You get free vitamin supplements with Healthy Start, as well as vouchers to buy milk, fruit and vegetables.
Why are vitamin supplements important?
You will get most of the vitamins you need if you eat healthy foods. However:
your young children may not get enough vitamin A, C and D from their food
pregnant and breastfeeding women may not get enough vitamin D or folic acid which may harm their baby
Ask your health visitor or midwife where to get the free vitamins for you and your children. Take the letter attached to your vouchers with you to claim your free vitamins.
The Healthy Start vitamins are also for sale at some NHS clinics.
Why use vitamin supplements?Vitamin A Vitamin A helps with growth, eyesight and healthy skin. You can get it from:
whole cows' milk;
orange, red and dark green vegetables such as carrots, red peppers, tomatoes, sweet potato, pumpkin, apricots, mangoes, broccoli; and
oily fish.
Many young children do not eat enough foods with vitamin A so children should take a supplement until they are 5 years old.
Vitamin C Vitamin C is important for general health and for the immune system. It helps wounds to heal. It also helps you absorb iron.
You can get vitamin C from fruit and vegetables, especially blackcurrants, kiwi fruit, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. Potatoes, sweet potatoes and mangoes are also good sources.
Vitamin D Vitamin D helps make strong bones. Babies and children who do not get enough can get rickets.
Very few foods contain vitamin D – sunshine is more important because you make vitamin D in your skin when you are outside in the sun. This happens in the summer months but not during winter. If you have dark skin or always keep your skin covered when outside, you may not make enough vitamin D for you and your baby.
Folic acid Folic acid is a B vitamin. It is very important before and during early pregnancy.
All women who might get pregnant should take a supplement of folic acid as it is hard to get enough from food. Black-eyed beans, brussels sprouts, spinach, spring greens, broccoli, green beans, oranges and yeast extract are the best sources of folic acid. Some breakfast cereals and bread have folic acid added to them.
Why are vitamin supplements important?
You will get most of the vitamins you need if you eat healthy foods. However:
your young children may not get enough vitamin A, C and D from their food
pregnant and breastfeeding women may not get enough vitamin D or folic acid which may harm their baby
Ask your health visitor or midwife where to get the free vitamins for you and your children. Take the letter attached to your vouchers with you to claim your free vitamins.
The Healthy Start vitamins are also for sale at some NHS clinics.
Why use vitamin supplements?Vitamin A Vitamin A helps with growth, eyesight and healthy skin. You can get it from:
whole cows' milk;
orange, red and dark green vegetables such as carrots, red peppers, tomatoes, sweet potato, pumpkin, apricots, mangoes, broccoli; and
oily fish.
Many young children do not eat enough foods with vitamin A so children should take a supplement until they are 5 years old.
Vitamin C Vitamin C is important for general health and for the immune system. It helps wounds to heal. It also helps you absorb iron.
You can get vitamin C from fruit and vegetables, especially blackcurrants, kiwi fruit, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. Potatoes, sweet potatoes and mangoes are also good sources.
Vitamin D Vitamin D helps make strong bones. Babies and children who do not get enough can get rickets.
Very few foods contain vitamin D – sunshine is more important because you make vitamin D in your skin when you are outside in the sun. This happens in the summer months but not during winter. If you have dark skin or always keep your skin covered when outside, you may not make enough vitamin D for you and your baby.
Folic acid Folic acid is a B vitamin. It is very important before and during early pregnancy.
All women who might get pregnant should take a supplement of folic acid as it is hard to get enough from food. Black-eyed beans, brussels sprouts, spinach, spring greens, broccoli, green beans, oranges and yeast extract are the best sources of folic acid. Some breakfast cereals and bread have folic acid added to them.
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