Although our body needs many different types of vitamins to thrive, vitamin D is very crucial for our life and health. If you are lacking in it, it can cause a number of severe health issues.
Not only does vitamin D enable growth of bones and bone development, it is also closely associated with our immunity and can even reduce the possibilities for cancer. Vitamin D is essential when compared to other vitamins, but it is often overlooked.
If you are lacking in vitamin D, one of the first signs could be brittle bones. It is especially a problem in younger individuals, because of the bones growing and forming during that time. If a problem occurs in this area, other problems can quickly follow. It is important to understand that bones are not the only part of the body to suffer if you are deficient in vitamin D.
By learning the following 7 low vitamin D indicators, you can recognize when you have a need for supplementation.
1. Muscle Pain and Weakness
In some people, muscle pain because of vitamin D deficiency may be somewhat low but in others, it can be excruciating. As the deficiency increases, the pain may increase as well. When you lack vitamin D, your muscles contract more slowly and are weaker.
2. Immune System Malfunction
As your vitamin D levels drop, your immune system may become unstable. The cells in your immune system feed on vitamin D, so it can lead to a severe immunity imbalance.
According to a study conducted in Japan, schoolchildren who consumed vitamin D were less likely to catch the flu. In addition, low levels of vitamin D were found to be associated with autoimmune diseases.
3. Elevated Blood Pressure
When you have low levels of vitamin D, hypertension is more likely to happen. Vitamin D can regulate water retention and a lack of it could increase blood pressure due to an elevated level of peptides.
4. Depression
If you suffer from depression or if you are just feeling blue, increasing your vitamin D levels may help. It is thought that vitamin D is closely associated with seasonal affective disorder as well.
In a study involving people who had seasonal affective disorder, vitamin D3 supplements were given as a treatment. It often changed their mood from sad to happy and made them have more positive thoughts. It also helped to reduce additional symptoms, such as lethargy, sleep disturbances and hypersomnia.
5. Stomach Problems
If you suffer from gastrointestinal conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease, supplementing with vitamin D may help. This issue often also occurs when you have excess body fat, because it diminishes the effects of vitamin D.
6. Sweating
Sweating is a natural response of the human body but excessive sweating may indicate low levels of vitamin D. It’s not fully understood how the two are related, but it has been noted, particularly in excess sweating in the forehead area.
7. Cardiovascular Disorders
A lack of vitamin D may provoke heart disease. According to studies, this may be associated with low calcium levels in the arteries due to low vitamin D levels. Low calcium could cause an increase in the possibility for heart problems, and may result in clogged arteries.
Additional problems that may result from low levels of vitamin D include high cholesterol, type II diabetes and obesity.
Getting More Vitamin D
Supplementing your current vitamin D levels can be done in a number of different ways. Although it may be possible to take a vitamin D pill, you can also try one of the following.
Drink vitamin D fortified orange juice
Try to get out in the sun daily
Drink fortified plant-based milks
H/T: Healthy Food House
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