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We’re always hearing about the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need to flourish and excel, but we often don’t consider whether we’re getting enough.
A lack of vitamin D can manifest itself in the body in several ways that we would never expect, and might even contribute to other ailments.
Here are 5 signs to be on the lookout for if you think you might be lacking Vitamin D, and don’t worry, we’ll give you some ways to fix the problem!
What Is Vitamin D And Why Is It So Important?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that you can get from a variety of foods, but it’s most conveniently gained from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It can also be enhanced by adding supplements to your regimen.
What Is The Function Of Vitamin D In The Body?
Vitamin D plays a vital role in calcium and phosphorus being able to build up bones and keep them healthy. In short, it increases your overall calcium absorption. Without Vitamin D, your bones become brittle and run the risk of becoming misshapen. We all know that as we age, we run a higher risk for osteoporosis, and that’s where Vitamin D swoops in and saves us.
Vitamin D also directly affects our parathyroid glands. These glands work around the clock with your kidneys, digestive system, and skeleton to balance calcium in the body. If the proper amount of calcium is not available, it borrows from the skeletal system. This is how bone weakening or loss can occur without adequate Vitamin D in your system.
Without Vitamin D, you’ll start to experience the following symptoms:
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Muscle weakness and cramps:
If you’re experiencing random aches and pains in different areas of your body, you might want to consider if Vitamin D deficiency is a possibility.
If you’re dealing with an increase of pain daily, you’ll most likely turn to over-the-counter pain relievers. The extended use of these can cause issues like liver damage, stomach bleeding, and kidney disease.
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Bone and joint pain (more apparent in the back area)
There are 33 bones in the back alone, so it’s no wonder that your back will be one of the first telltale signs of Vitamin D deficiency. There’s nothing better than a CBD vape pen to ease your discomfort until you get those Vitamin D levels back up to par!
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Bone loss:
Bone loss is also known as osteoporosis. If you notice that your posture is significantly compromised or that your bones break easily, you need to see your doctor immediately to form a plan.
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Mood changes:
Depression is linked to lack of Vitamin D, but quite frankly, that’s not surprising. Have you noticed that when you stay indoors for an extended period of time that you tend to get a little cranky, sad, and depressed? Well, that’s because Vitamin D is vital for mood.
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Fatigue:
This is another one of the most common signs that make the appearance first. Most of the time, that’s why doctors order lab work to be done so they can get an accurate read on the patient’s nutrient level and blood cell counts.
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Getting sick easily and/or staying sick:
Vitamin D has another function, which significantly influences your immune system and keeping it healthy.
How To Increase Your Vitamin D Intake
Thankfully, it’s super simple to up your Vitamin D intake! The easiest way to get out in the sun a few days a week. A lot of people have been indoors per COVID related quarantine orders. They might not even realize that some of their discomforts might be from lack of sunlight.
Just get outside and take a walk a few days out of the week to make sure you’re soaking up some of those beneficial ultraviolet rays! It’s also helpful to note that those with darker skin tones need higher amounts of vitamin D because the melanin in the skin doesn’t allow the skin to absorb the sun rays easily.
If you find that you’re still having trouble getting adequate amounts of sun, you can purchase over-the-counter supplements. You can even speak to your doctor and ask for prescription-strength vitamin D pending blood work to see how low your levels are.
If you want to boost your Vitamin D levels with the meals you consume, try eating more salmon, tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, and fortified cereals.
Main Takeaways From Our Conversation
Vitamin D is one of those nutrients that most of us bypass and don’t give too much thought to. We dismiss the fatigue and muscle pains to the stress and movements of everyday life.
If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, it’s worth having a conversation with your physician, so you don’t have any other issues caused by the lack of Vitamin D.
