"Sunshine" Vitamin

"I'd suggest buying some Vitamin D for your kid," says my baby's pediatrician on my regular baby check up. "Is something wrong with my child?" I started to worry. "No, don't worry. The problem is kids don't get enough Vitamin D through the sun in the US North West area, so it needs to be supplemented…"
This made me think to do a research about this essential for our living Vitamin. Why is Vitamin D so important? And what are the natural ways of getting it? Let's talk about this now.
Vitamin D plays such an important role in building our healthy bones and teeth as it helps to absorb calcium.  And it's not just about the bones. It keeps up the immune system. If you will have healthy immune system, your body will fight off many infections.
Now guess what is the main natural source of Vitamin D? It's a sun shine :) The more you are out with your child, the better chance to get in some Vitamin D. However, the body is not able to produce it when the skin is covered with the clothing or sunscreen lotion.  Even though it still not enough of sun exposure for the body to make all needed amount of Vitamin D, it is a great and natural way to get it.
I found a great article on this web site BabyCenter. It talks about Vitamin D in the child's diet. There is some interesting information that I wanted to share from it.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants, children, and teens take Vitamin D supplements of 400 IU each day. Kids who are too young for chewable vitamins can take liquid supplements.
Some of the best food sources of Vitamin D:

• 1 ounce salmon: 102 IU
• 6 ounces fortified yogurt: 80 IU
• 1 ounce canned tuna, drained and packed in oil: 66 IU
• 1/2 cup orange juce, fortified with 25% daily value for vitamin D: 50 IU
• 1/2 cup fortified milk (whole, low-fat, or skim): 49 IU
• one slice fortified American cheese: 40 IU
• 1/2 cup fortified, ready-to-eat cereal: 19 IU
• 1 ounce mackerel: 11.6 IU
• 1/2 large egg yolk: 10IU
• 1/2 teaspoon fortified margarine: 10 IU
• 1/2 ounce Swiss cheese: 6 IU

The other interesting fact is that getting more Vitamin D than recommended by health experts might be harmful, because excess of Vitamin D is not going out with urine as some other vitamins. Vitamin D is stored in the body tissue. So to be safe, stick to the recommended amount of 400 IU; and get to enjoy every single sunny day to fulfill  your child's Vitamin D needs. There is nothing as much enjoyable than to see your children happy and full of energy.