Signs and risks of vitamin D deficiency – Most people ignore it !

If you shun the sun, suffer from milk allergies, or adhere to a strict vegan diet, you may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. It is also occurs naturally in a few foods, including some fish (salmon, sardines), shrimp, fish liver oils, and egg yolks, and in fortified dairy and grain products.

Enough sun can offer you enough of this vitamin, because it is a sunshine vitamin. Age, season, sunscreen usage, skin color, and time of the day are the factors that decide how much sun exposure the person needs.

Your skin cannot absorb enough vitamin D if you are using a sunscreen. Try to stay in the sun for 15 minutes without using a sunscreen. If your skin is not prone to skin burns, extend the sun exposure to 30 minutes daily.

Low blood levels of the vitamin have been associated with the following:

• Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Cognitive impairment in older adults
• Severe asthma in children
• Cancer

Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.

Researchers have pointed out that increasing levels of vitamin D3 among the general population could prevent chronic diseases that claim nearly one million lives throughout the world each year. Incidence of several types of cancer could also be slashed in half. As mentioned by Dr. Holick, one of the Nurses’ Health Studies showed that nurses who had the highest blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, averaging about 50 ng/ml, reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 50 percent. Similarly, a Canadian study done by Dr. Knight showed that women who reported having the most sun exposure as a teenager and young adult had almost a 70 percent reduced risk of developing breast cancer.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency:

• Gum disease – A frequent symptom of vitamin D deficiency is bleeding, reddening and swelling of the gums.
• Sadness and depression – Women who lack vitamin D may feel sad or deprived.
• Mood swings – The production of serotonin, the hormone that has an effect on our mood is affected by the presence of vitamin D.
• Bones and muscles weakness – As we mentioned above, vitamin D is important for the bones, teeth and muscles. If these body parts are weak, it may be a sign that you lack this vitamin.
• Sensitivity to pain – Chronic pain can be cause by low levels of vitamin D.
• Head sweating – Head sweating is an early sign of lacking this vitamin.
• Low physical endurance – If athletes lack vitamin D, they will not have enough energy, including low performance.
• High blood pressure – High blood pressure can be caused by not enough intake of vitamin D. It is very important for your heart.
• Gut problems – People dealing with celiac, non-celiac, Crohn’s sensitivity to gluten and with bowel diseases can’t absorb fats normally. These people can lack vitamin D.
• Allergies – The occurrence of allergies can be reduced with vitamin D. People who lack this vitamin are more prone to allergies.





• Low physical endurance – If athletes lack vitamin D, they will not have enough energy, including low performance.