There has been a lot of talk recently regarding the lack of vitamin D in our diets. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to get the vitamin D you need without putting in much effort.

First, lets talk about vitamin D and why it's so important. Vitamin D's major function is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, which helps to keep bones strong. Recent research has also stated that Vitamin D may provide protection against osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cancer, as well as autoimmune diseases such as MS. Good stuff this Vitamin D, huh?

The problem is that Vitamin D deficiency is becoming epidemic in this country. Why? Lack of sunlight. Most of us, myself included, are "sun-phobic". We have all become so paranoid about skin cancer so we slather ourselves in spf 5000 or whatever sunscreen the second we step foot outdoors on an even remotely sunny day.

Now lets talk about children. Talk about a Vitamin D deficiency! It is estimated that 70% of American children are Vitamin D deficient. 70 percent!!! Now that's what I call an epidemic.

So what are the dangers of Vitamin D deficiencies in children?  It has been found that children with low Vitamin D levels are more likely to have higher blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and low blood levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. Low Vitamin D levels have also been associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease later in life. If kids start out with low Vitamin D levels and never increase them, they may be putting themselves at risk for developing these diseases at an earlier age.

We're all trying to be good responsible parents and not let our kids get any sun but I think we've gotten a bit carried away in the sunscreen department. I know up until recently my two kids couldn't put one foot out the door without me practically drowning them in sunscreen.

How are we supposed to protect ourselves against skin cancer but also get the recommended amount of Vitamin D? The answer is moderation. We as humans are SUPPOSED to get some sun. We are supposed to tan. We're just not supposed to burn. You can get the recommended dosage of 200 IUs of Vitamin D per day by spending as little as 10-20 minutes per day in the sun WITHOUT sunscreen.

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Karen  - Vitamin D   |2010-09-12 07:44:54 I can attest to the horrible feelings associated with vitamin D deficiency . Mine was severely low and the fatigue was bad. It took 1 year to diagnose me because my doctor was in a hurry and did not do a complete work up. The nurse practitioner caught the problem. I was given 50,000 IU pills and felt the difference in 1 day. African Americans are more susceptible because we do not absorb as much sun as others. If you feel fatigued, as for a blood test. Reply | Quote 1   0

Sandy  - Vit D Deficiency   |2010-10-14 06:19:37 I found out from my doctor that I had very, very low vit. D levels. I reported this to my nutritionist who pointed out that low levels had contributed to low immunity to whatever germ crossed my path. Like Karen, I was told to take vitamin D tabs to drastically increase my vitamin levels. What an amazing difference! The cause for me was spending too much time inside an office. Getting outside once a week to garden was far from enough time in the sun. Reply | Quote 0   1

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