Is Ester-C® important for children with limited fruit and vegetable intake?

Ester-C® is an ideal way to help bridge any potential nutrition gap that may occur when children skimp on their fruits and vegetables. Their growing bodies need a steady supply of this powerful antioxidant every day. You can feel confident in choosing Natrol® Ester-C as a safe, gentle form of vitamin C that’s easy on the stomach. It’s an ideal choice for both children and adults.† Read on to learn more about specific dietary recommendations for finicky eaters and the recommended intake of vitamin C for children.

Dietary recommendations for finicky eaters

Don’t give up on your child’s diet. Encourage and offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. This will not only boost your child’s vitamin C intake, it will increase the intake of other nutrients and beneficial plant compounds, which are critical for good health. For finicky eaters, the key is variety. Eventually you’ll find a few favorites that your child will welcome. The good news is some of the most important food sources of vitamin C are also kids’ favorites — oranges, strawberries, kiwi, papaya, cantaloupe, broccoli, tomatoes, berries and bell peppers to name just a few.

If you choose to give your child a vitamin C supplement, consider a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement designed for children that contains Ester C such as Natrol’s Kid's Companion® Multiple Liquid. Another option is a standalone Ester C supplement. The Natrol brand offers a variety of kid-friendly forms, including natural orange flavored soft chews or chewable wafers, tropical fruit flavored liquid, or an easy-mixing powder for water or juice.

Recommended intake for vitamin C

While researchers have yet to agree on the amount of vitamin C for optimal health; the recommended intake to prevent a deficiency is well defined. Toddlers (1-3 years) must consume at least 15 mg/day; young children (4-8 years) require 25 mg/day and “tween” children (aged 9-13 years) need at least 45 mg/day. The safe upper limit is 400 mg/day, 650 mg/day and 1,200 mg/day, respectively. However, be careful not to overdue it. Amounts of vitamin C close to 1,000 mg/day can cause loose stools or diarrhea in adults, and therefore a lower amount could cause the same effect in children.^†

^† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.