Nobody can ever forget a time in their childhood when they were wheeled into hospital due to a broken arm, but for those that are active and getting hurt on a regular basis, the reason may be down to a lack of Vitamin D.
A lack of Vitamin D can result in stunted growth, arms and legs that don’t grow straight and brittle bones.
“A vitamin D deficiency in growing children can keep their bones from growing straight or it can make bones too weak to support a child’s body weight, resulting in broken bones,” explained Ellen Raney, Medical Director of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Portland.
The reason that it may happen is a decreased amount of outdoor activity and an intense use of sunscreen whilst outdoors. Whilst it is good to use sunscreen, a substantial amount can prevent a natural source of Vitamin D: the sun!
A lack of Vitamin D in diet however, is sometimes the problem. It is usually found in foods such as salmon or cod liver oil, but is also partner to foods such as milk, certain types of juice, yoghurt, breakfast cereals or margarine.
It seems almost typical that the things that are good for you are the ones that taste unpleasant. Naturally, coaxing your children into having an acquired (but healthy) taste is wonderful in the long-run, but there is always another way.
It is recommended that a child has a daily Vitamin D intake of 400 IU a day during the first year after they are born. As they grow into becoming adolescents, they need an intake of 600 IU instead, which just requires a little more tweaking.
Alternatives to diet however, are very prominent, in the form of adorably-formed gummy sweets and liquids. Children’s multivitamins are also a way of acquiring Vitamin D, but bear in mind that taking several multivitamins is not wise. For a good dosage, consult your doctor on what to do.
Growing children need Vitamin D in their diet to keep them as active, healthy and wonderful as you know them to be.