5 Signs You’re Vitamin D Deficient
Vitamin D is an extremely important vitamin that has powerful effects on several systems throughout your body. Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D functions like a hormone, and every single cell in your body has a receptor for it.
Your body makes vitamin D from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to sunlight.
Iis also found in certain foods such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products, though it’s very difficult to get enough from diet alone. The recommended daily intake (RDI) is usually around 400–800 IU, but many experts say you should get even more than that. Vitamin D deficiency is very common.
It’s estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin in their blood .
Here are 5 signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
1. Getting Sick or Infected Often
Vitamin D plays important roles in immune function. One of the most common symptoms of deficiency is an increased risk of illness or infections.
2. Fatigue and Tiredness
Excessive fatigue and tiredness may be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Taking supplements may help improve energy levels.
3. Bone and Back Pain
Low blood levels of vitamin D may be a cause or contributing factor to bone pain and lower back pain.
4. Depression
Depression is associated with low vitamin D levels and some studies have found that supplementing improves mood.
5. Muscle Pain
There is a link between chronic pain and low blood levels of vitamin D, which may be due to the interaction between the vitamin and pain-sensing nerve cells.
Fortunately, a vitamin D deficiency is usually easy to fix. You can either increase your sun exposure, eat more vitamin-D-rich foods, such as fatty fish or fortified dairy products, or simply take a supplement.
Fixing your deficiency is simple, easy and can have big benefits for your health.