Low Carb Diet Foods

Low Carb Diet Foods

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

You've likely heard that fiber is an essential part of your diet. But what exactly is it, and why is it so important? If you're looking to boost your fiber consumption in an effort to eat a healthier diet, learn more about why you need this helpful carbohydrate — and what you can start eating in your quest to consume more of it.

Dietary fiber is an edible component of many of the plant foods and other carbohydrates you eat. It's safe to consume, and your body can process and eliminate it as a waste product. However, your body can't actually digest the fiber. This means your body can't break the fiber down or draw and absorb nutrients out of and from it the way it does with other things you eat. The fiber remains mostly intact as it passes through your digestive tract.

There are two different types of fiber found in the fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes you eat. Soluble fiber attracts water, dissolving in it and taking on a gel-like consistency. This fiber slows down your digestion and can keep you feeling fuller longer. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water or other fluids in your digestive tract, so it stays mostly in the same form it was when you ate it. This fiber helps push other material through your stomach, intestines and colon quickly and can add bulk to your stool.

Why Is Dietary Fiber Important?

It might not sound right to eat something that your body can't absorb nutrients from, but fiber has quite a few health benefits that may help reduce your risk of developing certain conditions. It aids digestion, helping your body process food more efficiently. Because fiber helps you feel full, it can also cause you to eat less and feel satiated longer. This can help you reach a healthy weight because the filling nature of high-fiber foods can keep you from consuming extra calories.

Fiber may also lower your risk of developing heart disease. Over the years, studies have consistently shown a link between higher fiber consumption and a decrease in heart disease. Several Harvard studies even demonstrated that a high total daily fiber intake was linked to a 40% lower risk of coronary heart disease, which develops when coronary arteries become too narrow. Other heart-healthy benefits of eating a high-fiber diet include lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation in your body.

Constipation is one of the most common digestion-related issues in the United States. If you're constipated, eating more fiber can help you relieve yourself. Fiber may also prevent constipation when you eat it regularly.

If you have type 2 diabetes, fiber can help you keep your blood sugar levels more even. Soluble fiber in particular slows the rate at which your body processes sugar and other refined carbohydrates, preventing blood sugar spikes. A Harvard study found that a diet high in cereal fiber specifically was linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Cereal fiber comes from cereal grains like wheat, millet, rice, oats and barley.

High-fiber Foods to Eat

It's easier to increase your fiber intake when you know which high-fiber foods to eat. Fruits and vegetables are healthful options that can form the basis of your new, fiber-rich snacks and meals, while whole grains make excellent options for side and main dishes.

Fruits offer an easy way to get more fiber into your diet. Grab a handful of raspberries or strawberries as a snack with some yogurt, or enjoy some pear or apple slices with peanut butter. A morning smoothie with your favorite fruit and some flaxseed also offers a great way to get lots of fiber in one meal. Other tasty options include mango, avocado, blackberries and figs. Keep in mind that lots of fruits' fiber is typically found in their skin, so leave it on whenever possible to get the most benefits.

Like fruits, vegetables are also versatile and packed with fiber. Whether fresh with dip or roasted with garlic, broccoli is always a good option, offering about 15% of your daily fiber intake in one 150-gram serving. Carrots, beets and artichokes are also among the vegetable options with the highest fiber content. Look for leafy greens, too, like kale, spinach and chard, to use in salads or sauteed when you're looking for high-fiber meal sides.

Whole grains are excellent sources of fiber, but it's important to check nutrition labels to be sure the ingredients are indeed whole grain. A whole grain is one that's still in its full form; sometimes, food producers separate certain grain components from one another to change how they taste or function as ingredients in other dishes. As far as grains go, whole grains have the most fiber. Try cooking with the whole grains themselves, including rice, wheat, millet, barley, oats, rye and corn. Or, look for whole-grain breads, cereals and pastas to eat in places of refined versions.

Legumes are plants that produce pods with seeds inside. Common legumes include peas, beans, lentils and peanuts. Add legumes to soups and salads, or try a serving of lightly seasoned legumes alongside whole wheat pasta salad with colorful, fresh veggies added. Peanuts and other nuts, which are also high in fiber, make great additions to homemade trail mix or blended into nut butters that you can spread on whole-wheat toast.

Boosting Your Consumption Gradually

Now that you know what fiber-rich foods to eat and why, you may want to start adding more fiber to your diet. Be sure that you increase your intake slowly to give your body time to adjust to processing the higher fiber content of what you're eating. If you start eating large amounts of fiber immediately, you might experience bloating, gas or abdominal cramping. Aim to work your way up to the recommended 25–38 daily grams of fiber over a few weeks so your digestive system can get used to the extra fiber.

Should You Use a Fiber Supplement?

If you're thinking about adding more fiber to your diet, you may be wondering if you should use a commercially available fiber supplement. Generally, it's best to get fiber from the foods you eat instead of from powders or vitamin capsules. Mayo Clinic notes that whole foods provide a wide variety of fibers, vitamins, minerals and other healthful nutrients, and that variety often isn't present in commercially prepared supplements. Before taking fiber supplements, you might consider eating foods that are fiber fortified, meaning they have some extra fiber added. If you're still not seeing the health results you're aiming for, such as less-frequent constipation, talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking fiber supplements.

Resource Links:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002136.htm

https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/Images/915800109%20Revised%208-10_tcm75-14335.pdf

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/fiber/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/high-fiber-foods/art-20050948

https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/?query=ndbNumber:11090

https://wholegrainscouncil.org/what-whole-grain

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Low Carb Diet Foods

Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/what-foods-eat-fiber-diet?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

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Low Vitamin D Heart Palpitations

Low Vitamin D Heart Palpitations

A lack of vitamin D can affect your heart.

Vitamin D is fat-soluble, and it naturally exists as vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is synthesized beneath the skin under direct sunlight. Vitamin D is active in the development and calcification of bone. Its absorption is mainly from diets high in vitamin D, such as fish, eggs and vitamin D fortified milk. The heart is one organ that requires a normal and stable concentration of calcium to function properly. Abnormally low calcium leads to palpitations, or an irregularity in heartbeat.

Major Causes

Healthy intestines and adequate dietary intake of vitamin D are important for maintaining normal levels of calcium in the blood. Diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease that affect the intestine also affect the absorption of calcium by inhibiting the action of vitamin D.

Liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, which impair the organ's function, also affect the use of vitamin D.

Anti-seizure medications and steroids increase the breakdown of vitamin D in the body, causing a need for vitamin D supplementation.

Lack of direct sunlight exposure may also contribute to deficiency in vitamin D.

Complication

Vitamin D-associated hypocalcemia elicits serious complications such as palpitations and seizures. Palpitations increase an individual's risk for enlargement of the heart and heart failure. Hypocalcemia leads to secondary hyperparathryoidism, a condition in which the parathyroid gland actively secretes parathyroid hormone because of a stimulus, in this case a lack of calcium in the blood due to low vitamin D. Osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children are associated with softening of bones due to a problem with vitamin D.

Observed Symptoms

Heart palpitations are associated with shortness of breath, which can make an individual tired and less active. In vitamin D-associated secondary hyperparathyroid, the bones become fragile and are prone to fracture. Bone and joint pain are chief complaints. Nausea, weakness and depression are other symptoms that can occur. Tetany, or involuntary contractions of muscles, can also occur in hypocalcemia. Tetany results in peculiar sensations over the lips, tongue and fingers. Facial spasms also occur.

Diagnosis

A physician has to order an evaluation for vitamin D deficiency. A blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis. The lab tests the blood sample for the concentration of active vitamin D, or 25OHD. A 25OHD concentration greater than 30 ng/mL is normal. When 25OHD concentration is less than 20 ng/mL, it is defined as vitamin D deficient. Borderline concentrations, which may need to be monitored, are between 30 to 20 ng/mL.

Management

To avoid complications like heart palpitations, an individual with low 25OHD should make changes to his diet and, if necessary, supplement vitamin D. The US Department of Health & Human Services has recommended the supplementation of 700 to 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day with 500 to 1,200 mg of calcium; this combination has led to decreased incidence of fracture in vitamin D deficient individuals.

Maintaining adequate sunlight exposure is recommended as well. Consider adding foods such as eggs, fish and vitamin D fortified milk to your diet; these foods are high in vitamin D.

Low Vitamin D Heart Palpitations

Source: https://www.livestrong.com/article/283811-vitamin-d-deficiency-heart-palpitations/

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Isotretinoin And Vitamin D

Isotretinoin And Vitamin D

Photo Courtesy: Michael Godek/Getty Images

Are you getting enough sun? In many parts of the world, that might prove difficult during the winter months — and it can impact more than your sunny disposition.When exposed to sunshine, our bodies produce vitamin D, something our bodies need to maintain healthy bones and teeth; support our immune and cardiovascular systems; and stave off certain diseases, like type 1 diabetes. Some reports suggest that roughly three-quarters of American teens and adults might not be getting enough vitamin D. So, how can you turn that number around?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) makes recommendations for what one's daily intake of vitamin D should be based on age, gender and other factors. The recommendations, in micrograms (mcg), can be summarized as follows:

Photo Courtesy: Sean Gladwell/Getty Images

• Infants (up to 12 months): 10 mcg daily
• Children (1 to 13 years): 15 mcg daily
• Teens (14 to 18 years): 15 mcg daily
• Adults (19 to 50 years): 15 mcg daily
• Older adults (51 to 70 years): 15 mcg daily
• Seniors (70+ years): 20 mcg daily

So, how can you supplement your vitamin D intake if all that basking in the sun isn't cutting it? Thanks to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, we've rounded up 10 healthy foods that can help you reach those daily vitamin D goals.

Salmon

Salmon comes in quite a few different varieties — canned sockeye salmon, smoked chinook salmon, canned pink salmon, cooked sockeye salmon, cooked pink salmon and even cooked wild coho salmon — and all of them are chock-full of vitamin D. All of these options will help you hit your goals. After all, a three-ounce serving of canned sockeye salmon contains 17.9 mcg of vitamin D, while a three-ounce portion of cooked sockeye salmon contains 11.1 mcg of vitamin D.

Photo Courtesy: Justin Ong/Getty Images

Smoked Whitefish

Want to change up that salmon intake? Whitefish can help with that. While whitefish are a species of fish, the term also refers to a cluster of types of fish, all of which have a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Some of the most popular "whitefish" include pollock, bass, cod, halibut, grouper and haddock. On average, a standard three-ounce serving of smoked whitefish contains an impressive 10.8 mcg of vitamin D.

Photo Courtesy: Bohemian Nomad Picturemakers/Getty Images

Swordfish

If you're looking for a terrific source of vitamin D, and to break up all that whitefish and salmon, try swordfish. These creatures can grow to be a whopping 1,400 pounds — and nearly 15-feet in length. While you wouldn't want to tangle with one of these in the ocean, encountering it as a nice, grilled steak is a treat. Best of all, a three-ounce portion will provide you with 14.1 mcg of vitamin D.

Photo Courtesy: Shawn Miller/Getty Images

Tilapia

Tilapia is a cluster of fish species that aren't found in nature. That is, tilapia is a farmed fish, which makes it pretty inexpensive. This mild species is the fourth most common type of seafood eaten by Americans, in part because of its versatility. We recommend a nice herb-and-parmesan crust, but, any way you slice it (or season it), a three-ounce portion will provide you with 3.1 mcg of vitamin D.

Photo Courtesy: Mike Kemp/Getty Images

Canned Tuna

Not into canned food? Well, canned fish should probably be your exception. In fact, canned tuna, in addition to being readily available and inexpensive, can make an abundance of tasty meals, from tuna salad and melts to casseroles. Best of all, a three-ounce serving of light tuna canned in oil contains about 5.7 mcg of vitamin D.

Photo Courtesy: LauriPatterson/Getty Images

Mushrooms

The five fish options we've listed above might not have surprised you, but this one might. Many varieties of mushrooms — including portabella, cremini, morels, chanterelles, maitake, and even your basic white button mushrooms — are excellent sources of vitamin D. In fact, half a cup of grilled portabella mushrooms delivers an impressive 7.9 mcg of vitamin D.

Photo Courtesy: Robert Lowdon/Getty Images

Eggs

Eggs — and, in particular, egg yolks — are one of the easiest, cheapest and quickest ways to nab some vitamin D. However, they may not be the food of choice for folks with high cholesterol. If your diet allows, whip up two scrambled eggs and enjoy getting 5% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin D first thing in the morning.

Photo Courtesy: valentinrussanov/Getty Images

Milk

Milk is more than just a great source of calcium. In fact, vitamin D is among its significant nutritional benefits. When it comes to a 16-ounce serving of cow's milk, the vitamin D content varies based on the milk's composition. For example, whole milk contains 6.3 mcg of vitamin D, while 2%, 1% and skim milk all contain 5.9 mcg. Even soy and dehydrated (powdered) milk will help you reach your goals by providing 5.8 mcg and 3.4 mcg of vitamin D respectively.

Photo Courtesy: JW LTD/Getty Images

Yogurt

Milk is not the only dairy product capable of delivering some serious vitamin D benefits. Of course, the nutritional value of yogurt changes depending upon the variety. For example, Greek-style yogurt contains more protein and less sugar than other types of yogurt. Nonetheless, you can still expect anywhere from 2 to 3 mcg of vitamin D per eight-ounce serving, regardless of the variety of yogurt.

Photo Courtesy: Westend61/Getty Images

Pork

So far, you've seen lots of fish and dairy options. You might be wondering, Where's the meat? Well, generally speaking, beef and chicken are not great sources of vitamin D. In fact, if you're a meat lover in search of some vitamin D, pork is your best bet. The nutritional value of pork varies depending upon the cut, method of preparation and more, but you're likely to find between 0.2 to 2.2 mcg of vitamin D in a standard three-ounce serving of pork.

Photo Courtesy: EasyBuy4u/Getty Images

Resource Links:

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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Isotretinoin And Vitamin D

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Icd 9 Code For Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy

Icd 9 Code For Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy

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How Much Vitamin D Should A 17 Year Old Take

How Much Vitamin D Should A 17 Year Old Take

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a nutrient that helps the body take in calcium from the foods that we eat. Together, calcium and vitamin D build bones and keep them strong. Vitamin D also plays a part in heart health and fighting infection.

Why Do Kids Need Vitamin D?

Kids need vitamin D to build strong bones. Vitamin D also helps bones heal after an injury or surgery.

Where Does Vitamin D Come From?

The Sun

Our bodies make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to the sun. It's hard to get enough vitamin D from the sun, though. Most kids and adults spend lots of time indoors at school and work. When outdoors, it's important to protect skin to prevent melanoma and skin damage from too much sun exposure.

Food

Very few foods have vitamin D naturally. The foods with the most are fatty fish and fish oils. Kids don't eat these foods a lot. That's why food companies add vitamin D to milk, yogurt, baby formula, juice, cereal, and other foods.

Adding vitamin D to foods is called "fortifying." It's helpful, but it still may not be enough.

Supplements

To get enough vitamin D, children often need to take a multivitamin with vitamin D or a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D is sometimes labeled as vitamin D3.

You can buy vitamin D pills, gummies, chewables, liquids, and sprays in stores without a prescription. Ask your child's health care provider for advice on choosing the right one.

How Much Vitamin D Does My Child Need?

Vitamin D is measured in international units (IU).

• Babies younger than 1 year old need 400 IU of vitamin D a day. Baby formula has 400 IU per liter, so babies who drink at least 32 ounces of formula each day get enough. If your baby takes only breast milk or gets less than 32 ounces of formula each day, ask your health care provider about giving your baby a vitamin D supplement.
• Kids older than 1 year need 600 IU or more of vitamin D a day. Health care providers often want healthy kids to take 600 to 1,000 IU daily.

Some kids might need more vitamin D, such as those who:

• have certain medical problems (for instance, obesity, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, multiple fractures, or bone pain)
• are healing from bone surgery (such as after fusion surgery for scoliosis)
• are taking medicines (like anti-seizure medicines) that block the way the body uses vitamin D

Your health care provider can talk to you about whether your child needs a vitamin D supplement.

How Can I Help My Child Get Enough Vitamin D?

Because vitamin D is so important, you'll want to be sure your child gets enough. Giving your child a daily supplement or a multivitamin with vitamin D is the easiest way to do this.

Health care providers might order a blood test if they think a health problem is keeping a child from getting enough vitamin D. If doctors don't think your child has a health problem, there's no need for a blood test.

What About Calcium?

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, a building block for strong bones. Unlike with vitamin D, kids usually can get enough calcium from food. High-calcium foods include milk, cheese, and yogurt. Food makers often fortify foods like cereal, bread, or juice with calcium.

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2021 KidsHealth® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com

How Much Vitamin D Should A 17 Year Old Take

Source: https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Patients-Families/Health-Library/HealthDocNew/Vitamin-D-and-Your-Child

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How Long Can You Store Vitamin D

How Long Can You Store Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones. In the UK we get most of our vitamin D from sunlight exposure from around late March/early April to the end of September. Find out how to get enough without risking sun damage.

We need vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium and phosphate from our diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

A lack of vitamin D, known as vitamin D deficiency, can cause bones to become soft and weak, which can lead to bone deformities.

In children, for example, a lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets. In adults, it can lead to osteomalacia, which causes bone pain and tenderness.

How do we get vitamin D?

Our body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on our skin when we're outdoors. From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D we need from sunlight.

We also get some vitamin D from a small number of foods, including oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, as well as red meat and eggs.

Vitamin D is also added to all infant formula milk, as well as some breakfast cereals, fat spreads and non-dairy milk alternatives.

The amounts added to these products can vary and may only be added in small amounts. Manufacturers must add vitamin D to infant formula milk by law.

Another source of vitamin D is dietary supplements.

How long should we spend in the sun?

Most people can make enough vitamin D from being out in the sun daily for short periods with their forearms, hands or lower legs uncovered and without sunscreen from late March or early April to the end of September, especially from 11am to 3pm.

It's not known exactly how much time is needed in the sun to make enough vitamin D to meet the body's requirements.

This is because there are a number of factors that can affect how vitamin D is made, such as your skin colour or how much skin you have exposed.

But you should be careful not to burn in the sun, so take care to cover up or protect your skin with sunscreen before your skin starts to turn red or burn.

People with dark skin, such as those of African, African-Caribbean or south Asian origin, will need to spend longer in the sun to produce the same amount of vitamin D as someone with lighter skin.

How long it takes for your skin to go red or burn varies from person to person. Cancer Research UK has tips to help you protect your skin in the sun.

Your body can't make vitamin D if you're sitting indoors by a sunny window because ultraviolet B (UVB) rays (the ones your body needs to make vitamin D) can't get through the glass.

The longer you stay in the sun, especially for prolonged periods without sun protection, the greater your risk of skin cancer.

If you plan to be out in the sun for long, cover up with suitable clothing, wrap-around sunglasses, seeking shade and applying at least SPF15 sunscreen.

Winter sunlight

In the UK, sunlight doesn't contain enough UVB radiation in winter (October to early March) for our skin to be able to make vitamin D.

During these months, we rely on getting our vitamin D from food sources (including fortified foods) and supplements.

Using sunbeds isn't a recommended way of making vitamin D.

Babies and children

Children aged under 6 months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight.

From March to October in the UK, children should:

• cover up with suitable clothing, including wearing a hat and wraparound sunglasses
• spend time in the shade (particularly from 11am to 3pm)
• wear at least SPF15 sunscreen

To ensure they get enough vitamin D, babies and children aged under 5 years should be given vitamin D supplements even if they do get out in the sun.

Find out about vitamin D supplements for children

Who should take vitamin D supplements?

Some groups of the population are at greater risk of not getting enough vitamin D.

The Department of Health recommends that these people should take daily vitamin D supplements to make sure they get enough.

These groups are:

• all babies from birth to 1 year old (including breastfed babies and formula-fed babies who have less than 500ml a day of infant formula)
• all children aged 1 to 4 years old
• people who aren't often exposed to the sun (for example, people who are frail or housebound, or are in an institution such as a care home, or if they usually wear clothes that cover up most of their skin when outdoors)

For the rest of the population, everyone over the age of 5 years (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) is advised to consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (μg) of vitamin D.

But the majority of people aged 5 years and above will probably get enough vitamin D from sunlight in the summer (late March/early April to the end of September), so you might choose not to take a vitamin D supplement during these months.

Find out who should take vitamin D supplements and how much to take

You can get vitamin supplements containing vitamin D free of charge if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a child under 4 years of age and qualify for the Healthy Start scheme.

You can also buy single vitamin supplements or vitamin drops containing vitamin D for babies and young children at most pharmacies and larger supermarkets.

Speak to your pharmacist, GP or health visitor if you're unsure whether you need to take a vitamin D supplement or don't know what supplements to take.

Can you have too much vitamin D?

If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10μg a day will be enough for most people.

People who take supplements are advised not to take more than 100μg of vitamin D a day, as it could be harmful (100 micrograms is equal to 0.1 milligrams).

This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17.

Children aged 1 to 10 shouldn't have more than 50μg a day. Babies under 12 months shouldn't have more than 25μg a day.

Some people have medical conditions that mean they may not be able to take as much vitamin D safely.

If in doubt, you should talk to your doctor. If your doctor has recommended you take a different amount of vitamin D, you should follow their advice.

The amount of vitamin D contained in supplements is sometimes expressed in international units (IU), where 40 IU is equal to 1 microgram (1µg) of vitamin D.

There's no risk of your body making too much vitamin D from sun exposure, but always remember to cover up or protect your skin before the time it takes you to start turning red or burn.

Page last reviewed: 31 August 2018
Next review due: 31 August 2021

How Long Can You Store Vitamin D

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-get-vitamin-d-from-sunlight/

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Giving Baby Vitamin D

Giving Baby Vitamin D

Vitamin D is needed to support healthy bone development and to prevent rickets, a condition that causes weak or deformed bones. Vitamin D deficiency rickets among breastfed infants is rare, but it can occur if an infant does not receive additional vitamin D from foods, a vitamin D supplement, or adequate exposure to sunlight.

Do infants get enough vitamin D from breast milk?

Breast milk alone does not provide infants with an adequate amount of vitamin D. Shortly after birth, most infants will need an additional source of vitamin D.

To avoid developing a vitamin D deficiency, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfed and partially breastfed infants be supplemented with 400 IU per day of vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life. Families who do not wish to provide a supplement directly to their infant should discuss with a healthcare provider the risks and benefits of maternal high dose supplementation options.

Once a child has started eating solid foods, parents can make sure their child is getting enough vitamin D from foods or supplements.

Why are infants at risk for vitamin D deficiency?

The risk for vitamin D deficiency is increased when there is limited exposure to sunlight or when an infant is not consuming an adequate amount of vitamin D. Although reducing sun exposure is important for preventing cancer, it also decreases the amount of vitamin D that a person can make from sunlight.

Other factors that decrease the amount of vitamin D a person can make from sunlight include:

• Living at high latitudes (closer to the polar regions), particularly during winter months.
• High levels of air pollution.
• Dense cloud covering.
• The degree to which clothing covers the skin.
• Use of sunscreen.
• Darker skin types.

Giving Baby Vitamin D

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/diet-and-micronutrients/vitamin-d.html

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