Is Your Child Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Fri, Oct 30, 2009

Child Development, Health Tips, Natural

Is Your Child Getting Enough Vitamin D?

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By Kimberly Mayo-Achan MA, CCC-SLP

Do you give your child a multivitamin every day? Do you make sure they eat their fruits and vegetables to get their daily recommended dose of nutrients? Of course you do, so there is no way your child could be deficient in Vitamin D, right? Think again. According to a new study published in the journal “Pediatrics”, 1 out of every 5 children between the ages of 1 and 11 are not getting enough Vitamin D.

Many of us know that vitamin D plays an important part in keeping our bones and teeth strong and also helps to maintain sufficient blood levels of phosphorus and calcium. What many of us are not aware of, however, is that recent studies revealed that an adequate amount of vitamin D plays a critical role in the prevention of certain infections, diseases such as diabetes, and even certain cancers. Using the guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that 6.4 million children are actually lacking vitamin D. And according to Executive Healthcare Magazine, previous studies have concluded that children lacking vitamin D had increased levels of blood pressure and cholesterol and had a greater likelihood of being overweight. In addition, new evidence shows that getting enough vitamin D may help prevent colds, childhood wheezing, and winter-related eczema.

So there are two questions we need to ask ourselves now. One, why isn’t my child getting an adequate amount of vitamin D and, two,  how can I make sure their intake falls within the recommended guidelines? First let’s address the cause. Simply put, researchers on the online version of the Journal of Pediatrics have found that poor diet and lack of sunshine are the two biggest contributors to this problem. Dr. Michal L. Melamed of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University stated that children today lead a much more inactive lifestyle and limit their time outdoors. He also found that the scare of too much sun exposure has caused parents to keep their children indoors or fully covered when taken outside. The truth is the body uses direct UV-B sunlight to convert a form of cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D. All of these factors combined contribute to over 65% of our children being vitamin D deficient.

The best way to make sure your child is receiving sufficient vitamin D is to enforce a nutrient rich diet by giving them foods such as milk and fish. But these foods alone won’t do the trick. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that infants, children, and teens should take 400 IU per day in supplement form, especially those people who live in areas where the sun may be too weak to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D. Most importantly, shut off that television, computer, or video game and go outside for at least 15-20 minutes each day for direct exposure to sunlight. All that being said, continue to be mindful of your skin and be sure to prevent sunburn or overexposure.

The bottom line is that children today need to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle. And as parents it is our job to implement it. So this afternoon, go out for a catch, a game of baseball, or even a short walk. Enjoy the fresh air, and take comfort in the fact that it is not only good for you mentally, but physically as well!


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