Diet is one of the cornerstones of health and wellness. The key to a balanced diet is ensuring your little ones get enough of each essential nutrient, including vitamin D. The most efficient way of getting vitamin D is through sun exposure because it directly interacts with compounds in the skin to create the nutrient. Some children may need a supplement, such as vitamin D gummies, to ensure they get enough.
Sunscreen, while necessary to protect against solar radiation, does not allow UVB rays to interact with the skin —at least not on the level they need to produce adequate supplies of vitamin D. If your children do not get enough natural exposure to the sun daily — roughly 20 minutes sunscreen-free — supplements become essential.
Importance of Vitamin D for Kids
Despite the name, vitamin D is not a vitamin but a hormone. Because it is a hormone, it is a foundational element in several biological functions, including the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
Without an adequate supply of vitamin D, children are at risk of developing severe conditions, such as rickets. The disease leads to bone deformities and softness.
Beyond bone health, vitamin D may also contribute to the health of other organs and immune responses. The nutrient's critical role in the body, especially during accelerated growth spurts, means deficiencies can cascade health effects.
Watch for signs of vitamin D deficiency in children. Some of the most obvious signs include:
- Fatigue
- Bone aches and muscle weakness
- Loss of appetite
- More frequent bouts of illness
Ways To Give Your Kids Vitamin D
The best way for your children to get enough vitamin D is to play outside. You want to send your children out to play around noon when the sun is at its peak. Allow them to play for 15 to 20 minutes before putting sunscreen on.
If you do not like the idea of your little ones playing outside without sun protection, you must ensure they get enough of the nutrient through dietary choices. Vitamin D is not naturally present in many foods, so you must look for fortified foods or give your children supplements.
Wellements Organic Vitamin D Fruit Bite Gummies (Benefits & Ingredients)
Wellements Organic Fruit Bite Gummies are available in vitamin D gummies for kids. The supplement, developed for children two or older, promotes healthy growth and bone development and tastes like raspberries. As with all Wellements products, it is free from artificial colors, artificial flavors, gluten, unnecessary preservatives, and the top eight allergens.
The ingredients are certified organic. The primary ingredient list includes:
- Vitamin D
- Organic apple juice, lemon juice concentrate, and black carrot juice concentrate (for color)
- Organic apple puree concentrate and raspberry puree
- Pectin
- Organic rice flour
- Potassium citrate and baobab fruit powder
- Natural flavor
How To Give Your Child the Vitamin D Fruit Bite Gummies
Wellements Organic Vitamin D Fruit Bite Gummies contain all the vitamin D your child needs for an entire day. Give your child one gummy per day and ensure they chew it thoroughly.
You must store the gummies in a cool, dry place. Also, pay attention to the expiration date to ensure your child gets the correct dose. Vitamins often lose potency after a certain amount of time. You should never give any product past the expiration date.
While technically a hormone, vitamin D is essential to several core biological functions, including bone health and immunity. Your little ones need an adequate supply of the vitamin to ensure they grow healthy and strong. Sun exposure or dietary supplements, like fruit gummies, are the most efficient ways to ensure your child gets what they need.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3012979/
https://www.nebraskamed.com/primary-care/9-vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms-and-11-high-vitamin-d-foods
https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/vitamin-d-supplements-what-parents-should-know
https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/vitamins-minerals/vitamin-d.html
https://www.charlotteparent.com/making-sure-your-child-gets-enough-vitamin-d/