URGENT Supplement Warning for Kids
Just because something is common, it DOESN’T make it safe.
And neither does “being natural” mean it’s okay for everyone.
This is true of anything—including supplements.
That’s why I was so alarmed when I found out that 20 percent of children and pre-teens are taking a supplement I’ve warned about in the past.
The use of a dangerous substance is soaring among school-aged children. And it’s not drug dealers giving it to them. It’s their parents!
I’m talking about the “sleep supplement” melatonin.
Researchers surveyed 1,000 parents to determine their kid’s melatonin use just over the past 30 days.
They found melatonin had been given to…
- 6 percent of preschoolers aged 1-4,
- 5 percent of children ages 5-9, and
- 4 percent of children ages 10-13.
This wasn’t a one-and-done situation, either.
The preschool-aged children had been taking melatonin for an average of one year. And the school-aged children had been taking it for about 18 to 21 months.
The older the kid, the higher the dose typically was.
My friend, this is SHOCKING.
First, melatonin is a hormone, NOT a vitamin. Taking it willy-nilly for extended periods has already been linked to problems like headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, and low blood pressure.
It also carries the potential risk of retinal thinning.
Scientists are now concerned that pumping young bodies full of the stuff could impact hormonal development, affecting developing brains and influencing the onset of puberty.
Because melatonin is often in gummy form, it’s easy to take FAR more than recommended.
In fact, reports of melatonin overdose to poison control centers increased by 530 percent from 2012 to 2021.
But it gets worse. Another study published earlier this year found that many melatonin supplements can contain 74 to 347 percent MORE melatonin than what was listed on the label.
The second problem here is that so many kids need help with sleep.
I can assure you they don’t have a melatonin supplement deficiency. They have a circadian rhythm that’s out of whack.
Lifestyle issues like lack of time outdoors, too much screen time (which causes overexposure to blue light), terrible diets, lack of activity, and more have knocked their internal clocks entirely out of balance.
Step one to fixing your sleep problems—no matter your age—is to FIX your environment.
That means getting plenty of sunlight exposure (especially early morning light), reducing screen time (and blue light exposure) at night, and sleeping in a completely dark room.
That should be enough to reset the circadian for most folks… especially kids. But if you need a little extra help along the way, adults can try a supplement like 5-HTP or hydroxytryptophan.
These are precursors to melatonin that can be safe and effective for helping with sleep while avoiding the potential problems of taking melatonin directly.
But be sure to check with a pediatrician before giving them or ANY supplements to children.
And if you have grandchildren or great grandchildren be sure to share this vital information with your adult children as well.
P.S. Still can’t sleep? Try these insomnia BUSTING tips. (Works for KIDS too!)
SOURCE:
Lauren E. Hartstein et al. “Characteristics of Melatonin Use Among US Children and Adolescents.” JAMA Pediatrics, 2023 DOI: 10. 1001 /jamapediatrics.2023.4749
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
The Hidden Habit That’s Packing on the Pounds
It’s no secret that losing weight is hard. People try diet after diet, yet in the end, most either give up… or the weight they lose just piles right back on. (Sound familiar?) There are PLENTY of reasons for the current obesity epidemic, and I’ve shared many here in Natural Health Today. But today, I’ll […]
Overlooked Secret Weapon Against Stroke
Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in America for 100 years. And with the recent dramatic rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes, things are only going to go from bad to worse. But there’s more to heart health than losing a few pounds, eating all the right foods, or even exercising […]
Unlock Your Body's Full Healthy Aging Potential
Everyone is looking for a magic bullet to fix their health problems these days… as if one particular nutrient or herb could simply erase decades of poor lifestyle decisions. Sure, there are a few key players that can make a BIG difference in your health outcomes, like omega-3s and vitamin D. But nothing beats the […]
The Secret to Heart Attack Survival REVEALED
I give a lot of advice on steps you can take to avoid a heart attack. After all THAT’S the goal. And if you follow that advice, you’ll slash your odds of ever having one. But there are no guarantees. If you do end up being one of the 800,000 Americans who will suffer from […]
“Take 6” to Live LONGER and BETTER
None of us can escape aging. But everyone wants to live LONGER, right? Well, the reality is quantity and quality of life are two entirely different things. If you’re riddled with devastating health problems that steal the joy from your days, living a long time can be torture. But when health and longevity go hand-in-hand, […]
Strange Colon Cancer Trigger Revealed
Among seniors, colon cancer rates have been decreasing. But in folks under 50, rates are increasing at an alarming rate. One likely reason for the decrease in the older population is screening procedures like colonoscopy and stool sample tests like Cologuard, which can catch pre-cancerous polyps before they cause a problem. But, regardless of your […]
“Bad” Food Reverses Pre-Diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is a major health threat to millions of Americans. Even though one in three Americans is estimated to have the condition, 80 percent don’t know it. Besides the obvious increased risk of type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes could cause long-term damage to your blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and heart, leading to an increased risk of […]
Heart Health Begins in Your BELLY!?
Yesterday, I revealed that eating plenty of polyphenol-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices is a surprising way to support your gut health. Of course, probiotics themselves are a critical part of the gut health puzzle. Today, I’ll focus on a few specific probiotics. But NOT because of how they impact your gut but […]
“Spice Up” Your Gut Health
By now, you know that you’re only as healthy as your gut. In fact, the majority of your immune system is located in your gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria that live there support… heart health, brain health, skin health, digestion, nutrient absorption, healthy metabolism, and lower inflammation levels. So, how can you make sure you’re supporting […]
FDA Approves Questionable Diabetes Claim
You’ve likely heard the saying that food is the best medicine. I’ve found this true for maintaining well-being and healing (or improving) various diseases and conditions. The FDA is finally starting to come around to this mindset, so they’ve allowed food manufacturers to place a health claim on a particular popular food, stating it reduces […]