9 Warning Signs You Are Vitamin D Deficient & How To Fix It

 Vitamin D is found to be a steroid hormone which produced by our body when it receives adequate sunshine.

 

Though the name is vitamin, it is not actually a vitamin but a steroid. Apart from sunshine, certain food items are also excellent sources of this vitamin. Vitamin D helps in protecting the bones and actually making it stronger, lowering the risk of illness, boosting the immune system, helps in proper functioning of muscles, helps in the development of lungs and brain and also helps in better circulation and also heart health.

 

Studies have found that vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer, weight gain, breast, colon, and other problems. The general feeling is that very few people are suffering from a deficiency of the vitamin, but research suggests the deficiency is more common than our perception.

 

A survey conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination came out with a shocking report which states that about 50% of children aged between 1 to 5 and about 70% of them between 6 to 11 years have suboptimal levels of Vitamin D. You may think this insufficiency is limited to children, but research report suggests that when it comes to vitamin D deficiency, adults and teens fare even worse. About 75% of adults and teenagers were found to have vitamin D deficiency.

 

Don’t know whether you are deficient in vitamin D or not? Well, you have to look out for these signs:

 

Depression

 

A study conducted in 2014 came out with a report suggesting that a moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency has the power to double the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s among older adults. One more study revealed that there was a link between vitamin D deficiency and schizophrenia.

 

It was also found that a deficiency of the vitamin leads to depression and the symptom increases with the increase in deficiency.

 

Excessive sweating

 

Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University Medical Center says that a deficiency of vitamin D can lead to a sweaty head.

 

Excessive sweating among newborns is found to be a common symptom of the deficiency.

 

Weak bones

 

Along with calcium, vitamin D plays a vital role in protecting and strengthening your bones. Hence, a deficiency of the same can lead to problems with regards to bones.

 

If your bones are getting achy, fractured or broken too frequently, it might be due to a deficiency of Vitamin D in the body. A study conducted by researchers of Germany found that a deficiency of vitamin D increased the start and spread of bone fractures by up to 31%.

 

Bloating, acid reflux or gut problems.

 

While the studies are still in their infancy stage when it comes to linking vitamin D deficiency and gut problems but evidence suggest that the vitamin plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy balance within the gut.

 

Dr. Stasha Gominak, a specialist in the field, claims that a deficiency of vitamin D can lead to acid reflux, poor stomach emptying, bloating and also constipation.

 

Sleeping problem

 

Even after taking the necessary precautions if you aren’t able to sleep normally, it may be due to a lack of vitamin D in the body.

 

Experts have found that suboptimal levels of vitamin D can not only mess up your regular sleep but also lead to disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, inappropriate movement of the body during sleep and other problems with sleep.

 

It has been found that among the patients who complain of trouble with sleep, more than 50% of them are suffering from vitamin D deficiency.

 

Problems with erection

 

It has been found that low levels of vitamin D can cause erectile dysfunction among men and about 30 million Americans are affected by this problem.

 

Journal of Sexual Medicine, published a study in 2014, which stated that severe erectile dysfunction among men was due to significantly lower levels of vitamin D.

 

Thyroid Problems

 

A study conducted in 2011 found that about 92% of the patients who complained of thyroid problems had vitamin D deficiency.

 

Frequent infections

 

If you are prone to infections frequently, it might be an indication that your body lacks vitamin D as the vitamin plays an important role in the proper functioning of immune system.

 

Researchers have found that adequate levels of Vitamin D in the body can boost your immune system up to about 5 times.

 

Anemia

 

Studies conducted by various institutions have found a link between lower levels of vitamin D and anemia. A study conducted in the US compared the vitamin D levels of people with and without anemia, and unsurprisingly, people suffering from anemia had suboptimal levels of vitamin D.

 

The best source of vitamin D for your body is sunlight. Just by exposing at least 40% of your body for about 10 to 15 minutes a day you can get for daily dose of vitamin D. Apart from sunlight, egg yolk, fish, seafood, cod liver oil, orange juice, cereals, yogurt, cow, goat, and plant-based milk are also excellent sources of vitamin D.

 

If you are above 50 years, it is recommended that you take a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU each day.