They’re not children anymore, but they’re definitely not adults. Teenagers are in a tough spot, in many areas of life””socially, emotionally and physically. Their bodies change at a rapid pace, with growth spurts that transform their body size and sleep and eating patterns, not to mention hormone fluctuations that affect their skin appearance and mood.
A balanced diet is crucial for teenagers to stay healthy and develop normally both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, most teens don’t eat well””they skip meals, pig out on junk food, don’t eat the nutrients needed to support active/athletic lifestyles and often experiment with vegetarian and other diets without knowledge of how to do it properly.
Multi-vitamins are a great way to support good health during the teenage years. A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that teenagers who took multi-vitamins were healthier””in diet and lifestyle””than non-users. In a population of 2,500 U.S. high school seniors, vitamin takers ate better, were more physically active, less likely to be overweight, had lower rates of smoking and watched less television than those who did not take vitamins.
There are many multi-vitamins formulated specifically for teens, with nutrient levels adjusted to meet their unique dietary needs. For example, teens require more calcium and vitamin D than children, and more vitamin A, vitamin C and iron than adults. Check out Vitacost.com for great teen products from the most trusted vitamin and supplement brands.