What is Vitamin D Deficiency? A vitamin D deficiency can happen when intake is lower than recommended levels, your exposure to sunlight is limited, your kidneys cannot convert 25(OH)D to its active form, or the absorption of vitamin D from the digestive tract isn’t great or the food source is of poor quality. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods. Getting the right quality and quantity of vitamin D is important for your immune system function, bone density and many other body systems. Did you know calcium is best absorbed when vitamin D is present in your body? Since your body gets its Vitamin D from your food or the sun, you might have a deficiency and not even know! Living in sunny places doesn’t guarantee a better Vitamin D level since most American’s apply sunscreen on before going outside. Vitamin D Deficiency symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Sleepiness
- Bone pain
- Back pain
- Depression
- Slow wound healing
- Hair loss
- Chronic muscle pains
- Lowered immune system & immune function
- Prostate issues
- Dementia
- Loss of bone density
- Get your Vitamin D levels tested at least once a year, more often if you discover a severe deficiency.
- Take a regular Vitamin D supplement from a reputable source/company combined with Vitamin K.
- Get outside for 10-15 minutes per day and absorb a few sun rays.
- If you can’t get outside, consider a desktop sun lamp.
- Consider micronutrient testing to find out current levels of other vitamins and minerals in your body to bring back better balance.