Shedding the Light on Vitamin D - (protective eyewear required!)

It is well-known that I am not a fan of supplementing infants, under 6 months, with vitamins of any kind. Why do I dare go against, what some consider, an absolute necessity?  First of all, I usually go against things that don't make sense.  For instance, breastmilk actually does contain some vitamin D along with ample amounts of Vitamins A & C and the other vitamins and minerals a newborn needs - go figure!  Also considering, Vitamin D, is not really something you're supposed to get through your food, who’s to say that the amount in breastmilk is deficient, it may be “just right”.

Seconds of all, I prefer to trust Mother Nature before I would any company whose main purpose is to: MAKE MONEY, SELLING PRODUCTS THAT MAKE PEOPLE SICK AND THEN MAKE MORE MONEY, SELLING PRODUCTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO CURE THEM BUT USUALLY DON'T, BECAUSE THEN, THEY WOULDN'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY!!

OK, now I feel better that I got that off my chest!   Thirdly,  sunlight is still our main source of Vitamin D, unless you're in a cold, dark climate with little sun exposure, or very dark-skinned, 10-15 minutes of sun (even near a window, if it's cold out) should be enough.  What have we turned into - the people who fear the sunlight?  The CSS - Crazy Sunphobic Society? 

Due to the immaturity of the infant gi tract (better known as guts) introducing substances directly by mouth, other than breastmilk, only serves to place them at risk for food allergies, asthma and probably eczema. See for yourself @ :
http://email06.secureserver.net/attachment.php folder=INBOX.Sent_Items&uid=536&aEmlPart=0&part=2&tnef_part=-1&filename=early%20vitamin%20supplements.pdf&email_folder=INBOX.Sent_Items#

By the way, have you ever taken the time and read the ingredients on a bottle of Tri-Vi-Sol, made by Emfamil? (Mead Johnson) including the synthetics, artificial colors and flavors and don’t forget the sugar…..yummmm! How about the Side effects: upset stomach, headache and unusual or unpleasant taste in mouth – just what you and your baby need, right?
Note to reader : please don’t ask me for advice about your fussy baby if you insist on continuing this practice. In fact, maybe you should ask your doctor or the formula rep who pushes this crap, if they would like to care for your crying, sick baby!  Better yet, take responsibility for their future life-long illnesses!

Now for those of you, who are known to be Vitamin D deficient or live in a cave or truly believe the risk of rickets actually exists and just can’t take that chance, I have a safe option for you and your baby. According to this study, you can increase the Vitamin D in your breastmilk (thus to your baby), by simply taking more Vitamin D yourself.  Study below: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17661565 "Breastfeed Med. 2006 Summer;1(2):59- 70. High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in a cohort of breastfeeding mothers and their infants: a 6-month follow-up pilot study.

So, problem solved.(again!)  Thankfully, you can feel good, if you choose to take the supplements, that you’ll be supporting a vitamin company and not the unethical, greedy formula industry!  I am proud of you and happy for your baby!!

In closing, I’d like to leave you with one of my all-time, favorite “tongue in cheek” but quite effective commentaries about the subject:   So enjoy and go outside!!! (preferably during the day)

But God Forgot the Vitamin D in Breastmilk??
By Dr. Jack Newman FRCPC



"The phalarope, a wading shorebird, has a unique way of dining on creatures too deep for it to reach. It draws them up by spinning in the water at breakneck speak. Phalaropes detect prey, thrust, seize, transport and swallow in less than half a second, at a rate of 180 pecks per minute".



But God forgot the vitamin D in human milk?



"Light signals are essential to butterfly mating... Males and females have photoreceptors on their sex organs. When light to the male's receptors is completely blocked, the pair's genitalia are exactly aligned and they can mate. If the light leaks, it's no go."



But God forgot the vitamin D in human milk?



"Tiny blind burrowers, Namib Desert golden moles have nifty survival tricks. After hunting termites on the surface, they dig a foot or so into the African sand and remain torpid there for 19 hours or more as their bodies cool, reducing their energy needs".



But God forgot the vitamin D in human milk.



"Bola spiders excel at capturing moths. Females spin a silken thread with a sticky droplet at the end. When a moth appears, the spider swings the thread until it sticks. To bring moths close, the spider uses deception. She produces chemicals similar to pheromones used by females of several moth species to attract mates. When male moths show up, they find only a fatal attraction."



But God forgot the vitamin D in human milk?