New study shows one in five kids get little Vitamin D

October 27, 11:54 AMSalt Lake City Special Needs Kids ExaminerKimberly Jensen

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A new study shows that one in five children are not getting enough Vitamin D.  The study done by Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital in Boston says the findings are a concern because the "sunshine vitamin"  might help prevent such diseases as colon, breast and ovarian cancers by 50 percent.

It's no surprise since children seem to be spending less time outdoors and more time in front of computer and video game systems.  Just ask any 11-year-old boy at your local elementary school what he does for fun and most will put "gaming" at the top of the list. I know because  I've asked that question of many students at various Utah schools.  Nine out of ten times I receive that answer.

So what can we do to get our children the adequate amount of Vitamin D to prevent such life threatening illnesses?  Take them outside.  Yes, you go too!  Too many adults are not getting the recommended amount of 1,000 International Units (IU) of the "sunshine vitamin" either.   200 IU's are recommended for children.  But instead of supplements, how about a daily dose of sunshine?

Sunshine is free and is always available, even in Utah during the inversion.  Take a drive up the mountains and there is plenty to be had.  You can make your own vitamin D by spending 5 to 10 minutes in the sun just two to three times a week.  Some dermatologists argue that the risk of skin cancer may increase with exposure, so make sure to wear your sunscreen.  A plus to sunshine exposure is that you are more likely than not to be moving in that sunshine; walking, biking, skiing, sledding.  We know a moving body is a healthy body.

But on those days that the inversion keeps you inside, keep plenty of Vitamin D foods available.  Milk, eggs, fish, tuna, liver, margarine and fortified orange juice are sure to please even the pickiest eaters, including children with sensory issues. 

Preganant mommies should also take note. USA Today says children's mothers who get enough Vitamin D in pregnancy have bigger and stronger bones by age nine.  In fact, maternal Vitamin D matters more than all the milk children drink in their first nine years.

So enjoy today's snowfall from your window, but don't forget to go outside and receive your free dose of sunshine.