Tag Archive for 'vitamin D'

Weekly Highlights (2/29/2012)

Published on February 29, 2012 in News. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Happy Leap Day! Sorry for the delay this week, as I managed to land myself with crutches after a rough spill and a badly sprained ankle. Nevertheless, welcome to this week’s highlights, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great finds we’ve come across in our internet travels. Enjoy!

- Jasmine

In the News:

Baby Born with Cancer is a Medical Mystery - In the rarest of medical occurrences, a baby was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma shortly after her birth. Earlier this month, her mother lost the battle with the same cancer that they believe she passed on to her baby in utero. Now baby Addison is fighting the cancer and being treated with an experimental FDA-approved medication approved only for her and not covered by insurance. To help the family with the cost of care, donations can be made to the “Cox Family” donation account at Arizona Federal Credit Union.  Account #826604.

Recall: Birth control pills Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol—Tablets out of order - We wanted to bring to your attention another birth control pill recall - Generic birth control pills Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol sold between September 21 and December 30, 2011.

California Bill Would End Use of Toxic Flame Retardants - A new bill was introduced Friday seeking to change the state’s outdated flame retardant standard. While the new bill doesn’t require the phasing out of toxic flame retardants, it does set a standard that most furniture items could pass without the use of toxic chemicals, and that is a step in the right direction.

I’ll Take a Sperm Test to Go: First DIY Male Fertility Test Now Available - Very few men get tested early on or at all in struggling couples, but now a new screening test approved by the FDA, SpermCheck, can assess sperm count with 98% accuracy in 10 minutes in the privacy of your own home.

CPSC Adopts New Federal Standard for Portable Bed Rails - Bed rails intended to keep children from rolling out of an adult bed have entrapped young children and killed infants. The CPSC has adopted a new standard requiring testing and improved warnings stating that rails should never be used with children under 2. Portable bed rails must also not create a dangerous gap with the mattress or contain hazardous edges or small parts.

New Research:

That New Car Smell is Toxic
That new car smell is actually the smell of chemicals off-gassing from interior auto parts like the steering wheel, dashboard, seats, and trim. It’s amazing how the smells we’ve been conditioned to associate with new and clean can be so toxic to our health. Over 275 different chemicals have been identified in vehicles interiors, including bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC and plasticizers); lead; and heavy metals. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of health problems such as allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer.

Healthystuff.org has tested over 900 vehicles since 2006 for these chemicals, and in its latest release the 2012 Honda Civic topped its list as the least toxic whereas the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander was the organization’s worst pick. Some general observations to note: Honda has virtually eliminated PVC from its fleet, with 83% of 2011/12 models free of PVC. North American-produced vehicles lag behind Europe- and Asia-produced vehicles in PVC and brominated flame retardant use, as the U.S. has the weakest regulatory system for chemicals in consumer products and provides the fewest incentives. How does your car stack up?

Memo to Pediatricians: Screen All Kids for Vitamin D Deficiency, Test Those at High Risk
As numerous studies have shown the fundamental role of Vitamin D on health and disease, which often develop in childhood, pediatricians are recommending that children be screened for risk factors and tested when at high risk. The AAP recommends 400 IU daily for breastfed infants under one and 600 IU daily for toddlers. I give my girls, one of whom refuses to drink milk,  Carlson Labs Vitamin D supplement which comes in the form of liquid drops of vitamin D3 in fractionated coconut oil. It’s tasteless, so they don’t notice a few drops added to their water.

Kids Get More Added Sugar From Foods Than From Drinks
While soda is still the single largest source of added sugar in children’s diets, new government data shows that processed and packaged foods are the leading source in their diets with 63% of calories from added sugars consumed at home. “Soda consumption is high, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the added sugars in foods such as muffins, cookies, sugar-sweetened cereals and pasta sauces,” says Cynthia Ogden, senior author on the report and an epidemiologist with the National Center for Health Statistics.

Getting Kids to Eat Veggies Can Be Sticky Business
A recent study found that rewarding children with stickers increased their affinity for a previously disliked vegetable. In the study, 173 families were assigned to three different groups: one that rewarded tiny tastes with stickers, another that rewarded with praise, and a control group that used no special tactics. Over the course of 12 days, the researchers found that the children rewarded with stickers gave higher yum factor ratings to vegetables they’d previously disliked and the results seemed to last, whereas praise seemed to have little effect. While rewards can be controversial as may lead to an expectation of reward, the researchers suggest that it about 10 days was enough to change a child’s attitude toward the vegetable.

Fantastic Finds:

Solutions for Siblings from Positive Parenting - I’m fortunate that my children get along most days, but sometimes they and I need a little help diffusing a situation. This article provides some great ideas for minimizing sibling rivalry and creating an environment where children can feel safe, loved, and valued.

How to Delete Your Google Browsing History Before New Privacy Policy - Apparently, once Google’s new policy takes effect tomorrow, all data it has previously collected about you across Google, Gmail, YouTube, etc. will be unified and associated with your online identity including search data which can reveal particularly sensitive information. The EEF, a nonprofit org for online privacy, recommends that all Google users take steps to delete their web history.

Porn for Pregnant Ladies from Pregnant Chicken - Don’t worry, ladies. It’s safe for work. My personal favorite? Hugh Jackman on Pinterest. :)

Get Closer from YouTube -  An inspiring human message.

Recalls, February 22 – February 29:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls

No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it to jasmine@purebebe.com.

Reboot Your Health in 2012 with Immune and Energy-Boosting Tips

Published on January 3, 2012 in Food, Health & Safety and Organic. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Happy 2012! We hope that you enjoyed the holidays and that the new year has started off well.

We will be focusing on health and nutrition throughout the month of January. To start out, we have created a list of ways in which you can reboot your family’s health in 2012, including how to boost your immune system and increase energy levels. We wish you and your family a healthy year ahead!

Boost Your Immune System

1. Eat as many organic foods as possible
Plain and simple, organic foods do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Genetically modified organisms were invented so that crops could be sprayed the heck out of with pesticides. If you don’t eat organic foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, you’re consuming lots of pesticides. Yes, it is true that organic foods are generally more expensive than non-organic foods. However, if you know where to shop, the difference is minimal. See our comparison shopping results of organic food prices versus non-organic food prices.

If you are beginning your organic food journey, then it’s important not to feel overwhelmed from the get-go. Please read our article on Simple Steps to Begin the Organic Food Journey.

2. Eliminate (or reduce) your intake of processed foods
For the same reasons as above, processed foods are loaded with GMOs and other toxins that are not healthy for your body. If you’re used to eating hot dogs, mac-n-cheese, chicken nuggets and other easy go-to foods, try substituting one or two of those meals with an easy homemade quinoa recipe, a nutrient rich kale Greek salad, black beans and rice, or our potato leek soup.

3. Take a probiotic supplement
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that inhabit our digestive tract and leave behind useful by-products while bad bacteria leave behind disease promoting waste. Probiotics can be used to help with diarrhea, constipation, reflux (if your child has reflux, please talk to your pediatrician about incorporating a probiotic into their daily food intake), yeast infections, lactose intolerance, restoring the immune system after taking antibiotics, ear infections, acne, diaper rash, colic and a host of other common issues. You can buy a probiotic from your local health food store. Since they are living organisms, refrigeration is necessary.

My children and I are all taking Natural Creations Enterobiotic S-IGC 60Caps.

4. Take a daily multivitamin
A daily multivitamin will provide the essential vitamins and nutrients that your body needs and is not getting from a daily diet. You want a food-based vitamin, instead of a chemical vitamin, as we outline in our article “Is Your Child’s Vitamin Healthy?”

My kids take the Nordic Naturals Multivitamin Gummies.

5. Drink a nutrient-rich smoothie 3-4 times per week
Chalk full of phytochemicals and antioxidants, a smoothie will help your immune system pack a powerful punch against invading bacteria. I have been alternating giving my kids their daily multivitamins with smoothies. So on days they get a smoothie, I don’t give them their multivitamin. If you’d like to try our liquid vitamins, here’s our recipe for our immune-boosting smoothie.

6. Stop using chemical-laden body care products
Right now is a good time to take inventory on how many chemical-based products you use on a daily basis. If you’re ready to “get real” and take stock of how many products are junking up your immune system, this article is a great place to start.

Boost Your Energy Level

7. Make sure you’re getting plenty of Vitamin D
Are you tired all the time? Feeling sluggish? You should go get your blood checked for vitamin D at your next Dr. appointment. I am in my 33rd week of pregnancy and have noticed a HUGE difference in days that I take an additional vitamin D supplement and days that I forget to take my extra capsule. Vitamin D is needed by your body to absorb calcium, and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. And according to the NIH, laboratory and animal studies suggest that vitamin D could help prevent colon, prostate and breast cancers.

If you’d like to read more about the importance of vitamin D, see our article called “What is Your Vitamin D ‘Number’?”

8. Exercise
Among other healthy benefits, exercise helps control weight, combats disease, releases endorphins that improves ones’ mood, boosts energy, and promotes healthy sleep.

9. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep!
Sleep is very important for our minds and bodies to function normally. ‘Nuff said. Now go get some shut-eye!

-What do you do to keep yourself and your family healthy?

-Heather

What is Your Vitamin D ‘Number?’

Published on December 8, 2011 in Breastfeeding, Food, Health & Safety and Skincare. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

A few months ago I went to the Dr. to have some blood work done. My doctor wanted a “full workup” since I was expecting my third child. About a month later, during my next appointment, the nurse told me that I was one of the first pregnant women that they had tested in a while who had normal vitamin D levels. When I asked what my level was, they told me 34.3.

Although I tested within what the general medical community would define as the “normal” range (30-70), I was disappointed. I had been going to a holistic pharmacist who had me on 5,000IUs a day. But when I found out I was expecting, I wasn’t sure how this would affect the baby and cut back to what was provided in my natal vitamin, plus an extra 1000IUs. It also didn’t make me feel any better to hear my nurse tell me that her number was 6 when tested, so that my 34.3 was “really good.” Seriously, I was concerned for her health if her vitamin D was a mere 6, and I was concerned about all of the other pregnant women walking around deficient in vitamin D.

I recently called my holistic pharmacist because I couldn’t remember what range he had suggested. He told me that recent studies have shown that a range of 50-70 is “normal,” and that 60 would be optimal for most people.

What is vitamin D?
According to the NIH, “Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis.”

And as we all know, no one is getting enough sunlight these days, especially throughout the winter months.

Why does my body need vitamin D?
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which is needed for bone growth and overall bone health, and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. According to the NIH, laboratory and animal studies suggest that vitamin D could help prevent colon, prostate and breast cancers. Additionally, “a growing body of research suggests that vitamin D might play some role in the prevention and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, multiple sclerosis, and other medical conditions.” In fact, studies have shown that taking vitamin D seems to reduce women’s risk of getting Multiple Sclerosis by up to 40%!

What about my exclusively breastfed baby, who doesn’t get vitamin D from the sun or other food sources?
The NIH also states that “Prolonged exclusive breastfeeding without the AAP-recommended vitamin D supplementation is a significant cause of rickets, particularly in dark-skinned infants breastfed by mothers who are not vitamin D replete.” In other words, if you exclusively breastfeed your baby, you should discuss adding a daily vitamin D liquid vitamin to your infant’s breastmilk. We gave D Vi Sol, a vitamin D supplement, to both of our girls while they were exclusively breastfed, to prevent rickets.

So how do you find out your (or your child’s) vitamin D level, you ask?
Quite simple, really. The next time you to go to the doctor, ask for a blood test. It takes less than 5 minutes.

-Have you had your vitamin D levels checked recently?
-Are you currently taking a vitamin D supplement?

References:
Chlebowski RT, Johnson KC, Kooperberg C, Pettinger M, Wactawski-Wende J, Rohan T, Rossouw J, Lane D, O’Sullivan MJ, Yasmeen S, Hiatt RA, Shikany JM, Vitolins M, Khandekar J, Hubbell FA; Women’s Health Initiative Investigators. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008 Nov 19;100(22):1581-91.

Garland CF, Gorham ED, Mohr SB, et al. Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2007;103:708-711.

Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, et al. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85:1586-1591.

Medline Plus: Vitamin D

When Your Toddler Refuses Milk

Published on May 31, 2011 in Food. 6 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

I love milk. My husband loves milk. My 3 year old LOVES milk. My 1 year old? Refuses it. If I didn’t give birth to her myself, I might wonder where she came from. I drink milk like it’s going out of style, but she won’t touch the white stuff. She sees white in her glass and immediately pushes it away.

When we began weaning from breastmilk, we tried everything short of adding flavoring – warm/cold, cold turkey/slow transition, but nothing worked. As soon as her bottle went 50/50, she went on strike. Naturally, I became concerned about her calcium and vitamin D intake. While she doesn’t necessarily need milk, it is the easiest way to get her the calcium and vitamin D that she needs.

Courtesy of amuderick, Flickr

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a daily intake of calcium for toddlers, age 1-3, of 500 mg and a daily intake of vitamin D of 400 IU (international units). The AAP stresses the importance of starting children off right with proper calcium intake because most children over the age of 8 don’t get enough, and maintaining adequate calcium intake during childhood and adolescence is necessary for reaching peak bone mass to reduce risk of fractures and later osteoporosis. Vitamin D, on the other hand, is necessary for the proper absorption of calcium.

So if my child refuses milk, how can I ensure that she is getting enough? While milk is ideal because it also provides necessary fat and protein, there are alternatives that are excellent sources of calcium. Each of the foods listed below offers about the same amount of calcium as 1 8-ounce glass of milk (300 mg). Granted, you wouldn’t necessarily give your child some of these foods in the listed proportions, but this list will give some idea of their calcium content.

Dairy foods

  • 8 ounces of yogurt
  • 1 1/2 ounces cheese (about the size of a 9 volt battery)
  • 2 cups of cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese

Nondairy foods

  • 1 cup cooked collard greens
  • 2 cups cooked white beans
  • 1 cup of almonds
  • 3 cups of broccoli
  • 1 cup of dried figs

Calcium-fortified foods

  • 1 cup fortified orange juice
  • 1 cup fortified almond or rice milk
  • 3 cups of selected fortified breakfast cereals
  • 3 english muffins, enriched with calcium propionate

As for vitamin D, there are only a few naturally occurring food sources, primarily fatty fish such as herring, salmon, halibut, and tuna, although eggs do contain about 40 IU each. Most sources of vitamin D are fortified drinks and foods. But while milk is fortified with vitamin D, most dairy products such as cheese and yogurt are not made with fortified milk. It may be a good idea to consult your pediatrician about a vitamin supplement.

In addition to eating calcium and vitamin D rich foods, the AAP stresses the importance of a healthy diet including fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C, potassium, and bicarbonate increase the absorption and retention of calcium.

When reading a label, you’ll notice that amounts of calcium or vitamin D are often expressed in terms of a percentage of daily value, based on recommended intakes for an adult diet. The daily value for calcium is 1000 mg/day, and the daily value for vitamin D is 400 IU/day. An easy way to convert the percentages to the relevant measure is to add a zero to the % for calcium to determine the number of mg per serving and multiply the % for vitamin D by 4 for the number of IU per serving. Easy peasy!

We have been fortunate that my daughter loves yogurt and cheese. She could probably eat her weight in cheese, or at least her daily need, in one sitting. And she loves her orange juice – Simply Orange fortified with calcium and vitamin D. One glass gives her 350 mg of calcium and 100 IU of vitamin D.

We also recently discovered that we can get her to take milk in the form of smoothies. In fact, she can’t get enough. She loves combinations of banana, blueberries, strawberries and peaches added to her milk. It couldn’t be simpler to throw together a smoothie with fresh berries and frozen fruit. And what’s more, we can add a little plain yogurt or nonfat dry milk* to boost the calcium content.  One of these days, we also intend to try avocado-banana which was one of her favorite baby puree combinations.

* Try also adding nonfat dry milk to pancakes, hot cereals, soups, or casseroles.

Another option for getting milk into your child’s diet is to mix it with vegetable purees to make a soup, like sweet potato, asparagus, broccoli, or butternut squash. My daughter loves butternut squash soup, so I think this is in our future.

If your child has resisted milk, what has worked for you? I’m all ears for more ideas!

- Jasmine

For more information:
American Academy of Pediatrics : Calcium and Bone Health

This column is not intended to replace the advice of your pediatrician. If you have concerns about your child’s intake of milk, please consult your pediatrician.

You Might Also Like:
Help Prevent Childhood Obesity: Leading By Example
The True ‘Cost’ of a Gallon of Milk
Is Your Child’s Vitamin Healthy?
Creating a Healthy Relationship with Food: Interview with Dr. Lisa Hill

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