We all know vitamin D’s bone-building power does a body good. However, mounting research indicates that this sunshine vitamin is becoming more and more crucial to our overall health.
Recent studies reveal that vitamin D may help to increase our life expectancy. How? Because it bears the possibility of “affecting genes that impact both longevity and age-related diseases.” It also reduces the likelihood of, and mitigates, risks associated with the following health issues:
- Cancers of many kinds
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Congenital, hereditary & neonatal disorders
- Diabetes and endocrine diseases
- Hematologic diseases
- Infections and autoimmunity
- Kidney diseases
- Mental health & learning disorders
- Musculoskeletal
- Neurological conditions
- Oral health issues
- Respiratory conditions
- Skin disorders
Great news, right? Yes! BUT the vast majority of us are vitamin D deficient and we don’t even realize it. So, how can you be sure that you and your baby are reaping the life-enhancing benefits of vitamin D? Here’s how with our pediatric care tips:
Let the sunshine in.
We’re able to make lots of vitamin D in our skin when we spend just 10-15 minutes in the sun (without sunscreen). The lower back is an excellent part of the body to expose to the sun because we make can plenty of D vitamin without having to worry about wrinkles!
However, for those of us in San Francisco, the sun is less direct and less intense from October through March and our summers are famously foggy. Therefore, sun exposure is hard to come by for much of the year. So, for most San Francisco patients a vitamin D3 supplement is necessary. This brings us to our next tip…
Supplement smartly.
Taking supplements is the best way to be sure that both you and your child are vitamin D sufficient. We recommend that all pregnant and nursing mothers have their vitamin D levels checked. That way we can design a custom supplementation plan based on their needs. You can also look at the Mayo Clinic’s Vitamin D Dosage page for recommendations based on age and ailment.
Fortify your womb.
Vitamin D is one of the key ingredients for a healthy pregnancy because it helps San Francisco women prevent intrauterine growth retardation, premature labor, preeclampsia, hypertension, low birth weight, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and much more.
If you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or know that you want to have children in the future, we recommend getting on a custom supplement plan as early as possible. Taking supplements before and during pregnancy increases your chances of a safe delivery and gives your baby a healthy head start. We’re happy to help design a program specifically tailored to your needs.
Load up on vitamin D-rich foods.
Vitamin D isn’t found in too many foods, unfortunately, but here are a handful of good sources:
- Fatty fish (tuna, mackerel, salmon, etc.)
- Some dairy products, soy milk, cereals, and orange juice
- Portobello Mushrooms
- Cheese
- Egg yolks
- Beef liver
- Cod liver oil
Incorporating vitamin D-fortified foods into your family’s regular diet is an excellent way to increase their intake. (Pay attention to the labels on what you buy, and try to buy organic–and local–whenever possible.)
Let GetzWell guide you.
Just imagine, with sufficient vitamin D levels, you and your baby stand a greater chance of living longer and healthier lives. We’re able to customize your vitamin D supplementation as part of our pediatric care services.
Give us a call at our offices in San Francisco at 415.826.1701 to learn more.