Doubling the Dose of Vitamin D
Wednesday October 15, 2008
The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends doubling the dose of vitamin D for children to 400 International Units per day (the old recommendation was for 200 International Units per day). Vitamin D is important for healthy bone formation. Children who are deficient in vitamin D can develop rickets, a bone-softening which is a disease that results in malformed bones. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular and other diseases in adults.
Most children will need supplements to reach this level because there really aren't many foods high in vitamin D except for milk that has had vitamin D added, and it would take four 8-ounce glasses of milk every day to get that much vitamin D. Breast-fed infants are especially at risk because breast-milk is a poor source of vitamin D.
So why don't many foods contain this important vitamin? Because your body makes vitamin D after your skin has been exposed to the sun. Since there are concerns about getting skin cancer from too much sun exposures, many people avoid the sun completely, which leaves them deficient.
Photo © Chris Chidsey
Comments
The statistics for adult women who are deficient in vitamin D are staggering as well. And up to 40% of the adult population is deficient, with nearly 75% of pregnant women passing that deficiency on to their unborn children.Even weak sunscreens (SPF=8) block your body’s ability to generate vitamin D by 95%. It’s scary since vitamin D is so essential for calcium absorption and lack of it can lead to cancer and osteoporosis. All we need is just a bit of sun a day.
jh
bodanutrition
Let your hair dry in the sun,not only will your body soak up the much needed vitamin D,you will also save your hair from the damages of hair drier.
Even though the statistics are alarming, there is no need to hit the panic button. With a little bit of attention to the foods you buy for your kids and making sure they get just 10-15 minute of sun exposure each day, you can easily meet the requirements. I have written an article on my blog - check it out and let me know what you think.
http://www.littlestomaks.com/2008/10/24/40-of-infants-and-toddlers-have-vitamin-d-deficiency-should-you-worry/