VIDEO: Increase Vitamin D to Improve Behavior

Dr. Beurkens Discusses Vitamin D and Children's Behavior

Vitamin D is an important nutrient for many reasons, and research shows that most people do not get enough each day.

It is hard to overstate the benefits of Vitamin D, as there is so much research supporting the importance of this nutrient for many aspects of our brain and body health. It has been shown to be critical for immune system function, improves blood pressure, reduces cancer risk, improves mood, supports endocrine function, and much more.

Our bodies require direct sunlight in order to make Vitamin D, and lack of exposure to sun can lead to deficiencies. Vitamin D is not present in large amounts in the foods we eat, even though some popular children’s foods such as milk and cereal are fortified with added Vitamin D. Supplementation is another way to boost Vitamin D levels.

Because Vitamin D plays such an important role in immune function and regulation of mood, low levels of this nutrient can cause or exacerbate mood and behavior problems in children and adults.

It is important to ensure that children and young adults are getting enough Vitamin D each day to support positive mood and behavior regulation. Spending about 20 minutes outside in the sunshine without sunscreen is a great option for supporting Vitamin D production in the body. You want to make sure that you are not getting sunburned, but most people can spend 20 minutes or so in direct sunlight without burning. Exposure to sunlight without sunscreen is important for Vitamin D production, as the sunscreen blocks the rays that the body needs to produce it. If exposure to sunlight isn’t an option, or if you want to ensure a strong level of Vitamin D, supplementation can also be beneficial.

Make sure your kids are taking advantage of the sunshine to boost immune function and mood through higher Vitamin D levels!

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