Ladies, you and I both know that being a mom isn’t just about giving birth. And men you know you don’t just stop wanting to protect them on their 18th birthday.
Heck, sometimes they don’t even have to be yours for you to worry and care about them as if they were your own. Which is why if your daughter, granddaughter, niece, or even the lovely young woman at church is thinking about having a baby, you’re going to want to read on.
Expectant moms keep a close eye on their own nutrition when they’re pregnant. For example, taking folic acid to prevent birth defects. And keeping mama’s iron up helps make sure baby’s brain develops properly.
But new research has exposed a shocking and dangerous gap in most women’s nutrition. A gap which has the potential to devastate their unborn children for the rest of their lives.
Low D sends schizophrenia risk skyrocketing 44%
The new study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, revealed that babies born with a vitamin D deficiency have a 44 percent greater chance of developing schizophrenia later in life.
The long-term study followed more than 2600 babies born between 1981 and 2000. And the researchers found that mother’s and baby’s vitamin D levels in the delivery room were directly associated with the risk of schizophrenia later in the child’s life.
Earlier research had already hinted at a connection between vitamin D deficiency and this devastating mental condition. In fact, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism confirmed a link between low D levels and schizophrenia in adults.
People with schizophrenia often struggle with everyday tasks and experience life-altering symptoms, including…
- hallucinations
- delusions
- trouble processing emotions
- memory loss
- cognitive limitations
- difficulty identifying reality
There are medications and behavioral treatments to help ease some of the symptoms of schizophrenia. But there is no cure for this disease.
Approximately 41 percent of all adults in the U.S. may be deficient in vitamin D. Which means the odds are good at least one of the new mothers you know is growing a baby who is already at risk without mom even knowing it.
Vitamin D is vital for a healthy brain
But it’s not JUST schizophrenia we need to worry about with low D. We’ve known about the role vitamin D plays in overall brain health for years now. Study after study has shown vitamin D to be essential to preventing Alzheimer’s, beating back depression, fighting memory loss, and even protecting the physical structure of the brain against shrinkage.
In other words, NO ONE should let his or her vitamin D levels get too low.
Support brain health by topping up your OWN D
There’s good news, too. Getting enough vitamin D is easy for both your loved one who wants to have a baby and for you, who wants to be healthy enough to enjoy the new little one.
First, spend a little time outside every day without sunblock. In the scramble to prevent skin cancer, mainstream medicine has pushed the pendulum over too far. Now folks are terrified of the sun, and as a result, many of us aren’t getting ENOUGH sun exposure.
Head outside and keep an eye on your shadow. If it’s shorter than you are, you’re dosing up on the “sunshine vitamin.” Aim for about 15 minutes a day.
But keep in mind depending on where you live, and the time a year it can be tough to get enough D from the sun all year around. So, be sure to talk to your doctor about taking a vitamin D3 supplement too.
Finally, boost the dairy and eggs in your diet. Eggs are a great source of vitamin D, and many dairy products are fortified to help you reach your daily goals.
Vitamin D is essential to brain health earlier than anyone knew. And low D levels at birth could lead to schizophrenia. Help the young women in your life have healthy little ones by sharing this information with them. And don’t forget to take care of YOUR D needs too.
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