Nutrition at every stage of life

From the very beginning, our bodies need a careful balance of nutrients to help us grow and develop. This nutritional balance needs to be maintained throughout our lives, to ensure we are the healthiest we can be and to help us tackle everyday life. However, the amount and types of nutrients we need shifts and alters the older we get.

Studies have shown that children need different nutrients than adults or the elderly, with young children needing help to support growth. As we become elderly, our bodies are less likely absorb the nutrients we need from food, and so multivitamins become more important.

As we age, how do we know what supplements we should be taking? Below, we take a look at the different ages and simplify just exactly what supplements and nutrients you may need at each stage of your life.

Baby

For infants over 6 months, it is recommended by the Department of Health that they are given supplements of vitamins A, C and D. With vitamin A contributing to the maintenance of normal skin, vitamin C contributing to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones and vitamin D contributing to normal immune system function.

It is these vitamins that Wellbaby focuses on, allowing you to administer via drops or liquid to young children aged 4 months up to 4 years.

Of course, babies can also get these essential vitamins from formula. Vitamins are officially recommended unless your child is drinking 500ml or more of infant formula per day.

Child

As we move into becoming children, it can be difficult to ensure a healthy diet. With a lot of children figuring out what they do and do not like and most being fairly fussy eaters. Wellkid helps children to get all of the nutrients they need to help them not only grow a healthy body, but also a healthy mind.

Wellkid Multi-Vitamin Chewable and Wellkid Multi-Vitamin Liquid provide several key vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C and D alongside Zinc, Flaxseed oil, Iodine and Iron. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system, which is especially important during the cold, wintery months.

Adolescence

Due to teenage bodies rapidly growing and changing during our adolescent years, we need a little extra boost when it comes vitamins and minerals. During adolescence, it is not uncommon for men and women to need varying levels of certain nutrients, however, both genders usually fall short of calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin D.  

To cater for the needs of both teenage boys and teenage girls, the Wellteen range contains, Wellteen Him and Wellteen Her. Both products aim to help replenish the vitamins that some teens may be lacking due to poor diet, a busy school and social life, as well as the stress on the body whilst it grows and changes.

Elderly

As we age, our bodies struggle to absorb the essential nutrients that we need and so we need a little bit of extra help from supplements. The main functions of supplements for adults aged 50+ are to keep joints in good working order, hearts healthy, brains sharp and immune systems strong. There is a huge range of different types of vitamins, from Wellman and Wellwoman 50+ & 70+, to Jointace and Osteocare, all of which combine a multitude of different vitamins to help support our bodies and minds as we age. With B6, Iodine, Zinc and Iron being just a few of the vitamins that are included.

At each stage in our life, our body will need different amounts of vitamins and nutrients.

However, what we need doesn’t only depend on our age, it’s important to take into consideration our lifestyle, diet and any specific issues that relate to our health.

All Vitabiotics vitamins and supplements are meant to be taken in combination with a varied and balanced diet, so it’s important to listen to your body, look at what foods you're consuming, how much you’re exercising and then deciding which multivitamin or supplement is best for you and your needs.