Vitamin D – The Sunshine Vitamin For Children’s Health

Why Is Something So Simple, So Hard to Get?

When we think of Australia and New Zealand, we think of surf, sun and sand, beautiful climates and the great outdoors. With vitamin D readily available from the sun, why are so many people deficient in this important vitamin? An estimated 73% of adults suffer from inadequate vitamin D levels, with almost 60% of women living in southern areas being completely deficient during the winter/spring months. Are we spending too much more time indoors? Are we obsessed with the need to cover up and use sunscreen every time we step outside? With so many factors influencing vitamin D, what can you do to ensure you and your family have adequate vitamin D levels?

 

Delving Into Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin naturally derived from UVB waves from the sun. Dietary sources are limited and include oily fish and egg yolks. Vitamin D is well known for its role in maintaining the health of bones and improving calcium absorption; but D is so much more than this! It helps improve immunity; reducing the frequency of colds and flus, and managing more serious autoimmune conditions. Vitamin D also improves muscle strength and can reduce fractures in the elderly. Did you realise that low levels of vitamin D have also been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers and other chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes? Interestingly, vitamin D may even help support healthy moods and is a beneficial part of the treatment for depression.

 

D Deficiency Is Widespread

It may be quite alarming to find out that so many of your family, friends and others in your community may be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. With our main source of vitamin D coming from sunlight, keep a special eye out for those you know who may be at greater risk of deficiency. They include people who are older, housebound, darker skinned individuals, and those who wear covered clothes, work indoors or regularly avoid sun exposure. You also need to keep in mind where you live, your climates and the seasons. It may be harder to get adequate vitamin D from the sun at certain latitudes and in southern areas where UV levels are lower. During the colder months, you may need to spend more time outdoors to obtain vitamin D; compared to summertime, when several minutes of sun exposure daily may be sufficient. With our position under the hole in the ozone layer, getting the sun exposure required for optimal vitamin D synthesis may present risks to skin health. Supplementation with vitamin D may be a safer option for many

 

 

Recommendations for Achieving Optimal D Levels

In order to achieve and maintain optimal vitamin D levels, here are a few simple steps:

• ✅ If getting sun exposure, aim for 6 to 7 minutes midmorning or mid-afternoon during warmer months, and 7 to 40 minutes at noon during winter; arms and shoulders should be visible, and without sunscreen. Be aware that UV levels are highest between 11am and 3pm so be cautious going out uncovered for longer than this.

• ✅ If you know you are low in vitamin D and you wish to avoid the sun, it may be more appropriate to correct a deficiency with a supplement to quickly and safely build up your vitamin D stores.

• ✅ If you’re unsure about your current vitamin D levels, ask your Practitioner about how to get your levels assessed.

 

Put D Back in Your Day

Vitamin D is critical for the health of your entire body. With so many people deficient in this essential vitamin, it is important to get your levels assessed to ensure they are not low. Vitamin D deficiencies can have negative effects on your health and may increase your risk of chronic disease. If your vitamin D levels are low, talk to your Practitioner today. Make it a priority to build up your vitamin D stores with a high quality supplement and healthy sun exposure, and take another step closer to optimal health.

 

 

  • Naturopathy Can Help With the Following Childhood Conditions

    Fiona provides tailored health plans based on a multitude of factors relevant to your child’s symptomology (how they are feeling), pathology (how their body is responding), plus dietary and lifestyle factors.

    • ✅ Digestive complaints – constipation, diarrhoea, loose stools, pain or bloating
    • ✅ Allergies and allergic conditions – such as asthma, eczema or hayfever
    • ✅ Poor Immunity – recurring colds or ear infections
    • ✅ Skin Conditions – rashes, eczema, acne, pimples or allergic reactions
    • ✅ Moods – anxiety, depression or mood swings
    • ✅ Food Intolerances – identifying food reactions
    • ✅ Food Allergies – identifying food reactions
    • ✅ Growth and development issues – fussy eaters or nutritional malabsorption
    • ✅ Behavioural challenges – ADHD or others
    • ✅ Energy – poor energy or chronic fatigue
    • ✅ Picky Eaters – fussy eaters
    • ✅ Sleep – trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

    What happens in a children’s nutritionist consultation

    During your consultation, Fiona will seek information about your pregnancy, birth and post birth experiences. This will provide an integrated view to give a full picture of the foundations of your child’s health status. You can expect to leave your consultation with a thorough understanding of the potential contributing factors of the presenting symptoms. Fiona will provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates possible herbal/nutritional medicine, dietary/lifestyle recommendations, recipes and handouts. Plus an overview of the consultation so you feel empowered to care for your child’s wellbeing with Fiona’s guidance. At The Children’s Naturopath, Fiona Stock an expert in childhood health, she understands children’s needs and considers working with kids and teens to be an absolute joy. She finds that children typically respond to naturopathic treatment very well – bouncing back to good health in no time.  And she treasures the opportunity she has to teach kids about their bodies and engage them in their health journey, setting them up with strong foundations and knowledge for life.

    Meet Children’s Nutritionist – Fiona Stock

    Fiona is skilled at getting to the heart of childhood health challenges – helping to initiate lasting change.

    Fiona Stock is a respected Paediatric Naturopath & Children’s Nutritionist with a career spanning over 23 years. Armed with an abundance of experience and a true desire to transform your child’s health, she’ll listen closely to understand the underlying causes of their troubling condition. Fiona gets to the heart of your child’s presenting symptoms by deciphering what their body is trying to tell you. She will suggest simple and specific changes as well as herbal or nutritional medicine where required to nurture and restore your child, so they can enjoy the good health they deserve. Deeply compassionate and highly skilled, either of the Naturopathic Consultation Options with Fiona is a wonderful investment in your child’s health. If you’ve tried everything and are yet to find solutions to your child’s health challenges – this could well be the path to take.

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    FIONA STOCK | PAEDIATRIC NATUROPATH & CHILDREN’S NUTRITIONIST

    • ✅Poor Immunity
    • ✅Poor Focus & Concentration
    • ✅ Behavioural Problems
    • ✅ ADHD
    • ✅ Depression
    • ✅ Anxiety
    • ✅ Food Allergies
    • ✅ Food Intolerances
    • ✅ Constipation
    • ✅ Diarrhoea
    • ✅ Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
    • ✅ Tummy Pain
    • ✅ Eczema
    • ✅ Asthma
    • ✅ Obesity
    • ✅ Auto-Immune Disease
    • ✅ Recurring Infections
    • ✅ Fussy Eaters
    • ✅ Sleep Issues
    • ✅ Plus many more…

    Online Learning | Children’s Health | Children’s Nutritionist

    Would you like a consultation with me at a fraction of the cost? My online learning classes are jam packed with more advice than I provide in a face-to-face appointment. It’s evidence-based naturopathic wisdom coupled with the latest scientific research on kids health I’ve successfully shared with clients over my 20+ year career.

    I’ve also included cheatsheets, checklists, nourishing recipes and 25 page book of class notes.

    You will learn:

    • ✅ Understand the cause if common childhood conditions (eczema, poor immunity, food allergies, food intolerances, poor focus & concentration, ADHD, behavioural problems).
    • ✅. Supporting immune function to help support allergic conditions.
    • ✅. Support optimal brain function.
    • ✅. Healthy Eating Plan – including portion size for each age-group.
    • ✅. Natural medicine recommendations,
    • ✅. Plus much more…

    Brisbane Child Naturopath | Children’s Naturopath Brisbane

    Adelaide Child Naturopath | Children’s Naturopath Adelaide

    Sydney Child Naturopath | Children’s Naturopath Sydney

    Perth Child Naturopath | Children’s Naturopath Perth

    Kids Nutritionist | Children’s Nutritionist | Baby Nutritionist

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