Boost Back-to-School Success

by Stephanie Allen, ASIN, DCN, CDSP

Beginning at the earliest stages of pregnancy and into young adulthood, nutrition is the cornerstone of a child’s overall growth, development, and well-being. Proper nutrients fuel the body's rapid growth, bolster cognitive functions, and strengthen the immune system. Fostering healthy lifestyle habits can help a child develop into a healthy young adult.

Sadly, most diets in the U.S. fail to provide the basic nutrients needed during a child’s formative years. Over-consumption of heavily processed foods, sugary cereals and prepackaged snacks offer less than adequate nutritional values while promoting obesity and other health-related issues. Admittedly difficult, parents and caregivers should make every effort to provide nutrient-dense foods such as green, leafy vegetables, fresh fruits and lean proteins. Providing healthy options wherever and whenever possible can help lower a child’s salt, sugar and chemical intake while promoting gut health.

Given today’s demands on parents and caregivers, ensuring a child receives beneficial nutrients on a daily basis is no easy feat — which is why Wellness Works developed our Kid's Chewable Multi with Acidophilus (WW #10429). Designed to help children meet the daily requirement of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, D3, folate and B12, the supplement provides enhanced absorption of minerals from chelation processes. Lactobacillus acidophilus was added to support gastrointestinal (GI) and immune health, while higher levels of vitamin C and zinc help support immune system functions and antioxidant protection for healthy growth and development.

Gut health, or the balance of beneficial microorganisms in the gut, also plays a major role in a child’s immune health. In addition to promoting absorption of essential nutrients, a healthy gut may help balance mood and behavior. Many mood-balancing chemicals are released by gut microbes, and gut imbalances have been linked to an increased risk of anxiety and depression in children. Eliminating overly processed foods and replacing them with foods high in fiber can help restore and maintain gut health. Parents and caregivers may also choose to supplement a child’s diet with a good children’s probiotic. While the Kids’ Chewable Multi with Acidophilus includes Lactobacillus acidophilus, we also offer a standalone acidophilus product, Children's Acidophilus (WW #10227), to supplement a child’s nutritional intake.

Children do better in school and at play with a balanced mood and calm, clear focus. For those who experience anxiety, depression or mood swings, enabling balance can support success and happiness in early life. But a balanced gut microbe is only part of the equation — balancing cortisol and other excitatory stress hormones is another. Amino acids such as L-theanine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can help balance stress-producing hormones, resulting in potential improvements on mood and focus. Our new Kids’ Calm Chewable (WW #10436) is a vegan, fruit-flavored tablet that provides both GABA and L-theanine, as well as magnesium and a proprietary botanical blend, to help support relaxation, clarity and focus.

Adequate sleep is also vital. Sleep affects attention, focus and mood throughout a child’s day and is an essential part of the development of the mind, body, executive functions, motor skills, memory and emotional well-being. Many children have difficulty falling asleep, especially after a busy day or when looking forward to an exciting tomorrow. Other times, a child may wake up in the night and have trouble getting back to sleep. In these cases, a small dose of an easy-to-take melatonin product may help. Our Kid's Sleep Melatonin 1 mg Root Beer (WW #10435) is an easy-to-take product specifically designed in lower doses for children, with dosing at 1 mg or lower. The pleasant-tasting liquid may help the initial onset of sleep for children 5 years and up, or for adults who prefer a lower melatonin dose.

Cultivating a foundation of healthy eating habits enables a child’s growth and development. Balanced and varied diet rich in nutrient-dense whole foods with little to no processed, high-sugar foods can help a child develop healthy habits while delivering the essential nutrients a child needs to develop and thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. Dietary supplements may help address specific nutritional gaps, possibly enable greater focus, and potentially promote healthy sleep.

Given the many important considerations in a child’s development, recommending, and offering quality nutritional supplements is of utmost importance. All Wellness Works manufacturers are cGMP and NSF-certified in the U.S. and are regularly inspected and audited by NSF and the Wellness Works team. By offering Wellness Works nutritional supplements in your pharmacy, you can provide peace-of-mind to parents and caregivers, knowing Wellness Works supplements deliver the vital nutrients children need to grow and thrive.

Contact the Wellness Works team for more information on our children’s product line and other specialty products developed to meet other specific needs. info@wellnessworks.com