After reading the paragraph, answer the question(s) that follow.
rickets is a softening of the bones that can lead to frequent fractures and skeletal deformities. the legs of a person with rickets tend to bow outward under the force exerted by body weight and movement. british scientists recently found a serious increase in the incidence of rickets and other bone deficiencies among women in middle eastern countries who cover their bodies completely to express a form of muslim religious belief, as well as among their breast-fed children.
most of the body's vitamin d, which is necessary for calcium absorption by bone tissue, is obtained through sunlight acting on the skin. doctors warn that women who completely cover their skin don't get enough sunlight to produce the vitamin d necessary for bone health. this lack of sun exposure also lowers the level of vitamin d in their breast milk, which means that their children may develop the same vitamin d deficiencies. lack of calcium and phosphorous, which are needed for bone repair and replacement, can also lead to rickets. rickets caused by a dietary lack of these minerals is more common in developing countries because dairy products and green vegetables, the best sources of calcium, are not commonly eaten.
as a physician caring for a nursing muslim woman who has chosen to cover her skin but is concerned about rickets developing in her baby, you might advise her to
a. give up smoking.
b. eats lots of meat and potatoes.
c. take vitamin d and calcium supplements.
d. exercise more.