The Role of Nutrition: Foods That Can Help Combat Vitamin D Deficiency In Children

Written by Smriti Dey

Published: October 18, 2024

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Table of Contents

Know Why Vitamin D Is Essential For Child’s Health

What Happens When A Child Suffers From Vitamin D Deficiency?

Foods That Can Help Combat Vitamin D Deficiency In Children

Milk
Spinach
Banana

What Is The Alternative Of Vitamin D Food Sources

Conclusion

Parents are also concerned about their children, making them eat various kinds of diets at an early age with proper exercise routines and everyday activities. It is true that while the child is growing, extra care and observation are required.

A child obtains many vitamins and minerals from food and other sources, such as sunlight and water. Vitamin D is one of those micronutrients that helps the child grow taller and stronger and helps bones get calcium and phosphorus.

Vitamin D can be obtained from different food sources or sunlight. Keep reading more about vitamin D to ensure you have enough information to keep your child healthy and safe from vitamin deficiency.

Know Why Vitamin D Is Essential For Child’s Health

Vitamin D is a major component contributing to your child's health and immune system as they grow up. Vitamin D is majorly concerned with developing bone structure, muscles, and immunity. Without proper bone development, most of the child's everyday activities will be hampered in the long run.

Vitamin D helps with calcium and phosphorus absorption, ensuring it is deposited correctly, i.e., bones and teeth. Vitamin D is also responsible for good height and body structure, with excellent bone density. Not to forget that vitamin D also supports immunity, making children resilient to harsh environments and helping the body fight diseases and infections.

What Happens When A Child Suffers From Vitamin D Deficiency?

Children with Vitamin D deficiency suffer constant joint and muscle pain due to weaker bones and immunity. Vitamin D deficiency can also cause high fever and influenza symptoms, making a child look tired and weak. It can also cause deformities like rickets and other diseases.

As vitamin D is responsible for immunity, it becomes easier for diseases and infections to enter the body, causing breathing problems and pneumonia. Another major problem with Vitamin D deficiency is that the child will be prone to fractures, bone dislocation, and tears.

Vitamin D deficiency has early symptoms that can be detected by parents through constant observation and care of the children. It is always advised to have a doctor's opinion and proper diagnosis before treating children for any vitamin D deficiency disease or problem.

Foods That Can Help Combat Vitamin D Deficiency In Children

Children can have lots of food to cure their vitamin D deficiency easily. Keep reading.

Milk

Milk is full of vitamin D, calcium, and other nutrients, which are essential for kids to grow stronger. Milk primarily contributes to bone health and bone nutrients. Milk with different energy drink powders can be served to kids as a daily routine before breakfast, or you can use milk in different curries to make delicious, mild dishes.

Spinach

Remember the cartoon Popeye: The Sailor Man? Popeye used to eat spinach to strengthen his body and bones, saving the day in every episode. Spinach contains lots of Vitamin D to enhance bone and muscle growth. A good spinach curry or soup will not only make your child eat more healthily, but it will also be as tasty as ever.

Banana

Everyone loves banana bread. Bananas are full of Vitamin D and can be eaten every day. It enhances bone strength, density, and muscle flexibility, making sure that the child is getting their daily intake of Vitamin D. There are also lots of dishes that can be made out of banana aside from bread and the fruit can be eaten as it is too.

What Is The Alternative Of Vitamin D Food Sources

There is another alternative to vitamin D food sources that, as a parent, you must already know about. Exposure to sunlight is a good source of vitamin D, which can help children with Vitamin D deficiency. Did you know that vitamin D present in sunlight is much higher in amount than any vitamin D food sources available on the market? Regular playtime outside can help children battle vitamin D deficiency, making them fit and active with stronger bones and immunity. Various activities like pool time, picnics, exercises, sports, and outdoor activities can ensure the child gets lots of Vitamin D through sunlight.

Conclusion

Now that you know why vitamin D is essential for kids, along with different foods that can help combat vitamin D deficiency in children and other alternatives like sunlight exposure. Ensure you keep experimenting with all kinds of foods, preparing your child a balanced vitamin D-rich meal to make them strong and healthy. Vitamin D is a basic concern that should be kept in mind and cared for.