Vitamin D is a major vitamin that helps us sustain a fit and healthy body. The deficiency of vitamin D is directly proportional to the fatigued and dull kind of lifestyle.
If numbers are to be believed then vitamin D deficiency hits at least 13% of the world population.
The good thing is the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are easily traceable which is a big plus.
Here are a top 5 symptoms of vitamin D deficiency:
1. Excessive Hair Loss
Most of us suffer from hair loss. Stress is considered to be at the centre of this problem.
Did you ever think that your hair loss problem could be a symptom of vitamin D deficiency? Yes, you read it right.
If you have severe hair loss then you might want to check the levels of vitamin D in your body. Though there is not enough research to support this theory. But there are enough practical tests conducted on samples of individuals across the world.
Alopecia areata in individuals is one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. This fact is supported by enough research.
For a layman, alopecia areata is a disease wherein the infected patient loses hair from their head and also from other parts of the body.
Also Read: Benefits of Vitamin D for Your Health
2. Fatigue – symptoms of vitamin D deficiency
Feeling fatigued and tired is often neglected or overlooked. It is considered a by-product of our stressful and fast life.
There could be many reasons for you to feel fatigued and one such reason could be vitamin D deficiency.
Feeling tired is also a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.
Low levels of vitamin D in blood cells can make you feel fatigued and in turn, have a very negative impact on the quality of your life.
3. Depression
Does it happen with you that you are feeling low but cannot point out why?
Your mood swing is also one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. There is a clear linkage seen in many pieces of research conducted on this behalf.
It was observed during one such research that giving vitamin D supplements helped improve the state of mind of depressed people.
This was more effective in cases to treat seasonal depression which usually occurs during chilly months of winter.
4. Bone loss – symptoms of vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D is essential to maintain a healthy bone metabolism. It is one of the main vitamins that help absorb calcium which is highly crucial for your bone health.
Keep a close watch on the intake of your vitamin D. Excessive intake of this vitamin D can also cause harm to your bones.
5. Excessive Muscle Pain
Muscle pain increases as an individual starts to get older. It is a medically difficult task to pinpoint the exact reason for muscle pain.
There is very little evidence that shows that muscle pain is also a symptom of vitamin D deficiency. One study reflected data that stated that 71% of individuals of the sample with vitamin D deficiency had chronic pain.
It is observed that individuals who take a mild to a heavy dose of vitamin D witness a relief in muscle pain.
If you have a question, how can I raise my vitamin D level quickly? Here are 4 ways to do that:
1. Brace as much sunlight as possible
It is not rocket science and we all know that the sun is the natural source of vitamin D.
You can get your daily dose of vitamin D by exposing yourself to the sun for a few minutes a day. It is vital to note that the vitamin D obtained from the sun circulates faster than the one obtained from any other source.
Remember, people with a darker skin tone have a high level of melanin. This compound inhibits the production of vitamin D in the body.
2. Seafood to your rescue
If you want to treat the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency then include seafood in your diet.
Seafood is a rich source of vitamin D. However, the percentage of vitamin D depends on the type of seafood you consume.
Some common examples are tuna, oysters, mackerel, shrimp, anchovies and sardines.
3. Add eggs to your breakfast
Egg yolk has a high percentage of vitamin D.
An egg is one of the most friendly food ingredients that easily fits in your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That is the best thing about eggs.
Pastured and free-range eggs are superb and will help you in many ways to deal with your symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
4. Fortified foods
It may not always be possible to include natural food items in your diet.
In such cases, fortified foods which are rich in vitamin D can be a great help.
Some of the many examples of fortified goods are tofu, orange juice, yoghurt, soy milk, hemp milk, etc.
Conclusion
Vitamin D is important and you cannot skip it. You need to ensure that there is a sufficient intake of vitamin D either naturally or through your food or supplements.
Ensure to visit a doctor in case your symptoms of vitamin D deficiency get very prompt.