Children’s Vitamins

Do you give your kiddos children’s vitamins?  Flinstone’s vitamins are a popular brand of choice.   However, many people simply aren’t aware of the dangers of these vitamins.  Most  people assume that since it is on the shelf at the grocery store that it must be safe for their children. But, let’s take a closer look at Flintstones and see why this product may not be the best interest to their child’s health.

Artificial Sweeteners

One glaring ingredient that is used in Flintstones is the use of the artificial sweetener Aspartame or NutriSweet.  Although the manufacturer states at their website that aspartame is safe and has been approved by the FDA, there has been a great deal of controversy over this issue. Many  sources believe that aspartame is dangerous and can lead to serious health problems, including neurological risks.  Some symptoms of aspartame ingestion can include headaches, mood or behavior changes, seizures and depression.

Artificial ColorsAlthough approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the artificial colors contained in Flintstones Vitamins can be dangerous. Also called dyes, these substances in Flintstones Vitamins are FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow #6 Aluminum Lake and FD&C Blue #2 Aluminum Lake. According to MayoClinic.com, Red #40 and Yellow #6 may contribute to hyperactive behavior, and other sources concur with this assessment on the danger of artificial colors

Lead

The FDA has given a guideline for acceptable levels of lead for various ages. As an aside since lead is cumulative in nature there really are no safe levels of lead for anyone especially the 0-6 years of age with developing brains. The FDA bulletin has medium mass fractional exposure at .0352 and maximum mass fractional level at .395. While Flintstones is not over the maximum it does exceed the medium exposure to lead for 0-6 year olds by almost 500% more with .147  The point is your child does not need any extra lead for health.

Gluten

Bayer Corp manufacturer of Flintstones Vitamins states  they do not add gluten to their products, but they also say at FlintstonesVitamins.com that they “cannot guarantee that they are 100% gluten-free due to the fact that raw materials [they] receive from outside vendors are not certified as 100% gluten free.” Many children have food intolerances to gluten, and even a small amount of gluten can trigger an adverse reaction. Children who are gluten intolerant must only ingest foods and supplements that are guaranteed to be gluten free.

Synthetic vs. Whole Food Based Vitamins

Whole food-based vitamin supplements such as Shaklee Kids are much healthier than synthetic ones and are better absorbed by the body, as the body can better recognize whole foods. Flintstones Vitamins, however, are synthetic. Whole food supplements are derived directly from foods and are thus more likely to provide necessary nutrients than synthetic ones, according to Whole Food Supplements Guide.

Choosing the Best Children’s Vitamins: Think Lactoferrin

I have had several people ask me about the nutrient Lactoferrin in  Children’s Vitamins . I would like to share some information by Dr. Steve Chaney on Lactoferrin and the important role it plays in children’s immune system and why it is important in a children’s vitamin. Dr. Chaney teaches medical students at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he is also carries on an active cancer research program.

• This assures that your child’s immune systems gets the iron that it needs to function optimally.

• Lactoferrin also increases the number of nutrient-absorbing cells in the intestine, so it enhances the absorption of the other nutrients your child needs fora healthy immune system.

• Finally, lactoferrin suppresses the growth of bad bacteria in your child’s intestine. That’s important because 80% of your immune system originates in the intestine.

• Simply put, when those immune cells in the intestine have to spend their time fighting off bad bacteria in the intestine, they are unavailable to fight off bacteria and viruses elsewhere in the body.

• So lactoferrin helps strengthen your kid’s immune system in several different ways and Shaklee’s Incredivites is the first children’s multi vitamin to contain this important immune-enhancing ingredient.

The other two questions that are frequently asked are:

(Q):  If lactoferrin is only found in mother’s milk is it really needed by anyone beside infants?

(A):  Lactoferrin is, indeed, very important in helping infants develop a healthy immune system. In an ideal world once the immune system was developed we wouldn’t have to worry about it again.  But we don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a world of Happy Meals, french fries & soft drinks. We live in a world of artificially colored, flavored & preserved snack foods. We live in a world where antibiotics are used at the drop of hat!

Several clinical studies have shown that lactoferrin can play an important role in strengthening the immune systems of children who are no longer breast feeding.

(Q):  My child is allergic to milk. Can they use a supplement containing lactoferrin?

(A):  Most milk allergies are caused by an allergy to whey protein, the most abundant milk protein, orlactose, the most abundant milk sugar.  Lactoferrin, on the other hand, is a very minor component of milk, and it is very unlikely that your child will be allergic to lactoferrin.  However, if your child has a very severe milk allergy, it is always a good idea to check with your pediatrician before giving them any food containing an ingredient derived from milk.

Both of my kiddos have been taking Shaklee children’s vitamins since the day they came home from thehospital.  Unless it is a well visit, we do not see our pediatrician.  Both Bryan and Emma have built up great immune systems.

Check out the comparison of these two children’s vitamins below!  I know you will want to change what your kiddos are taking.