Now lets talk about children. Talk about a Vitamin D deficiency! It is estimated that 70% of American children are Vitamin D deficient. 70 percent!!! Now that’s what I call an epidemic.

So what are the dangers of Vitamin D deficiencies in children?  It has been found that children with low Vitamin D levels are more likely to have higher blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and low blood levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Low Vitamin D levels have also been associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease later in life. If kids start out with low Vitamin D levels and never increase them, they may be putting themselves at risk for developing these diseases at an earlier age.

We’re all trying to be good responsible parents and not let our kids get any sun but I think we’ve gotten a bit carried away in the sunscreen department. I know up until recently my two kids couldn’t put one foot out the door without me practically drowning them in sunscreen.

How are we supposed to protect ourselves against skin cancer but also get the recommended amount of Vitamin D? The answer is moderation. We as humans are SUPPOSED to get some sun. We are supposed to tan. We’re just not supposed to burn. You can get the recommended dosage of 200 IUs of Vitamin D per day by spending as little as 10-20 minutes per day in the sun WITHOUT sunscreen.