Are you feeling a little lethargic? Are you getting sick often? Or maybe you’re feeling more moody than usual?
Although we’ve all occasionally experienced these symptoms and assumed that they are harmless, they are all symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
Commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin”, your body produces vitamin D when you’ve had exposure to the sun. There are also some foods that provide our bodies with vitamin D. However, if your sun exposure is limited and your diet is restricted, you are at risk of deficiency.
Let’s take a look at the role vitamin D plays in our health and how to look for early signs of vitamin D deficiency.
What Vitamin D Does for Your Body
Your body needs vitamin D to stay healthy and strong. It has many functions and roles including:
- Keeping your bones strong
- Helping with calcium absorption
- Preventing osteoperosis
- Strengthening your immune system
- Modulating gene and cell growth
Severely low levels of vitamin D can lead to a plethora of health issues including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, and diabetes.
5 Common Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
Some people with low levels of vitamin D may not exhibit any symptoms. Because of its many vital functions, early signs of vitamin D deficiency are important to look for and to manage. The following issues have been linked to the deficiency:
1. Slow Healing Wounds
Small cuts and scrapes taking a long time to heal may be a sign that you need a vitamin D boost. This vitamin plays a big role in regulating cell growth and other functions that form new tissue. If you have low levels of vitamin D, your body tissue may not be regenerating as quickly.
2. Frequent Sickness and Infection
Because vitamin D helps boost the immune system, is it not surprising that low levels of the vitamin will leave you getting sick more often. It helps to fight off bacteria and illness. Respiratory tract infections, like bronchitis and asthma, have both been linked to this deficiency.
If your respiratory tract is compromised or you suffer from asthma, visit PricePro Pharmacy to find out more information about treatment options.
3. Low Bone Density
Vitamin D is strongly linked to bone health and bone density. The vitamin instructs your body to absorbs calcium which is important for maintaining strong bones. Without enough of it, your bones can become soft or brittle.
4. Muscle Weakness and Fatigue
Insufficient intake of vitamin D can cause muscles to become weaker, which makes you feel tired easily. If you are experiencing fatigue, it may be beneficial to take supplementary vitamin D to improve those symptoms.
5. Depression
Vitamin D is important for healthy brain function and as a result, it has an effect on your mental health. The brain contains receptors for vitamin D and studies have shown that it has a protective anti-inflammatory function. If you are suffering from depression, you are likely to have lower levels of the vitamin in your body.
How to Get More Vitamin D
There are several ways to get more vitamin D. You can absorb it through your skin, get it from your diet, or take supplements.
Exposure to sunlight allows your body to form vitamin D naturally. You can also incorporate foods into your diet that naturally have vitamin D. Fatty fish, cheese, milk, and egg yolks are all sources of vitamin D in your diet.
The Vitamin D Guarantee
We all need just the right about of vitamin D to strengthen our bones, improve our immunity, and maintain our overall health. Now you know five symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, and you know what an important role this vitamin plays in your health.
Keep following our blog for more information on vitamins, common symptoms, and health tips!
