These 10 Unusual Symptoms Mean You're Lacking Vitamin D

Sep 20, 2018

As people spend much of their time indoors these days, more suffer from a lack of Vitamin D than ever before. This so-called sunshine vitamin is usually synthesized by our bodies when our skin is exposed to the sun. Research shows that around 50% of people lack healthy Vitamin D. Are you one of them? These 10 unusual signs can mean you should get outside more or start taking supplements.

If you sleep enough at night but still feel exhausted and run down during the day, the problem could be low levels of Vitamin D. When you have enough, it actually stimulates energy production on a cellular level.

Many vitamins and minerals support a healthy body, but Vitamin D is one of the most important. It boosts immune responses to help fight off germs and prevent you from getting sick. Eat more D-rich foods or take a supplement. Getting outside in the fresh air and warm sunshine can help you feel better even if you are already ill.

Everyone sweats when the temperature is high, but if you find yourself perspiring when everyone else is fine, you might need more D to help regulate the body response. This can also be a sign of other health problems, so it is best to ask your physician.

Remember drinking milk fortified with Vitamin D as a child? The reason is that D helps maintain healthy bones and joints. Studies have shown a real effect on back pain depending on levels of D in a person's body. It is best to make sure you have proper levels in your bloodstream before the pain and stiffness ever begin. Talk to your doctor to make sure the problem is not something else.

It is normal to feel sad sometimes, but ongoing depression is a sign that hormones like serotonin in your brain are not functioning properly. Vitamin D receptors physically lie near the depression zone in the brain. Research has shown that boosting levels of this healthy vitamin can help alleviate some symptoms of people suffering from depression and other mood disorders.

Age and other factors contribute to hair loss, but you can stave off baldness and improve growth with the sunshine vitamin. Dermatologists reveal that D and iron deficiencies are often associated with unhealthy hair. While a simple supplement or time in the sun will not regrow a full head of hair, it can help you develop thicker, healthier locks and keep them longer.

Low levels of this important nutrient are not only associated with aching bones and tiredness. It also can leave you feeling very weak to the point where carrying in groceries or picking up your toddler can seem like a struggle. This weakness could indicate a problem with calcium absorption, too, so a doctor's visit is a good idea.

Our bodies can make all the Vitamin D you need as long as you step outside with exposed skin for some time each day. With all the health benefits associated with proper levels, it makes sense to take the time out of your busy schedule. Also, who doesn't feel happier seeing a bright morning in the sun? Even sitting by an open window can help.

Doctors have long recommended sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer, and it is still an important health practice. However, wearing too much too frequently can stop the UV rays from triggering the Vitamin D production in your skin. Luckily, just a few unprotected minutes per day can make a difference.

While nobody can tell if they are not absorbing Vitamin D and other things properly, having multiple symptoms is a good sign. First, get some sunlight and supplement or change your diet. Then, if these things do not make the symptoms go away, it is time for an appointment with your physician. When in doubt, ask the expert, and do not leave your health to chance.

What do you think? Are you lacking Vitamin D? Let us know in the comments and show this to your friends and family to see if they're suffering, too!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!