vitamin C can result in stomach cramps, nausea and even diarrhoea.

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Other than supplementing their meals with health supplements to ensure they have the nutrients they need for growth, cut down unhealthy foods too. Switch out snacks at home for healthier ones, such as fruits! Healthy foods and supplement can build up their immunity

If your child is a picky eater, you can try dipping bananas in chocolates and freezing it in the freezer to make a banana chocolate popsicle! You will also want to limit their intake of sugar, such as sugary drinks. If they love sweet drinks over plain water, add a spoon of honey to it!