Kids and Vitamin D

It’s getting dark out there... 

With winter approaching and clocks returning to standard time, it’s hard to find daylight hours—let alone sunny hours—to spend outside. Yet, just a few minutes in the sun each day allows our bodies to manufacture sufficient Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is essential to help the body absorb calcium to build and maintain healthy bones. According to Health Canada, the dietary reference intake for Vitamin D is 400 IU per day for the first year of life, moving up to 600 IU per day for children and adolescence.

So how can we help our kids get this essential nutrient through our long winters?

Vitamin D is found naturally in fish like tuna and salmon. As well, fortified foods such as milk, yogurt and cereal are good sources.  Supplements can be a useful addition, especially during the winter.  Consult your primary care professional regarding all supplements.

This blog post brought to you by Shriners Care for Kids in BC and Yukon.

Annually, Shriners Care for Kids serves over 3500 patients and contributes $6-million to Provincial Healthcare. Care Cruiser buses enable children to travel from throughout the province to BC Children’s and Sunny Hill Hospitals. As well, transportation and all associated medical costs are provided at Shriners Hospital for those children requiring specialized orthopedic procedures. Care is provided based on medical need, not a family’s ability to pay.

To find out more, log onto www.bcshriners.com.