There are a number of supplements that can be particularly beneficial as we look ahead to school starting in August, especially for young adults going away to college. It's a good idea to gather up a daily supplement care package for them to take with them to help "cover the bases".
These are a good place to start:
Multivitamins
A multivitamin can be a good idea especially for kids or young adults who might not have the best diet. I know my daughter does not eat as well as I wish she would, so I feel like a multivitamin helps to fill in the gaps. Of course, a multivitamin is not a replacement for a healthy diet, but it makes me feel better that at least she's getting the nutrients she needs. Bluebonnet has a nice easy to swallow one a day multivitamin that's gentle and food based. Since it's food-based it's not mega doses of anything, but rather just the amounts that are needed. We also have chewable vitamins or gummies for children or young adults who don't like to swallow pills.
Omega 3s
Omega 3s are what are known as essential fatty acids, meaning they're literally essential to the proper functioning of our bodies, especially for brain health. The main dietary source of omega 3 is eating fish, which most kids and young adults do not eat very much of. Supplementing with omega 3s can help with proper brain function, concentration, and even help with balancing mood. Omega 3s can't be manufactured in the body so they must be obtained through either diet or supplements. You know your kids, if they aren't eating fish, they're probably deficient in omega 3s, and one of the ways that manifests is by trouble concentrating, problems with focus, and even poor impulse control. Ensuring that your kids have a proper amount of omega 3 is a good idea just to make sure their bodies (and brains!) have what they need to be running properly.
Most omega 3 supplements are derived from fish, but we do have vegetarian sources available at the store as well. We have omega 3s in softgels, a good tasting refrigerated liquid by Barlean's, and a new gummy by Life Extension with good omega 3 potency. In general, chewables or gummies can sometimes have pretty low potencies especially when it comes to omega 3s, but we have some great ones to choose from.
Anxiety
Many young adults, and even kids since it's unfortunately happening younger and younger, have a lot of anxiety especially when looking forward to school starting. There are a number of supplements that can be really beneficial for helping young adults and kids to feel less stressed and anxious.
The amino acid theanine is one we especially recommend since it can not only help with reducing stress and anxiety but also aid in increasing focus. It can be used during the day to help with stress or before bed to help with sleep. Theanine does not make you feel tired, but it can help with improving sleep quality because it can make a person less anxious before bed.
Passionflower is a great supplement for anxiety for young adults and college students. Research at Mount Sinai found that daily use of passion flower was as effective as a prescription drug commonly used for generalized anxiety disorder.
Another supplement that we really love is Solgar's Stress and Anxiety relief. It's a one-a-day tablet that would be great for college students since it contains ashwagandha, which is great for helping with daily stress along with saffron, which is an antioxidant that is helpful for boosting mood.
For younger kids, we probably recommend sticking with theanine (an amino acid found in green tea that's been found to be safe for all ages), but for older young adults and college students, passion flower, ashwagandha, or saffron can be beneficial.
Immune Health
If you're sending your college student away to school, it's a good idea to send them with something for their immune system. Younger kids would benefit from taking something to boost the immune system once they start school as well since it's very common to get sick once all the kids are together and sharing their germs. For older young adults and college students the product Immuno Shield by Irwin Naturals is a great blend of natural immune boosters that can be used preventatively but also in higher doses if one starts to feel sick. For younger kids, we have elderberry syrup, which is a natural antiviral, and elderberry gummies which are a great (and good tasting) preventative that combine the antiviral elderberry extract with zinc, a mineral that's great for the immune system.
Other suggestions of things to think about are would be probiotics or digestive enzymes for stomach troubles if your kids have a sensitive stomach. Also magnesium can be for helpful for muscle aches, preventing headaches, and constipation
Stop in the store for more information or personalized recommendations, we’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.