Vitamin D – You So Need IT!!!

All You Need to Know About Vitamin D Deficiencies
Everybody requires vitamin D to maintain and develop their bones normally. This vitamin plays a massive role in your musculoskeletal, immune, and nervous systems. When your body starts to lack vitamin D, it is referred to as vitamin D deficiency. Because of this, your muscles and bones might be affected.

What Causes Vitamin D Deficiencies?
You can have vitamin D deficiency because of several reasons:

1) Your Intake of Vitamin D Is Relatively Low
This usually happens with people who follow a strict vegan diet, as most natural sources of vitamin D are animal-based.

2) You Don’t Receive as Much Sunlight
If you don’t go out as often, wear head coverings or long robes, or live in a northern latitude, you are more likely to be affected by this deficiency. This is because the body primarily produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to the sun.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiencies?
In youngsters, a severe lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets. The symptoms are bent or bowed bones that cause improper growth patterns, muscle weakness, joint deformities, and bone pain. Mild vitamin deficiencies may cause sore muscles.

In adults, vitamin D deficiency is less noticeable. Some warning signs are fatigue, muscle weakness, bone pain, and changes in mood.

How To Treat Vitamin D Deficiencies?
Increasing your vitamin D levels through supplements and diet is the primary treatment method for this deficiency.

To optimize bone health, the Institute of Medicine has increased the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D. It is now 600 international units for those between 1-70 and 800 IU for people above 70. They also raised the safe upper limit to 4000. To treat a vitamin D deficiency, doctors will prescribe you more than 4000 IU of vitamin D prescription.

If you have risk factors for this insufficiency, you should also talk to your doctor about taking vitamin D supplements.