Why Don't We Get Enough Vitamin D

The American Academy of Pediatrics just came out with a new policy statement, doubling the amount of Vitamin D they believe children need. The new level is 400IU. To get to this level they recommend supplementation, because to get this much vitamin D from milk a child would have to drink 4 cups of milk. Four cups of milk would provide too many calories solely from milk-- not allowing room for vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and fiber from other foods.

{Four cups of whole milk would also provide 600 calories (approximately half of a child's caloric needs per day) and the maximum advised amount of unhealthy saturated fats. Four cups of 2% milk would provide 480 calories (about 1/3 of daily caloires for a child) and 60% of the maximum advised amount of saturated fats. Most of our vitamin D comes from sun exposure.}

I understand that this recommendation is based on many peer reviewed studies. It appears that Vitamin D is part of the puzzle when looking at a variety of chronic diseases including cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, thyroid disorder, celiac and other autoimmune states. But Vitamin D must only be part of the puzzle, as our bodies work synergistically. Unfortunately our bodies are assaulted every day (even in-utero) by new combinations of man made substances, geneticly engineered foods, and stress.

So all children need to take a supplement? What is wrong with this picture? Aren't a variety of healthy foods, and in this case sunshine, supposed to be able to meet the needs of a growing child? It just strikes me as odd that we now need to supplement food. This is like supplementing air. How did we get to this point? What is wrong with our air, water, food, environment, and bodies?

As science learns more about how our bodies work, we need to stop using products that contaminate our world and damage our own normal bodies processes. If we don't buy it, they won't sell it. So take a stand on pesticides, genetically altered animals and foods, pthalates and BPA in packaging medical supplies and toys, and dangerous chemicals in personal care and home cleaning products. Let's stop damaging our selves and the earth so our bodies and our environment can support us as we support our world.