According to the Journal of Nutrition by the University of Oxford in 2015, 70% of children in general populations are Vitamin D deficient.
Vitamin D is a nutrient in which production depends mainly on sunlight exposure, Vitamin D levels in children are greatly affected by changes in lifestyle.
Children today spend less time outdoors than any other generation, spending most of their day being sedentary in front of electronic media, especially during this time of COVID-19 pandemic.
As a parent, you may think that keeping your child indoors reduces their chances of being exposed to the virus, but this is just overlooking the fact that lack of sunlight leaves your child more vulnerable to other infections.
Why? Not having enough sunlight causes low levels of Vitamin D which poses detrimental effects to your child’s overall health. What’s more, Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to decreased lung function, which affects the body’s ability to fight respiratory infections. Vitamin D is vital to the proper functioning of the immune system which is the body’s first line of defense against infection and disease.
To maintain healthy blood levels, the aim is to get at least 10-30 minutes of direct midday sunlight a few times a week. And the summer more than any season is the best time to get optimal levels of UVB from the sun which is essential in vitamin D production.
Ironic as it may sound, one of the best things that you can do as a parent to protect your child against COVID-19 or any other illnesses is just to simply let them enjoy the great outdoors!
At ProActiv Sports Summer Camps/Classes, children will have amazing fun under the sun while keeping parents 100% worry-free with proper safety measures in place. Gift your child a wonderful summer experience with us. Learn more by clicking here.
References
The Journal of Nutrition, Oxford University (2015). Vitamin D Deficiency in School-Age Children Is Associated with Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors
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