In the modern times, due to our lifestyle we are facing many health problems and one of them is Vitamin D deficiency. What is making it worse is the fact that majority of the people who are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency are not even aware of it. As per an estimate, there are around 1 billion people in the world who are deficient in Vitamin D and this data covers people from all age groups, however complete categorization is not possible due to the lack of complete information.
In this article, we are going to talk about Vitamin D, its deficiency and how to get rid of it:
Though Vitamin D is called a vitamin but in reality it is not a vitamin but a prohormone. Vitamins are actually those nutrients which cannot be produced by the body but they have to be consumed by person as a part of their diet. On the other hand, a human body can produce Vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight.
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Vitamin D helps our body in absorbing calcium which is very important for healthy bones and teeth and it also plays a very important role in strengthening our muscles, nervous system and it also increases our immunity. Vitamin D also saves us from various diseases including type 1 diabetes.
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1. Dark skin:
Absorbing sunlight is very important for the human body for the purpose of producing Vitamin D but dark skin makes it difficult for the body to absorb the ultraviolet radiations which hamper the production of Vitamin D.
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2. Increasing age:
Vitamin D deficiency is found more in elderly people because due to their age they remain indoors more and doesn't get enough sunlight. Even if they manage to get enough sunlight, due to thinning of skin, the capacity of Vitamin D synthesis also decreases.
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3. Obesity and improper diet & lifestyle:
Obesity is also one of the reasons of Vitamin D deficiency and the omission of fish and milk-related food items can also lead to deficiency of Vitamin D. Even youngsters who work in night shifts can also suffer from Vitamin D deficiency as they sleep in daytime and don't get sunlight.
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The deficiency of Vitamin D can have a serious negative effect on the health of a person but the problem is that sometimes the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency are confused with the symptoms of another disease. If you are experiencing the following symptoms, do consult your doctor without any delay:
1. Feeling extremely tired:
If you experience tiredness, sleepiness, lethargy or fatigue on a regular basis then it may be because of Vitamin D deficiency. You can increase your energy levels by having some Vitamin D supplements which are prescribed by your doctor or by including diets which are rich in Vitamin D.
2. Depression and other mental problems:
Many people suffering from Vitamin D deficiency also experience some mental problems including depression. It has been found in some studies that Vitamin D supplements help in making a person feel little happy and improve the condition of their mood.
3. Bone weakness:
Vitamin D deficiency can also result in weakening of bones which mainly happens in elders especially in women and they become more prone to fractures and osteoporosis. As we told earlier, Vitamin D is important for absorbing calcium but its deficiency also means that bones are losing calcium.
4. Hair loss:
Hair loss, especially in women, is attributed to the deficiency of Vitamin D, however, more research is required in this regard but Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a disease called alopecia areata which results in severe hair fall. So if you want to protect your hair, fix Vitamin D deficiency.
5. Muscle pain & problem in wounds healing:
Vitamin D deficiency also results in muscle pain which may be severe as well and it has also been observed that wounds or injuries take much time in healing in those people who suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.
Getting rid of Vitamin D deficiency is not difficult as there are many food supplements available to fix it but the best way to improve is through natural resources. Food items which are rich in Vitamin D are cereals, oatmeal, fatty fish, egg yolks, mushroom, milk, soy products, orange juice, etc.
Do consult your doctor if you also feel that you may be suffering from Vitamin D deficiency.