Supplements for Your Kiddos

[Veg4Life]

I know this topic has been covered a lot. I did use the banana, but got WAY too much info. Can you guys just list the supplements you give your kids on daily/weekly basis with the brands and amounts? Then I can check out some of those and hopefully lessen the confusion I'm having.

I'm mainly concerned with iron, the B vitamins, Vit D, Choline, and Omega-3s.

Also, I give my kids spirulina every day. I read that spriulina has iron, B, and Vit D in it...I'm wondering if anyone can confirm this and how I can tell if I am giving them enough.


Thanks so much!

[RawSar]

Getting an EDS (electro dermal screening) test is a good and painless way of finding out if your levels on anything are low or not. Check out naturolpaths in your area who use this machine.
Otherwise really.. how do you know if your child is low on something except when they start to show symptoms but of course you want to catch it before that happens.

[Veg4Life]

Thanks RawSar. I've never heard of that scan before...I googled it, but got a few very technical articles (Vrrrooom, over my head!). Can you tell me simply how it works?

I did some blood work on my son, and the nutritionist called me today and said that his Vit D level was very low. The normal range was 30-80 and his was a 17. He suggested giving him 15,000 IUs daily for 30 days and then 5000 per day after that. I've been doing some reading...doesn't that seem like a lot, even for a severe deficiency?

[michigan roman]

I know this topic has been covered a lot. I did use the banana, but got WAY too much info. Can you guys just list the supplements you give your kids on daily/weekly basis with the brands and amounts? Then I can check out some of those and hopefully lessen the confusion I'm having.

I'm mainly concerned with iron, the B vitamins, Vit D, Choline, and Omega-3s.

Also, I give my kids spirulina every day. I read that spriulina has iron, B, and Vit D in it...I'm wondering if anyone can confirm this and how I can tell if I am giving them enough.


Thanks so much!


i dont know if your kids are vegan , if so B12 suppliments are very important .
VERY IMPORTANT . im just stating this in case your not deep into veganism
and read up on the b12 issue .

- iron = ide juice dark greens and beets . raisins also good . also kelp / dulse , i get it poewdered from www.seaveg.com .. seaweed also provide other things , iodine being one . plus its cheap .

- omega 3 = ide grind flax seeds to add to things .

- B vitamins sprouted wheat seed

[klomasius]

I can let you know the brands of the supps I give my son but might not be helpful unless you are in Australia:

Phytoplankton by Sea Tonic (for omega three and a range of minerals, once a week)

Iron in liquid form by Spatone (once every couple of days usually when I remember), or an iron tablet by Blackmores.

B12 sublingual by Herbs of Gold (once every couple of days)

The B12 and the omega three are the most important things to me. He also drinks green smoothies which provide him with a bunch of vitamins and minerals.

I'll be taking him for blood testing in the coming weeks (me too) so we can find out if we are lacking in anything and correct it.

p.s. my son is not raw but he is vegetarian (eats mostly vegan at home) so B12 regularly I feel is important.

[adiebabe]

I did some blood work on my son, and the nutritionist called me today and said that his Vit D level was very low. The normal range was 30-80 and his was a 17. He suggested giving him 15,000 IUs daily for 30 days and then 5000 per day after that. I've been doing some reading...doesn't that seem like a lot, even for a severe deficiency?

Wow....that does seem like an awful lot! The supplement I give my son (somewhat irregular basis...'cause we tend to forget!) has a total of 200IU if you (remember to) take two per day.

I know that most North Americans are below the physician recommended healthy range. My mom's partner is a GP (and a good one actually!) and a few years ago he told his office partner attended a symposium in the US on Vit. D. They were told of the recommended amounts, the average amount people are at and the benefits of supplementing. He was so convinced, when he came home he started supplementing himself and said he felt a difference and was feeling great using it. Anecdotal, I know...I thought it interesting nonetheless.

I found this for you (really makes what your Doc said to take sound high!):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5503161

[Veg4Life]

Thanks for all the responses.

Michigan- Yes, all my kids are vegan and have been for about a year and a half. I do green smoothies every day and have been grinding up flax fairly regularly, plus I usually add spirulina. My little one will just eat up the tablets :eek:to each their own! I do occassionally give them a multi when I remember, but other than that I don't supplement.

Only one of my kids has been having health issues and I'm finding out that he is deficient in several things. It makes me wonder how the others are doing even though they seem to be fine.

I was going to order the Vitamineral and give them some of that daily instead of the multi and spirulina, get a good B12 supplement, and then a Vit D supplement. In combo with the gs, and other things they eat, I think that should be good for them for now.

Adiebabe- thanks for the link...yeah, I haven't found any articles on Vit D that suggest 15000 IUs a day! But, the doc seemed to think that his level was severely defficient...

[Veg4Life]

I'm just wondering, also, how many of you get your kids checked for deficiencies and how often you do this or if it is sparked when adverse symptoms arise?

We currently have terrible insurance. Just these problems with my son and the supplements and tests that have been suggested (blood work, vitamins, probiotics, etc.) have cost us close to $800 this month! We have three kids, so I can't imagine being able to afford to have them all checked annually or bi-annually.

Seems a bit overwhelming. If anyone would like to share what they do in their own family to have peace of mind that would be great. I never worry about myself, but when it comes to the little ones, I'm a worry wart!

[michigan roman]

just to throw this out there - to insure against a bad batch / brand of b12 ide buy like 3 different brands and switch off with them .

also theres a controversey on b12 tests , something like the common blood type can be way off and a urine tests better . and also b12 analogs in algees and seaweeds etc can throw test off and make it look like theres usably b12 when in reality theres a shortage . but ive never read about the derma type test previously mentioned so no opinion .

sorry to be repeating the 12 topic but i was recently reading about b12 and how important it is for vegan kids so playing it safe :)

just fyi , i was just reading vegan b12 suppliments are from bacteria / mold / ? grown on molasses in alot of instances .

[michigan roman]

heres a link to a short b12 thread =

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=47096 ..

[klomasius]

Veg4life, I can't imagine how difficult it must be to consider the cost of healthcare!

I will be taking my son and myself to the doctors to get tests, I imagine it will cost me nothing, or at most maybe $50. It would definitely be free if we went to a doctor nearby but a friend has suggested a veg friendly doctor we'd like to go see.

I take us every year or so to get tests, I try to make it once a year but sometimes don't get around to it. I'm very much into preventative testing.

I have been showing symptoms of possible iron deficiency, but my son seems very healthy. We were going to organise the tests before I started noticing the low iron symptoms. I may even be able to correct that before I get tested.

Michigan, all bioavailable B12 comes from bacteria, even when it's found in meat or cheese etc. They use a bunch of substrates (growing mediums) to grow the bacteria.

I am waiting on a company to bring out a bacterial spread (like a yeast spread) that naturally contains B12. That would be great!

[adiebabe]

I am waiting on a company to bring out a bacterial spread (like a yeast spread) that naturally contains B12. That would be great!


Mmmmnnn, wow....just gotta say, that doesn't sound appealing at all!!!! LOL! :p


Veg4life, Is there a way to get a second opinion without it costing you? That article mentioned a max of 4000IU for an adult...15000IU is spooky compared to that...

Perhaps you could try some of those internet sites where people can post questions to doctors for advice. Dig around a bit more too, you may find what you need for info and enough consistent opinion that you feel you can trust the overall advice (info) and not have to pay to see another MD for a second opinion. Take the doc whatever info you dig up too and ask him about it. A good GP should be willing to hear out your concerns and should be happy you are taking an interest in helping your child.

[phytomama]

it is scarey to think about deficient kids, but it is such a reality. i was checking out shazzie's ideas on kid's needs and was surprised at what i found. she is a great resource on raising raw kiddos.

our 22mo takes a few things:
trace mineral research kid's multi chewable (awesome product!)
chewable vitamin c this time of year
dha capsules

then we add in things like: spirulina, hemp seed oil, flax seed, chia seeds, kelp, barley grass and i am sure that we are missing some things.

thank goodness she is a great eater, but i do worry. she isn't 100% vegan, but darn close.

[phytomama]

oh, we do add in b-12 for our peanut. we use a sublinqual form methylcyanocobalimin from jarrow. i don't know the source though????

as for a yeast spread...what about veggiemite? oh, i tried it once. not so good, but it is a yeast spread. just a thought!

[klomasius]

Haha, you don't like vegemite?

Yeast doesn't naturally have B12, it's added to the nutritional yeast flakes that contain it. Yeast doesn't naturally contain bioavailable B12.

And I reckon a bacterial spread could be tasty, really! Stop laughing at me!

[Veg4Life]

it is scarey to think about deficient kids, but it is such a reality. i was checking out shazzie's ideas on kid's needs and was surprised at what i found. she is a great resource on raising raw kiddos.

our 22mo takes a few things:
trace mineral research kid's multi chewable (awesome product!)
chewable vitamin c this time of year
dha capsules



what are dha capsules?